Ferndale​ ​Pride​ ​sets​ ​record​ ​with​ ​$25,000​ ​in​ ​grants​ ​to​ ​local​ ​LGBTQ​ ​charities

Ferndale​ ​Pride​ ​sets​ ​record​ ​with​ ​$25,000​ ​in​ ​grants​ ​to​ ​local​ ​LGBTQ​ ​charities

 

FERNDALE, Mich. – Ferndale Pride distributed $25,000 in grants – the most funding it ever has distributed in a single year – to five local LGBTQ charities Monday, Aug. 28, at the Ferndale City Council meeting.

 

The Ferndale Community Foundation, Ferndale Pride’s sponsoring organization, received a $13,000 grant.

These four charities each received $3,000 grants:

● Affirmations

● Gender-Identity Network Alliance

● Matrix Human Services MAC Health

● Transgender Michigan

 

Since its establishment in 2011, Ferndale Pride, which presents an annual LGBTQ pride street fair in downtown Ferndale and related events, has distributed more than $100,000 in unrestricted grants to local charities. This year’s festival was Saturday, June 3.

 

“We are grateful for all of our festival sponsors and vendors, as well as the businesses and individuals who support our fundraisers throughout the year,” said Julia Music, Ferndale Pride chair. “Their generosity allows us to provide a festival with no admission fee for attendees and to give back each year through these grants to local charities that better the lives of LGBTQ people.”

 

Music credited Andrew Shankles, fundraising chair, with helping Ferndale Pride to donate a record amount to charities this year.

 

“He really exceeded our expectations in his volunteer role,” Music said. “He organized record-breaking fundraisers that really brought the community out to give.”

 

The 2018 Ferndale Pride street fair will be Saturday, June 2. For more information about Ferndale Pride, visit www.ferndalepride.com.