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The Day Te Be Gay Foundation was formed as a non-profit corporation in June, 2004 by the organizers of the Day to be Gay in the Catskills Festival (now in its 4th year) to produce the Festival, facilitate community cohesion and, most importantly, to raise money from the gay and lesbian community to support charities in the Catskills, Hudson Valley and Poconos regions.

 

Summer Kick-Off 2006
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday, May 27th 9PM to Midnight

The Day To Be Gay Foundation of Sullivan County will hold its annual summer kick off party on Saturday, May 27th at The Club House at Hills Country Inn in Callicoon Center. This will be a disco dance from 9 pm until midnight. Admission is $10 with a cash bar. The theme of the evening is Saturday Night Fever. DJ Dynomite will be spinning and playing classic disco hits from the 70's, 80's, 90's and today. Period disco costumes are appreciated. All are welcomed to attend.

The Club House at Hills Country Inn is located at Bethlehem Road and County Road 122 in Callicoon Center, NY. Dinner is available at Hills prior to the dance. For dinner reservations contact Hills at (845) 482-5026

The Day To Be Gay Foundation has established the Founders Circle to recognize the support of our most generous contributors during ort first year. Founders Circle membership is available to individuals, families or businesss pledging $250 or more. Please consider joining this important group with your generous pledge.

About the Day to be Gay Foundation

The Day to be Gay Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in the State of New York and designated by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) as a public charity.. We expect IRS approval of our application sometime this fall. While our application for 501(c)(3) status is pending, we are only accepting pledges, not actual contributions.

The purpose of the foundation, as stated in our incorporation papers, is "promoting community cohesion in Sullivan County, New York and in the neighboring Catskills, Hudson Valley and Poconos regions, including holding an annual musical and artistic event in Sullivan County which brings together the public to support lesbian and gay musicians and artists, holding other community events in Sullivan County and in the neighboring Catskills, Hudson Valley and Poconos regions, supporting charitable purposes in Sullivan County and in the neighboring Catskills, Hudson Valley and Poconos regions, and doing other activities related to increasing tolerance and awareness of lesbian and gay communities and individuals.

Members of the interim Board of Directors of the Foundation are:

Kathy Rieser, President. Kathy, a full time resident of Sullivan County, is the long-time host of the WJFF Radio show, "Out Loud and Queer", is the founder and producer of the Day to be Gay in the Catskills Festival, and was a founding organizer of gaysullivan.

David Knudsen, Vice President. David, also a full time resident of Sullivan County, is co-founder of gaysullivan, and has been involved with the Day to be Gay in the Catskills festival since its first year. He is also the President of WJFF / Radio Catskill.

Charles Baran, Treasurer and Secretary. Charles divides his time between Manhattan and his long time family home in Smallwood. Charles has been an enthusiastic organizer of the Day to be Gay in the Catskills Festival, as well as other gay and lesbian events in Sullivan County.

  

2005 Day To Be Gay Foundation Summer Kick Off, $7,000 Given to Local Charities

120 folks braved threatening skies to turn out for the Day To Be Gay Foundation's Summer Kick Off Party on Memorial Day weekend on the deck of the Fat Lady Cafe overlooking White Lake. The weather couldn't dampen the high spirits, aided by great food and music.


Kathy Rieser and David Knudsen of the DTBG Foundation present a check for $2,000 to John Nelson of Catskill Adolescent Treatment Services

As part of the afternoon, the Day To Be Gay Foundation presented checks totaling $6,000 to 3 local charities — Circles, the gay and lesbian adolescent support program of Planned Parenthood, the Catskill Adolescent Treatment Services Program of Catskills Regional Medical Center, and the Delaware Community Center. The foundation also made a special $1,000 grant earlier to New Light Media to help underwrite production costs for a new documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So, being produced by local filmmaker Dan Karslake. For The Bible Tells Me So, which has the support of Sundance, is a counterpoint to right wing Christian myths about gays and lesbians and includes interviews with many noted theologians including Desmond Tutu. (The film can use your individual support. Click on the link above for more information.)

The $7,000 distributed by the Foundation is the result of our first year fundraising efforts. Many thanks to all who contributed.

Contribute to the Day To Be Gay Foundation

The Day To Be Gay Foundation grew out of the successful annual Day To Be Gay festivals, with the purpose to raise money within the gay and lesbian community to benefit worthy causes here in Sullivan County and the surrounding areas. The Foundation has been granted charitable status by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contribution is tax deductible. Please consider making a generous contribution to the Foundation today.

Day To Be Gay Foundation Beneficiaries 2005

This year, the Board of Directors of the Day to be Gay Foundation has selected the following 5 non-profit organizations as beneficiaries of our fund-raising efforts. Our fundraising goal for this year is $25,000.

  • Circles, the gay and lesbian youth program sponsored by Planned Parenthood in the Catskills and Hudson Valley.

  • Patient Emergency Fund of the HIV/AIDS Program of Catskill Regional Medical Center.
  • Glen Wild Animal Rescue, an animal rescue and shelter organization totally supported by donations.

  • Just Cats, a sanctuary for cats in North Branch, NY, focusing on sheltering ill or otherwise unadolptable cats.

  • Out, Loud, and Queer, the weekly gay and lesbian radio program on WJFF 90.5 Community Radio.