Donating to GLAF
We live in a society obsessed with, and in important ways
influenced by, sports. The implication for gays and lesbians is
clear. Our full acceptance by the wider society depends in part on
our making inroads into what until now has been one of the last
acceptable bastions of homophobia, sports.
OR
to make your tax-deductible donation online. PDF or
Word
and our 501(c)3 papers or mail a
check to
GLAF, PO Box 425034, Cambridge, MA 02142, or email
donate@glaf.org
We are a
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund/GuideStar approved charity and you
may donate using your Fidelity account or donate directly to us
Top 3 reasons why you should donate:
- The sports industry affects what we SEE, what we HEAR, and how we FEEL – an
influential communications vehicle (a
$213 billion industry*)
- Engage the gay and lesbian community in support of creating
positive role models and heroes
- Involvement with our ground-breaking conference that
addresses the last bastion of homophobia
“Looking at
the greater impact on society, the conference isn’t just for ‘jocks’
but it’s for everyone and it’s about growing up and having positive
role models, mentors, and heroes. Could we save lives in the process
and at least make the coming out process less painful and less
shameful? Consider stories like those of Matthew Shepard and how it
could be different.” – Mac Chinsomboon, GLAF Executive Director
Consider becoming a member of our Ultimate
Sports Club.
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Platinum Donor - $1,000
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Gold Donor - $250
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Silver Donor - $100
"Looking at the greater impact on society,
the conference isn’t just for ‘jocks’ but it’s for everyone and it’s
about growing up and having positive role models, mentors, and
heroes. Could we save lives in the process and at least make the
coming out process less painful and less shameful? Consider stories
like those of Matthew Shepard and how it could be different.” –
Mac Chinsomboon, GLAF Executive Director
Affecting Youth Through Sports
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For many, often the first type of hero
or role model a child takes on is that of a sports hero, television
show hero, or comic book hero
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In children, involvement in sports has
a very defining role, those that have echoing effects throughout
their lives
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If a child is ostracized from sport,
anecdotal and documented evidence exists that there are effects
throughout their life
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Youth thinking is very moldable and
often prejudices that may be encumbering in life are often developed
during those formidable years
Affecting society through sports
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Sports---professional, amateur and
recreational—permeate the world’s culture
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A way for impoverished children to
pass the time and adults to bond, and a tool of diplomacy
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The sports industry is pervasive in what we SEE, what
we HEAR, and how we FEEL – a great communications vehicle (a
$213 Billion industry last year, which is far more than twice the
size of the U.S. auto industry and seven times the size of the movie
industry*)
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Like nothing else sports bring
communities together, from small ones like Norman, Oklahoma
(University of Oklahoma football) to big ones like New England
(Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics) to even bigger ones like Brazil (the
country’s 2002 World Cup victory unified its rich South and poor
North). A survey by Deloitte & Touche revealed that New York
area residents believed that professional sports played a positive
role in comforting and unifying the country in the weeks following
September 11th and has played a role in helping the country recover
from the attacks.
Ø From childhood to retirement, sports
play a huge role in our emotional and physical well-being. Some of
the most formative experiences growing up happen on a field, court
or track. As children, the interaction with team mates is often
where we all learn our social skills that are then refined through
out our adult years. And, besides parents and teachers, no group of
adults has a greater impact on a kid’s development than coaches.
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Sports terminology and metaphors
permeate our politics and culture. Need proof? Here are two
examples. When a politician gives a great speech or a movie has a
smash opening weekend, they are said to have “hit a homerun.” How
many times has somebody told you to “get on the ball” when you’ve
fallen behind on a project or misplaced something?
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Sports is a platform for social change
(e.g. business often purchase sky boxes; stadium naming rights;
corporate sponsorships; etc)
All donations are 501(c)3 tax-deductible,
our documentation, and
printout of your receipt
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