LGBT donors unite for Haiti

San Francisco, Jan. 28, 2010 – The American Red Cross reports that its new LGBT Haiti Relief Fund has already raised more money than many big corporate donors.  The humanitarian nonprofit reached out to the LGBT community through donors and activists and also used an email campaign to send its message to members of three LGBT cruise companies, Olivia, Atlantis and RSVP. The community responded by raising over $150,000 for the fund within a week.

"Over the last week we have seen a wonderful broadening of this initiative within our community," says Claire Lucas, a well-known community activist and fundraiser who helped the American Red Cross create the fund. It started with the LGBT cruise companies and quickly expanded to include other organizations and individual contributors. Lucas notes, "Just this morning, three very diverse LGBT groups approached us to join the initiative; the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission based in New York, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center/Pride Center representing Southern Florida and a donor-directed community fund at the Alaska Community Foundation."

The cruise companies donated cruise packages, held an upgrade auction and matched funds as pledges reached record amounts within a few hours. "We are reaching out to all LGBT organizations and individuals to become part of this relief fund effort and get the word out everywhere," said Judy Dlugacz, president and founder of Olivia Companies, which targets lesbian travelers. "If we all work together we can provide enormous support to the Haiti relief efforts."

To contribute to the fund, visit: http://american.redcross.org/LGBT-pub.