THE
Giving
PRIDE
COWP shows it’s more than just a party with Pride Gives Back
EJEREMY WILLIAMS very year in October—around
National Coming Out Day—
Central Florida celebrates
LGBTQ+ Pride with a parade,
festival and some of the most spectacular
parties around Lake Eola and throughout
the City Beautiful.
But it isn’t only about the celebration
for Come Out With Pride. It’s also about
giving back to those who give year-round
to the LGBTQ+ community.
“Pride Gives Back is a way for us
to give money we raised during the
actual Pride fesitval back to those who
need it,” says COWP Pride Gives Back
spokesperson Ashley Figueroa. “We
have a lot of people in Central Florida
who are committed to giving back to the
community every year, improving and
working with the LGBTQ+ community,
so we want to reward and empower these
groups and individuals so they are able to
continue to do that work.”
COWP serves as a fundraising event
to benefi t the LGBTQ+ community in
three diff erent categories: LGBTQ+ health
and wellness, economic development
and education.
“Last year, the event raised $30,000,”
Figueroa says. “That money went back into
the Orlando LGBTQ+ community in the
form of community grants and scholarships.”
In 2017, COWP awarded fi ve
scholarships of $2,000 each. They also
paid out grants to seven local LGBTQ+
nonprofi t organizations: onePULSE
Foundation, Equality Florida, Libby’s
Legacy, The One Orlando Alliance,
Central Florida Sounds of Freedom
Band and Color Guard, Orlando United
Counseling and Strengthen Orlando
(Orlando Youth Empowerment Summit).
To learn more about Pride Gives Back,
apply for a scholarship/grant or to read up
on the scholarship/grant requirements, visit
ComeOutWithPride.com/pride-gives-back.
22 COME OUT WITH PRIDE 2018
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