The Legacy Fund Grants $17,500 to Stonewall Columbus for “Trailblazers” Initiatives
Contact:
Leslie Fine, Grants Chair
The Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation
614-309-3312
Fine.5@osu.edu
The Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation is pleased to announce that it awarded a grant of $17,500 to Stonewall Columbus for a year-long comprehensive initiative in 2012 to address the unique challenges of aging in the LGBT Community. The “Trailblazers” effort will include classes for seniors to improve computer literacy, financial planning seminars and classes on the unique legal challenges for LGBT seniors and their families. In addition, the initiative will educate caregivers of LGBT seniors. Stonewall Columbus will also host arts and leisure activities and outings for local LGBT seniors.
Leslie Fine, Chair of the Legacy Fund Grants committee, explained that aging is a fact of life that presents special challenges to LGBT citizens because they are often not protected by legal marriage and because many do not have children who can care for them. The Committee decided to create a strategic focus on aging, with the hope that many organizations in the Central Ohio area would be motivated to comprehensively address the long-terms needs of the elder LGBT population. Fine said that the Stonewall proposal was impressive in its scope and in the number of other agencies and organizations partnering to provide education and services.
Upon receiving notice of the grant, Karla Rothan, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, said, “Stonewall Columbus has long recognized that our LGBT Seniors are the most underserved segment of our population and the most difficult to engage in our community. While great strides have been made in furthering equality and social acceptance for LGBT Americans in the last decade, evidence shows that our LGBT seniors have been left behind; the very same “trailblazing” generation that paved the path for our continuing progress towards equality today. So it is with great appreciation and dedication that we accept the partnership with The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation to create and implement a robust, sustainable and comprehensive program for our LGBT Seniors. The Legacy Fund grant will finally allow us to serve our LGBT Seniors in the complete and respectful manner they rightfully deserve.”
The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation is one of just a handful of permanent funds across the country that specifically addresses the future needs of the GLBT Community by building capital today. To learn more about the Legacy Foundation, please visit our web site: www.The LegacyFund.org.
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