Studer Community Institute

Gay philanthropy promotes inclusion through grants

May 20, 2015
/ Louis Cooper
/ community-dashboard

A Pensacola nonprofit group dedicated to promoting inclusion of the LGBT community has selected five finalist organizations in a competition to receive grants for their philanthropic work. Sunday’s Child will award two $33,125 grants at its annual meeting on June 28, with the winners coming from among five focus areas: animals, environment and preservation; arts, culture and education; economic development; LGBT and family, and health, wellness and recreation. This is the inaugural year for Sunday’s Child grants. “Sunday's Child was formed by 10 friends in the fall of 2013. Together, they sought to create a culture and community of acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in the Pensacola Bay Area,” said Chuck Presti, president and founder of Sunday’s Child. [sidebar] The name Sunday’s Child is taken from the nursery rhyme, “Monday’s Child.” Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child works hard for a living, Saturday’s child is loving and giving, But the child who is born on the Sabbath day Is bonnie and blithe and good and gay. For more information on Sunday’s Child, go to www.sundayschild.org. [/sidebar] Sunday’s Child is modeled after the IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay organization, an all-woman group in which members donate $1,000 each, with the money given as grants to worthy non-profits in the community. “Sunday's Child members donate $1,000 annually.” Presti said. “These funds are pooled at the end of the year and divided into $25,000 to $50,000 grants, which are then awarded to eligible, local non-profits or initiatives that address a community need, while also promoting the adoption and compliance of non-discrimination policies for LGBT individuals.” This year’s nominees are: · ANIMALS, ENVIRONMENT & PRESERVATION: Pensacola Humane Society’s S.N.I.P: Spay-Neuter Initiative of Pensacola · ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION: Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County’s Part II of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math · ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Arc Gateway’s Forklift for Pollack Industries · LGBT & FAMILY: Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.’s LEAVE: Legal Education and Advocacy for Victim Empowerment · HEALTH, WELLNESS & RECREATION: Bay Area Food Bank’s Backpack Program “A requirement for grant selection is that the charity demonstrate how they address diversity and equality,” Presti said. “This often engages the board of the organizations and leaders to actively discuss this topic. Many organizations already do this, while others are learning how they can be more engaged in encouraging inclusiveness.” Presti said all five finalists meet this requirement in various ways. “Some recognize that many of those who benefit from the charity are LGBT citizens and nondiscrimination is plainly evident,” he said. “Others have policies and processes in place that support inclusiveness, and yet others have projects in place to support the LGBT community.” The annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, at the Studer Building located at the Maritime Park, 350 West Cedar St., Pensacola. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 1:45 p.m. The finalists from each focus area will make a seven-minute presentation at the meeting, and Sunday’s Child members will vote for two of the five finalists. Sunday’s Child has no paid staff and is operated completely by volunteers. Membership dues are used exclusively for the awarding of grants and never go to administration or overhead. Membership in Sunday’s Child is currently closed, but the next annual membership drive begins in September and runs through November.

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Gay philanthropy promotes inclusion through grants

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