$65 Million Left to Gay Groups Fighting for Equal Rights

[mondo joe]

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=weiland24&date=20080224&query=weiland

Ric Weiland, who helped his friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft, was a quiet philanthropist. But his final gift has provided one of the most powerful financial boosts ever to the gay-rights movement.

Weiland has left $65 million to the Pride Foundation in Seattle and 10 nonprofit organizations, believed to be the largest estate gift ever given to the gay and lesbian community in the U.S.

***

For the Pride Foundation, which has an annual budget of $2.5 million and endowment of $3 million, Weiland's gift of more than $19 million will significantly expand its efforts throughout the Northwest.

The money will support anti-discrimination campaigns and programs to help youths, develop future leaders and provide scholarships.

**************************************************************

From another news report at http://www.bilerico.com/2008/02/yes_i_am.php :

Through his estate, Weiland established a fund at Pride Foundation that will provide $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations that he personally selected. In addition, he
bequeathed $19 million directly to Pride Foundation for our scholarships and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community.

The following organizations will be receiving funding from the Weiland Designated Fund at Pride Foundation:


* amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research

* Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

* Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

* In The Life

* International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

* Lambda Legal

* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

* Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

* Project Inform

* Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

[hobbit709]

1. The fundies pointy little heads are gonna explode

Good for him.

[kikiek]

2. The fact that people have to fight for equal rights in a country that touts itself

as being the land of the free is hypocritical to me. The truth is that we don't really care about equal rights for anyone. Proves that all they really want is flag wavers willing to walk off the ledge for them. Not free thinkers who are truly equal.

[Arugula Latte]

3. That's great.

[mondo joe]

4. And he gaves millions during his life too. It must feel amazing to be able to

directly influence causes for good.