COMMUNITY FORUM
Continued from previous page
from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) not the "Socialist Democratic Workers Party" as indicated. The flyer distributed that evening listed the party name incorrectly.
Bob Laycock Cleveland
AIDS Walk numbers
To the Editors:
The financial success of the 1994 AIDS Walk has the community buzzing with excitement and the anticipation of increased services to those in need. The total amount of over $500,000 raised by the Walk includes both cash and in-kind donations. It is also the gross amount raised before expenses are deducted. I hope the balance of this letter clears up some of the misconceptions that currently exist. This is most easily accomplished by reviewing the event's Mission Statement:
"To increase AIDS awareness in our community and raise vitally needed funds to continue essential programs to meet the care needs of those living with AIDS/HIV and, through education, to prevent HIV infection and the spread of AIDS/HIV in Greater Cleveland."
The 1994 Walk generated an enormous amount of publicity in our community because of the support we received from our TV, radio and newspaper sponsors. Interviews with PWAS, the Honorary Chairs (Lee & Peggy Fisher), the Tree of Hope, numerous articles on AIDS/HIV and the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievements for Benefit of the Year for 1993 were the major highlights. This publicity is valuable in breaking down the barriers of bias and discrimination toward those in the spectrum. The effectiveness of this publicity is apparent when you look at the increased number of participants this year (nearly 3,000), especially from the high schools and colleges, from families, from the religious community and from the diverse cultures represented.
The in-kind donations totalled almost $350,000.
The actual cash donations are still pouring in, but estimates place that number from pledges, corporate sponsors, gifts, sales of Walk articles and Tree of Hope ribbons at about $170,000. The actual expenses for the event were limited to about $51,000 which leaves a net of about $120,000 to be distributed to the nine benefitting agencies. These funds will be used for prevention/education, services and programs for those in the spectrum, and advocacy.
This combined effort by nine agencies was very successful, but the net proceeds to the beneficiaries is no where near enough to meet the demands this epidemic presents to the Cleveland community. Please continue to send in your pledges and donations and make plans now to support AIDS Walk Cleveland '95.
Michael Readinger Chair, Steering Committee Cleveland
Voice your support
To the Editors:
I am an on-line account representative at AT & T in Phoenix, Arizona, very gay and very proud almost to the point of being militant these days.
According to "The 100 Best Companies For Gay Men And Lesbians," by Ed Mickens, "No company has had such a strong reputation as being gay-friendly for as long as Ma Bell, hiring without discrimination long before this became formal policy and fostering the most extensive lesbian and gay infrastructure in the business."
During the pre-Gay Games preparations, AT & T announced that it would be included on a list of supporters of the Games, along with Xerox, Miller Brewing Co., and LeviStrauss. There are watchdog opposition groups who target companies that promote diversity acceptance. By launching campaigns against those corporations, they seek to influence the decisions made by corporate leaders. Although their numbers are not great, they feel they have a cause and possess the ability to organize in a moment's notice to voice their disapproval of anything that may provide for homosexuals.
Whether or not the other companies received a lot of flack for their support of the Games, I don't know. I do know that AT&T is still hearing from these people and receiving their opinions of condemnation.
If our community allows only the negative feedback to be heard by the companies that provide for us, we run the risk of losing the ground we've gained in previous battleswe cannot afford to let this happen ever! Voice your support to those who support us. As an AT & T employee, I ask you to write to Bob Allen, CEO of AT & T, 295 N. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge, N.J., 07920, and provide positive feedback for supporting the Games. This will help us within the company set gay support and sponsorship as a priority and standard.
Tom Coon Phoenix, Ariz.
Now send letters via E-mail! chronohio@aol.com Community Forum
The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express your opinion about the community or the paper. Please, however, keep letters constructive, and avoid namecalling and personal attacks. Please be brief. We reserve the right to edit letters. We will print your name unless you specifically ask us not to.
Address letters to: Chronicle Editors, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio 44101; or P.O. Box 12235, Columbus, Ohio 43212; or e-mail chronohio@aol.com; or fax to 216-631-1082 (24 hours). Include your address and phone number so we may contact you to verify the letter.
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NOVEMBER 11, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 11
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