GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND

Diversity Thrift * Diversity Bingo

Event Hall * Meeting Space * Community Activities

GIVING REPORT

First 7 Years (August 2000 - July 2007)

$448,024 Given to Charities and $1,524,000 Invested in the LGBT Community

The Gay Community Center of Richmond is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is “to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.”

At present, GCCR operates two major fundraising ventures: Diversity Thrift and Diversity Bingo. The thrift store opened Aug. 5, 2000 and bingo operations began Oct. 17, 2002.

Giving to Charities

Grants: $248,608 has been awarded to programs that benefited the LGBT community. The grants program was suspended in 2003 to purchase and renovate a LGBT community center. The grants program is scheduled to resume towards the end of 2007.

Donations: $199,416 in donations has been given to nonprofit organizations, primarily to ones that provided volunteers to help staff Diversity Thrift or Diversity Bingo. The charities that benefited ranged from Amnesty International to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. For smaller charities GCCR can be a major component of their fundraising; for larger charities, GCCR provides a valuable source of unrestricted funds. The donation program has continued uninterrupted.

Investing in the LGBT Community

The expansive store makes Diversity Thrift one of the largest thrift stores in Richmond. Yet the retail space comprises less than a third of the 47,000 sq. ft. building. The building also includes an expansive event hall, several community meeting rooms, and will provide many of the functions of a LGBT community center. Unlike most community centers, this one is projected to generate large revenues. Annual net profits grew to more than $250,000 when DT was in its previous location. They are expected to exceed $500,000 a year when renovations are finished.

Furthermore, instead of paying $15,000-$20,000 or more per month to rent large retail, processing, storage and bingo spaces, these have been combined under one roof in the building that GCCR has purchased. This investment is expected to grow in value over time, enable GCCR to provide millions of dollars to programs that benefit the LGBT community, and provide a permanent, multiple use facility for the LGBT community for decades to come.

A listing of the grants and donations awarded is on the back of this flyer.

Grants Awarded: $248,608

$46,000 to Equality Virginia Education Fund. EV is a statewide, non-partisan, lobbying, education and support network for the LGBT and straight allied communities in Virginia.

$45,000 to the Fan Free Clinic to partially fund an HIV/AIDS Case Manager over 2 ½ years.

$29,000 to Meals on Wheels of Greater Richmond to provide meals for persons with AIDS.

$27,557 to GLSEN-Richmond. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network “…is the leading national organization fighting to end anti-gay bias in K-12 schools.”

$13,000 to Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth. ROSMY enhances the well-being of LGBT youth through support, education and advocacy.

$12,150 to Transformation Retreats to support people affected by HIV.

$12,000 to the Virginia Holocaust Museum towards a permanent museum exhibit on the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust.

$10,000 to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation for a health initiative targeting Richmond lesbians. (Lesbians are at increased risk of breast cancer).

$9,500 to Richmond Triangle Players. RTP “performs theatrical works which reflect the wide range of gay and lesbian experience.“

$8,000 to Richmond Queer Space Project for a series of educational events.

$6,870 to Gentle Shepherd Church to expand their facilities. GSC is an “old-catholic church founded by gays and lesbians.“

$6,000 to the Roanoke7 to aid survivors of the anti-gay Backstreet Bar shooting.

$5,000 to Barksdale Theatre for production co