Press

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
media@theTaskForce.org
646.358.1465

CONTACTS:
Charles Robbins
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
(323) 857-8746 crobbins@thetaskforce.org

Matt Foreman
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
(212) 604-9830

Darrell Burks
Gay and Lesbian Foundation of Southern Florida
(305) 898-8198

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Will Take Responsibility for Famed Winter Party Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South Florida Announces

Two-Thirds of Annual Profits Will Go to Miami-Dade Gay Organizations

Dade Community Foundation to Administer Grant Making Process

MIAMI, August 9. The Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South Florida (GLFSF) announced this week that it had reached an agreement with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force that will result in GLFSF's principle events, the Winter Party© and the annual Recognition Dinner, continuing as significant fundraisers for Miami-Dade's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to ensure that these wonderful events will continue their proud tradition of generating significant sums for organizations serving the Miami-Dade LGBT community," said Darrell Burks, the Chairman of the GLFSF Board of Directors.

"We are honored and privileged that the Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South Florida has passed to us the responsibility of continuing, building, and safeguarding the Winter Party and the Recognition Dinner for the benefit of the Miami-Dade LGBT community," said Matt Foreman, the Task Force's Executive Director.

GLFSF, formerly the Dade Human Rights Foundation, was founded in 1995. Since then it has distributed $1.2 million in grants to organizations serving the south Florida LGBT community. Its grants have ranged from over $100,000 to SAVE Dade in its successful campaign to preserve Miami-Dade's non-discrimination law to dozens of smaller grants to local educational, arts and social service organizations.

One of GLFSF's primary sources of income has been the Winter Party, held each March on Miami Beach and attracting 4,000 guests from across the country. For the last nine years, GLFSF has also held a reception or dinner to recognize leaders and contributors to south Florida's LGBT community. Past special guests include former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. GLFSF also managed several donor advised funds.

The Task Force is paying the Foundation an undisclosed sum for the events, which will cover the Foundation's outstanding obligations. The Foundation expects to formally dissolve in the near future. Each year going forward, two-thirds of the net proceeds of the Winter Party and Recognition Dinner will be donated to Miami-Dade LGBT organizations.

The Dade Community Foundation will create an independent grants advisory committee comprised of well-respected and experienced LGBT leaders and activists to review applications and recommend grant amounts. In addition, the donor advised funds now held by GLFSF will be transferred to the Dade Community Foundation.

GLFSF said it had entered into negotiations and reached an agreement with the Task Force because of the Task Forces long history of supporting grassroots activism and its unique connection to Miami-Dade. Last year, for example, the Task Force contributed nearly $700,000 in cash grants to state and local LGBT organizations, more than 20% its net income, an amount unmatched by any other gay organization.

Closer to home, in 2002, the Task Force contributed over $90,000 in the successful campaign to preserve Miami-Dade's sexual orientation non-discrimination law. (The Task Force's contribution was surpassed only by the amount contributed by the GLFSF.) In addition, the Task Force had staff on the ground in Florida for many months and brought nearly 100 staff and volunteers from across the country to help in the final weeks of the campaign.

"I know there's a feeling out there that national organizations come into local communities, take the cash, and run," Foreman said. "That's not who we are as an organization and our record and this agreement proves that."

"We're well-poised to produce Winter Party," said Task Force Development Director, Charles Robbins. "The seasoned and committed volunteer leadership that has insured the success of the Winter Party for so many years along with our professional fundraising team will make sure this event produces even more money for our community while maintaining its high standards of excellence."

The Task Force, founded in 1973 and with a current staff of 40 and a budget of $6.2 million, is bringing to bear significant organizational and staff resources to insure the events' success, starting from the top. For example, Foreman created and led for six years New York City's annual fireworks-capped Pride Dance on the Pier, which is always filled to capacity (7,000 guests) and has led large (1,300+) fundraising dinners featuring prominent keynoters such as former Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton. Chris Verdugo, another Task Force staff member, has particular experience with the Winter Party, including oversight of DJ's, the Saturday Pool party, the Salvation event on Saturday night, and the DJ showcase.

An event to thank last year's volunteers and kick-off planning for Winter Party 2005 will be held on Tuesday, August 24, at The Surfcomber hotel, beginning at 7 pm. For further information, please contact Chris Verdugo at cverdugo@thetaskforce.org.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.