There are many ways people belong at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. For some people, it’s the first place they come out. For others, it’s where they give of their time and talent as volunteers. And for some, they belong as Center members – and their commitment to and investment in The Center is invaluable.

The Center is kicking off a special membership campaign that will run through the end of June. Dedicated Center donors Dick Jones and Alan Brimble, and Pamela Clifford and Lorrie Webb – along with an anonymous supporter – have pledged to match a total of $15,000 of new membership dollars and increased annual and monthly membership gifts from existing donors that we receive during the month of June. We need your help to meet this important challenge.

One of the most frequent responses I hear about why people aren’t members of The Center is that they’ve never been asked. Today, I am asking. The Center is only as strong as the support we receive from the community.

In fact, The Center simply wouldn’t exist without literally thousands of San Diegans giving their time, energy and money to this organization. Such generosity and commitment has allowed us to create one of the few LGBT Centers in our country to offer this level of services and resources to our community.

Because of the financial backing from Center members, we have been able to:

Open our doors to more than 2,000 people each week.

Ensure that 15,000 people receive direct communication about LGBT events and resources each week.

House formerly homeless LGBT and HIV-positive youth.

Provide mental health services to more than 500 people each week.

Serve more than 600 youth at the Hillcrest Youth Center each month.

Give more than 100 community groups a safe place to meet and organize.

Build targeted programs that support LGBT seniors, Latino/as, women, people living with HIV and our transgender community.

Respond to nearly 10,000 calls a year from those seeking information and support.

This work is critically important to LGBT San Diego. It is clear that The Center is an organization that, with continued support from our community, will do amazing things in the future. With that in mind, I believe that becoming a Center member is one of the most important gifts you can give to LGBT San Diego. By giving, you help ensure that we all have a place that is specifically committed to serving and connecting our community.

If you’re not currently a member, I am asking you to join us and become a Center member today. If you donate in June, your new membership contribution will be matched by Dick and Alan. If you have given to The Center as member, simply increasing your annual or monthly gift will be matched by Pam and Lorrie, along with an anonymous donor, up to $10,000.

I have heard people say that they only have a little to contribute. Please know that any amount you can give will make a real impact at The Center. Whether you donate $35 or pledge to give $20 a month, your membership investment will help us continue to operate one of the nation’s premier LGBT community centers; a place for all of us to belong.