San Diego Pride has made available a number of community partnership grants for this year’s 33rd annual Pride celebration, scheduled for July 20-22. The beneficiary program gives nonprofit organizations valuable opportunities to fund-raise during Pride weekend.

On average annually, partnership organizations have raised more than $30,000 in grants and funds through a variety of services that support Pride weekend, such as assisting in the sales of water and festival tickets. Participating organizations have included the Gay Men’s Chorus, Different Strokes Swim Team and Live & Let Live Alano Club, to name a few.

A broader list of opportunities is available this year, including involvement in the areas of ID checking, parade marshals, recycling, ASL coordination, beverage sales and more. Agencies taking part are responsible for managing and staffing various program areas.

“The partnerships we’ve formed with community organizations are one of the five ways San Diego Pride gives funding directly to the community. By collaborating with community organizations, Pride not only invests in our community, but it also reinforces a community-based future for the annual celebration,” said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride.

In addition to providing funds through partnerships, Pride has given more than $1 million to community organizations through grant funding, direct community support, support of The Center and to other Pride organizations.

Applications are currently available and must be submitted by 12:00 noon on March 2. They are available on Pride’s Web site: www.sdpride.org.

The program is open to nonprofit agencies whose mission involves services to the GLBT community or provides positive outreach and education to the public about GLBT issues.

For more information, visit the Web site or call the Pride office at (619) 297-7683.

- Press release