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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.

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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

(cash or credit card)  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

Consider becoming a member of our Ultimate Sports Club.

Ø       Platinum Donor - $1,000

Ø       Gold Donor - $250

Ø       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

Ø       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

Ø       In children, involvement in sports has a very defining role, those that have echoing effects throughout their lives

Ø       If a child is ostracized from sport, anecdotal and documented evidence exists that there are effects throughout their life

Ø       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

Ø       Sports---professional, amateur and recreational—permeate the world’s culture

Ø       A way for impoverished children to pass the time and adults to bond, and a tool of diplomacy

Ø     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*)

Ø       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. 

Ø     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?

Ø       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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