Champaign IL new LGBTQA center in Pepsi Refresh voting

fromdecatur

I no longer live near here but wanted to support their cause. Pepsi Refresh voting is easy–you can do it through facebook or just through an anonymous e-mail. There is a new batch of causes each month and the top vote-getters each month get their project funded. This would be a great thing for that area--even moreso for the rural towns around Champaign. Please pass the info along to any supportive groups.

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 9:40 AM
Dear family and friends,

I am writing today because I need your help. Some of you know that I am on the Board of Directors for a new LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and ally) community center, The UP (Uniting Pride) Center of Champaign County. We have been fortunate to become a grant nominee in the Pepsi Refresh project (www. refresheverything.com). The grants are awarded based soley on votes from the general public. We have applied for $50,000 in order to pay for space and utilities in which to provide services and programs for the LGBTQA community in Champaign County. I need your help in order for us to win this grant!

As some of you also may know, I came out as lesbian in this community. When I came out there was no community center and no central location to receive information and support, other than the campus LGBT Resource Center. As a non-student (at that time), I didn't feel comfortable accessing that service. I was fortunate to have supportive family and friends, however, many LGBTQ people are not so lucky. This community center is a VITAL part of the Champaign County community. We are already providing programs for youth, adults, seniors, families, and special interest groups (writers, athletes, etc.). We NEED a physical space in which to provide these programs and services!

Please consider helping me and The UP Center by signing onto www. refresheverything.com/upcenter, creating your FREE account, and voting daily (once per day) in September in order to help us win this grant. We can't do it without your support and assistance. It really will take only moments per day. You can also vote via text or through facebook (see the site for more information).

If you have questions about The UP Center (www. unitingpride.org) or the grant, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I understand what a good cause this is but I had to remove the live links from this post.