Arcus Foundation announces fall cycle 2004 grant awards

KALAMAZOO – On Jan. 11, the Arcus Foundation announced the recipients of its fall cycle 2004 grant awards. More than $1.4 million will be distributed to 28 organizations awarded grants through the Foundation's four funding programs.
Grants to local, regional and national LGBT programs were awarded through the Arcus Gay & Lesbian Fund, the Arcus Fund and the Arcus National Fund. Grants to organizations that support the conservation and sanctuary of Great Apes were awarded through the Arcus Great Apes Fund.
"Our dedication to the advancement of social justice for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community nationwide continues to grow, and our investment is reflected in the grants earned by the outstanding work of our partners in that mission," said Linda May, the foundation's executive director.
The following organizations were awarded grants in the Fall 2004 funding cycle, totaling $1,411,446:
{BOLD Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund (southwest Michigan only)
Eight grants, totaling $149,886}
• Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo: $15,000 toward general operations and programs supporting, promoting and funding the arts.
• Brookview School, Benton Harbor: $25,000 to implement the community-wide Seeds of Tolerance project focusing on GLBT diversity.
• Gryphon Place, Kalamazoo: $12,209 in support of the Gatekeeper Program, a youth violence and suicide prevention program for students.
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College: $10,853 to sponsor the Cartoon Challenge public service announcement competition, part of the annual Kalamazoo Animation Festival International.
• Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, East Lansing: $25,000 for general operations, including a program designed to bridge the disabled and LGBT communities.
• Prevention Works, Kalamazoo: $39,324 over two years to support the Dive Into Diversity peer education program for youth.
• Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo: $9,000 to fund training for internal staff as well as area non-profits, and to support production of the annual volunteer opportunity guidebook.
• Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, Kalamazoo: $13,500 in support of community outreach programs including Dance in the Schools.
{BOLD Arcus Fund (Michigan statewide)
Eight grants, totaling $220,560}
• Affirmations Lesbian/Gay Community Center, Ferndale: $25,000 to support the new Outreach and Education Program for underserved members of the LGBT community and for diversity training services.
• Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan, Kalamazoo: $108,560 to support a statewide study to determine if LGBT persons are experiencing housing discrimination.
• Kalamazoo Gay/Lesbian Resource Center: $18,000 for general operations providing outreach and community services for sexual minority people in Southwest Michigan.
• Karibu House, Detroit: $2,000 for general operations and programs for LGBT people of color in metropolitan Detroit.
• Third Level, Traverse City: $17,000 in matching grant funds to support the Project YES Hub Initiative, providing LGBT youth outreach programs.
• TransGender Michigan, Swartz Creek: $5,000 for general operations and programs striving for social justice and equality for transgender individuals and allies.
• Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA), Grand Rapids: $36,000 over two years to support art therapy classes for LGBT youth.
• YWCA of Bay County, Bay City: $9,000 in support of the Womyn's Circle support group, LGBT diversity training for staff, board and volunteers, and diversity outreach events.
{BOLD Arcus National Fund
Eight grants, totaling $925,000}
• Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC); Washington, D.C.: $300,000 over three years; $50,000 general operating support and a $50,000 challenge grant per year, for programs working to fight discrimination and violence based on gender stereotypes.
• Intersex Society of North America; Rohnert Park, Calif.: $50,000 for general operations and programs devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with atypical anatomies.
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Los Angeles, Calif.: $425,000 for the Organizing & Training Program, which identifies and trains LGBT community leaders nationwide.
• Public Interest Productions; Santa Monica, Calif.: $35,000 to produce the Young Couples Project, a positive LGBT public service announcement campaign to be aired on mtvU.
• Progressive Media Project, Madison, Wis.: $10,000 for general operations, including the "Queer Voices" op-ed series, a writing course for LGBT activists.
• Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE); New York, N.Y.: $25,000 for the National Aging Initiatives program working toward LGBT representation at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.
• Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); New York, N.Y.: $65,000 to enhance community advocacy efforts to protect and expand sexuality education programs and policies.
• Soulforce, Lynchburg, Va.: $15,000 in support of general operations including education and outreach committed to ending anti-gay religious teachings.
{BOLD Arcus Great Apes Fund
Four grants, totaling $116,000}
• In Defense of Animals – Africa; Beaverton, Ore.: $36,000 general operations support of Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, Africa.
• Orangutan Foundation International; Los Angeles, CA: $10,000 in support of the Orangutan Care and Quarantine Center program in Passir Panjang, Borneo, Indonesia.
• Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA); Los Angeles, Calif.: $5,000 to support the PASA 2005 Management Workshop.
• Primate Rescue Center; Nicholasville, Ky.: $65,000 total; $40,000 over two years for general operating expenses and a $25,000 matching grant for expansion of the chimpanzee enclosures.
Founded in 2000 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Arcus Foundation seeks to contribute to a pluralistic society that celebrates diversity and dignity, invests in youth and justice and promotes tolerance and compassion. The Arcus Foundation awards grants in the spring and fall.
For more information on the Arcus Foundation, visit www.arcusfoundation.org.