Equality Michigan Co-Founder Leaves Financial Gift, and Inspiration

Equality Michigan Co-Founder Leaves Financial Gift, and Inspiration
(Equality Michigan Press Release, Oct. 24, 2014)
Equality Michigan, the only statewide anti-violence and political advocacy organization serving Michigan’s LGBTQ and HIV affected communities, has been named the beneficiary of two gifts from the estate of Dr. Henry Messer to help propel the organization’s work. Dr. Messer, who passed away on February 18, 2014 at the age of 86, co-founded Triangle Foundation in 1991, which merged with Michigan Equality to form Equality Michigan in 2010. Dr. Messer served on the organization’s board of trustees for over a decade and continued to volunteer weekly for the organization until his death.
Dr. Messer was a lifelong LGBTQ activist who got involved in the movement after being discharged from the military during World War II, where he met Carl House, who he would remain in a relationship with until his death. A pioneer in neurosurgery, Dr. Messer always found time to put his wisdom to work supporting true LGBTQ equality in the United States. While living in New York City, Dr. Messer and House found themselves in the middle of LGBT history, from the Mattachine Society to the Stonewall Riots. They continued their activism when the couple moved to Michigan in the early 1970s and were involved in organizations like the Michigan Organization for Human Rights (MOHR), which later evolved into Triangle Foundation. It was important to Dr. Messer that the organization he helped create not only survive, but thrive in his absence.
The gift was given in two parts. Over one million dollars of Dr. Messer’s gift was given directly to the organization and will be added to the generous gifts of other donors, to be applied directly and immediately toward the LGBTQ policy and victim services work that Equality Michigan is honored to do everyday, and will be distributed over the next four years. Two million dollars was donated to Equality Michigan’s endowment at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Dr. Messer’s gift to support Equality Michigan’s work will further strengthen the organization’s endowment to help ensure that the organization’s LGBTQ advocacy sustains until the important work that Equality Michigan does is no longer necessary. Equality Michigan will use Henry’s gift over time to meet the evolving needs of the diverse, fully-inclusive and rapidly changing LGBTQ movement.
“Henry was one of the most amazing people I have ever met, and one of my dearest friends. He dedicated his life to helping those most in need and did not just dream of a future where all LGBT people could live safely and openly, but committed his time, talent, and resources to making that dream a reality,” said Joy Geng, vice chair of the Equality Michigan board of trustees. “Out of the tragedy that he did not live to see his dream fulfilled comes an historic opportunity for Equality Michigan to finish the work he started and make that dream come true for future generations. I am confident that our team will not let him down, and that his legacy will live on through the organization he loved so much for decades to come.”
“Henry was a visionary but he was also a mentor and guardian to everyone who has worked for Equality Michigan. Our work today would not have been possible without Henry’s compassion, generosity, and passion for our mission and communities which we serve,” said Emily Dievendorf, executive director of Equality Michigan. She added, “I made a personal commitment to Henry that Equality Michigan would build on his legacy. This gift will enable us to do that. We are tremendously grateful for his trust in our work and love for his community. We miss Henry and he will always be a part of every step forward.”
For more on Equality Michigan, see www.equalitymi.org.
For more on Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, see https://cfsem.org/.
For a previous story about Dr. Messer’s passing see https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/02/18/equality-activist-henry-messer-passes-away/.
Other related stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/10/13/giving-back-and-building-hope-michael-mirto/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/10/06/gay-marriage-update-five-states-gain-equality-michigan-decision-expected-soon/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/02/14/lisa-brown-and-other-catalyst-award-winners-announced/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/11/08/royal-oak-human-rights-ordinance-passes/

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