Pride Guide 2001

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-9

Small business sponsors help make Pride happen

by Darnell Frazier

Cleveland-Last year, I became a volunteer at Cleveland Pride. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to become a board member. With my background in fundraising and public relations, I decided to work with corporate sponsorships co-coordinator Mike

Flickinger and the committee on soliciting small business to round out our corporate sponsorships program. As our luck would have it, we had a successful campaign and met our goals.

This year, with lots of companies downsizing their staffs and more GLBT nonprofits soliciting corporate funds, we

A midsummer's night dream is theme of PRYSM prom

Cleveland-"Fag hags are the backbone of the gay community. Yeah, we were there with you from the beginning.

We went to prom with you.. buttoning up your cummerbund, dancing the 'Safety Dance'."

---Margaret Cho, comedienne

are $10 per guest and $15 per couple. For guests who only want to boogie, tickets will be $5 per guest. Dinner begins at 6 pm. Dance begins at 8 pm. The whole event wraps up at midnight.

Bonga Who Live Bys & Set Wielke fris

RYSM

PRY

Yes, it's back! The prom your mother warned you about is here, PRYSM Prom 2001: A Midsummer's Night Dream.

The prom will be held, well, in the middle of summer, at the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center, 6600 Detroit Ave., on Saturday, June 30.

Tickets for both the dinner and the dance

Get carbur Birj

In order to purchase a ticket, guests must be between the ages of 13 to 20. Guests are

also asked to provide proper I.D. at the door. For more details or if you are interested in making a contribution to PRYSM (Presence and Respect for Youth in Sexual Minority) to help cover the DJ, food, decorations, etc. call the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center at 216651-5428. Ask for Karl.

Asians and Friends to add Eastern flair to Pride event

Cleveland-Like similar groups in New York, Toronto, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Asians and Friends Cleveland will show its pride with a little Asian flair in the Cleveland parade.

has been

Cleveland dubbed 'The Far East of the Great Midwest.'

The Cleveland group will again be joined by members of Asians and Friends Pittsburgh and Asians and Friends Columbus. The purpose of the groups is provide a social experience for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Asians and others who are interested in Asian culture.

Throughout the year, the group participates in events such as Asian Pacific Heritage month and throws the largest Chinese New Year event in Ohio. Social and business meetings are held each month.

Asians and Friends Cleveland has proven to the GLBT community and the non-GLBT community alike, that northeast Ohio has a vibrant and active GLBT Asian community. Hosting the International Friendship Weekend conference in 1998 brought hundreds of GLBT Asians to Cleveland and raised the group's visibility. It is now one of the most active and prominent GLBT social groups in Ohio.

In fact, Cleveland has been dubbed "The Far East of the Great Midwest" in part, due to the 1998 weekend and the presence of

the group.

Asians and Friends partners with many other social organizations, including Black and White Men Together and Girth and Mirth for activities and events.

Members have reservations to attend the 2001 International Friendship Weekend in Houston.

Following the Pride parade and festival, Asians and Friends will hold its annual beach party and cookout for those who participated in the parade.

Visit Asians and Friends Cleveland at www.geocities.com/afcleveland or call for information at 216.226.6080 ext.3.

knew we had an obstacle ahead of us. We had to raise at least $23,000 this year to ensure that our main Pride event would go on without a hitch. In order to do this, we planned to create more avenues for small businesses to become corporate sponsors in support of Cleveland Pride and its festivities.

It was a challenge. Without the added support and generous giving of some of our local nonprofit organizations, small businesses and corporate sponsors, we have raised more than 85% of our 2001 goal. To this success we owe much thanks to the gay establishments and GLBT friendly businesses in the Greater Cleveland area.

We still need more support. So, if you would like to have your business become one of many small businesses who support Cleveland Pride through making a corporate donation, ranging from $250 to $2.000, we have several opportunities for your business. Some packages include Pride memora-

FIF TH

bilia and official "Imagine" Pride T-shirts. Other small business sponsorships are based on your pledge-and how much of your marketing budget you'd want to invest. Remember. Pride's mailing list targets more than 7.500 people and businesses in the Greater Cleveland area.

To make a pledge to this year's "Imagine" Cleveland Pride, you can visit our web site at www.clevelandpride.org and enroll your business as a corporate sponsor. Or, you can contact Brynna or Frazier at 216-371-0214 and we'll take your pledge. Make sure that your business supports Pride 2001.

Thanks again for your support. For those of you who have supported us in the past and this year, we appreciate your continued support and look forward to working with you on future Prides. ✓

Darnell Frazier is Cleveland Pride's corporate sponsorships co-coordinator.

ANNUAL

LANDFEST 2001

JULY

20-22, 2001

EGG MO O.N FARM

KIMBILIO FARM

Come join us for our 5th Annual LandFest, a special event for women. Gather to enjoy wimmin's land in Holmes County, Ohio. Participate in the process of forming community by camping, eating wonderful food, enjoying wymyn's music, working talking, playing together, experiencing great workshops, exploring this beautiful land and maybe even washing a few dishes.

For more information about this fund raising event for Egg Moon Farm or to register: 216.459.1950 or 330.378.2481

Join us for the day! Egg Moon Farm Open House, Saturday, July 7. Come early, stay late. Lunch at 1pm. Meet us and see our land. Info/Carpooling: Judy 216.227.1243

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