GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE May 18, 2012

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www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

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The Cleveland Food Bank SNAP and more

by Jamie Sullivan

Cleveland The Cleveland Foodbank understands that times are tough and money is tight for many Northeast Ohioans. In order to help Northeast Ohio families, the Foodbank started a new benefit outreach program to make the application process quick and easy for over 20 programs including SNAP (food stamps), prescription benefits, child care vouchers, WIC, medical coverage, and other assistance programs. The Foodbank has a team of benefit counselors that can assist people through the application process over the phone. We also have outreach counselors that are located throughout our sixcounty service area (counties include Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Ashland, and Richland) who can help people apply face to face. If people are not currently receiving SNAP (food assistance formerly called food stamps) call the Foodbank today to determine your eligibility, find helpful resources in your community, and apply for assistance all in one call.

Eligibility is based on monthly income and expenses including medical, rent, and utilities. If any individual makes less than $1,200 per month they may be eligible for assistance. This assistance is available for seniors, students, families, full and parttime workers, unemployed, and all individuals, 18 years of age or older, who are struggling to make ends meet. Food assistance is not a charity program, it is an entitlement program and is given to anyone who qualifies. If you have never used assistance programs before and have general questions, please call 216-738-2067.

Ever year more than $2 billion dollars of benefits go unclaimed in the state of Ohio. This is money that could be used in our local economy and to stimulate local business. By applying and using these benefits, we are working to keep federal dollars in Northeast Ohio and helping your family have

access to healthy and nutritious food. Call to apply today! The Cleveland Foodbank can also connect you to farmers' markets in your area that accept food assistance.

For more information or to apply, call the Cleveland Foodbank Benefit Help Line at 216-738-2067 Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 4p.m.

Services provided:

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· Application over the phone

• Links to local pantries and hot meals Community Resources and Referrals

• Eligibility Screening

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Find an Outreach Counselor in your community to help you apply face to face.

Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4p.m. at the Cleveland Foodbank, 15500 South Waterloo Road, Cleveland.

Jamie Sullivan is the SNAP Outreach Program Manager for the Cleveland Foodbank.

One Decade, One Diva, One Night to Remember: The GCEF celebrates ten years

by Christopher Hixson

Akron-Tickets are now on sale for the Gay Community Endowment Fund's 10th anniversary celebration event on the stage of the historic Akron Civic Theater, featuring cocktails, dinner and a cabaret performance by songwriter/singer Ann Hampton Callaway on Friday, June 8.

In the 2009 Advocate story detailing her coming out, Ann said, "I'm not only a singer, but also a citizen. There is more work to be done, and I want to be a a part of it." Best known for her Tony-nominated performance in Swing! and for writing and singing the theme song to TV's The Nanny, Ann Hampton Callaway is a platinum-award winning lyricist, composer and pianist, and has songs featured on six of Barbra Streisand's CDs. She is the only composer to have collaborated with Cole Porter, and her albums have reached the Billboard Jazz Charts. She sings regularly with the world's top orchestras, including Cleveland Orchestra in 2010, and just this month with the Boston Pops and at Jazz at Lincoln Center. When not touring solo or with her sister Liz Callaway, Ann and her partner Kari Strand live in New York.

During this 10th anniversary milestone celebration, the Gay Community Endowment Fund will also announce its exciting new educational initiative, which will expand the fund's umbrella of community support and engagement.

In the past year alone, GCEF has funded antibullying programs and messages for children, a youth support group for LGBT teens and an outreach program for at-risk LGBT senior citizens. Grant funding made it possible for 16 students from four local colleges to attend the

MASSAGE THERAPY

Brian Keating

3052 West Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44111 216-671-0663

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference, where they met peers and learned skills to become our community's future leaders and change-makers. Grant funding created a community outreach program at Battered Women's Shelter to educate employees and volunteers about same-sex domestic violence; a program for forensic nurses to properly recognize and treat same-sex domestic violence and assault victims; and free food and supplement services to in-need LGBT individuals through Mobile Meals. GCEF supported cultural events, too, including grants for LGBT programming to Verb Ballets, Akron Film+Pixel Festival, and Kent State's award-winning student-produced LGBT magazine Fusion.

GCEF was one of the first funds of its kind in the United States: a community-based charitable fund for the LGBT community. As a permanent fund, donors and supporters know that their gifts will fund important programs not just this year but every year forever. Future generations will continue to reap the benefits of today's

donors' generosity. Through gifts, bequests, and income from the annual Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes, the fund has grown to more than $700,000 in assets, and funds nearly $30,000 in grants annually to a wide variety of worthy programs through a competitive grant application process open to any organization in the region.

Tickets to One Decade, One Diva, One Night to Remember! are $100 ($50 tax deductible) to $200 ($150 tax deductible), and proceeds will benefit the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation. Seating is limited to just 200 guests and will be cabaretstyle, directly on the stage of the Civic for a truly intimate and memorable experience. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.gaycommunityfund.org/tickets or call 330✓

376-8522.

Christopher Hixson is the event chair for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.

GIFT goes back to the 80's

by Ed Progar

Cleveland-The Cleveland GIFT Committee, under the direction of Eric Strong, is ready to present their 24th bowling tournament. This year's event, "Cleveland GIFT Goes Back to the 80s," will be held the weekend of June 8 10, with a guaranteed $10,000 prize fund.

(Although USBC Rules are used as guidelines, Cleveland GIFT is not a USBC sanctioned event.)

Once again, numerous fund raisers have enabled the committee to hold the entry fee at a very low $69. Miller Lite, Republic Services, Storm Bowling Supplies, Marriott Cleveland Airport, Twist Social Club and BKF Computer Services are, once again, proud sponsors of GIFT 2012.

Since its inception in 1985, besides providing quality competition and entertainment to kick off summer on the North Coast, the GIFT Committee has donated well over $10,000 to various organizations in the Greater Cleveland/Akron area.

The 23rd edition of GIFT last June, which was deemed a huge success, drew a "sold out"' roster of bowlers to Cleveland from all over the U. S. and Canada. For the first time in the history of the GIFT tournament, organizers were forced to turn away a number of prospective participants. Eric and the rest of the committee are committed to making GIFT 24 even better. Once again, the Cleveland Airport Marriott will be the Host Hotel for the weekend's non-bowling, events, including the registration party on Friday night, June 8, and a hospitality suite for bowlers and

guests throughout the weekend. The Marriott will also serve as the venue for the awards banquet shortly after the team event concludes on Sunday.

Spectators and supporters are welcome to attend the bowling events which will be housed for the third consecutive year at Freeway Lanes of Parma, 12859 Brookpark 'Road, off I-480, just east of W. 130th Street. Singles and Doubles will take place on Saturday, June 9, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Team competition will occur on Sunday, June 10, from 10 am to 1 pm.

The GIFT Committee will once again be hosting the annual GIFT Cruise on the Goodtime III (sponsored again by Twist Social Club) on Saturday evening, June 9, featuring dancing and live performances by the incomparable Lounge Kitty. This event, as always, is open to the public and boarding passes can be purchased in advance (beginning Memorial Day weekend at various GLBT establishments in Cleveland and Akron) for $20 and at the 9th Street Pier (behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) the day of the cruise for $25. Last year over 600 guests enjoyed this 21⁄2 hour trip up and down the Cuyahoga River and on Lake Erie as the sun set on the North Coast.

Further information about the tournament and cruise is available on the GIFT website, www.clevelandgift.org.

♡

Ed Progar is a Cleveland GIFT Committee member.

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