San Francisco, CA, April 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LGBTQ Americans are in a state of urgent need: an administration actively hostile to the community now occupies the White House; homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have spiked following the election; over 130 laws attacking LGBTQ rights are pending in state legislatures around the country; and the one-year anniversary of the horrific Pulse shooting in Orlando is fast approaching. In this difficult climate, Give OUT Day, a national day of giving for the LGBTQ community, will once again coordinate a 24-hour online fundraising event to support over 300 LGBTQ organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Give OUT Day 2017 will take place on April 20, 2017 from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm Eastern. Last year, Give Out Day raised over $550,000.
Throughout the day-long event, thousands of people make gifts to support a diverse array of LGBTQ nonprofits, ranging from the arts to social services agencies, advocacy groups to sports leagues, and community centers to health care nonprofits.
“This year, in an incredibly difficult political and cultural environment, where local services and advocacy are needed now more than ever, Give OUT Day will raise funds and visibility for hundreds of participating organizations,” said Roger Doughty, President of Horizons Foundation, which coordinates the annual event.
“Few would have predicted the challenging climate we now find ourselves in, after several years of rapid progress on LGBTQ equality and increased visibility and public education,” continued Doughty. “And yet Horizons Foundation’s research shows that only a small percentage of LGBT people give direct financial support to LGBTQ organizations. We can and must do better, especially as all of our organizations face unpredictable and significant obstacles. This year on Give OUT Day, we hope to reach thousands of LGBTQ individuals and our allies to engage in supporting the organizations,” concluded Doughty.
Give OUT Day has provided vital, unrestricted operating funds to organizations since its inception in 2013. Over 23,000 individual donors have contributed more than $3 million and supported more than 500 different organizations in every part of the country.
Give OUT Day is a project of Horizons Foundation. Founded as a community foundation of, by, and for LGBTQ people, Horizons has been supporting LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, leaders, and donors for more than 35 years.
For more information on Give OUT Day, go to:
https://www.giveoutday.org/c/GO/p/Media/
For more information on Horizons Fund, go to www.horizonsfoundation.org
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