Newsletter

Phoenix – To help commemorate the 10 Year Anniversary of Rainbows Festival, Phoenix Pride and Aunt Rita’s Foundation paid a special honor to Mr. Don Hamill for his longtime dedication to the Phoenix LGBTQ community. Hamill served as a board member of Phoenix Pride for over nine years and currently serves as a board member for Aunt Rita’s Foundation. For over 20 years now, Hamill has given his time to numerous organizations all working to serve, promote and improve the Phoenix LGBTQ community.

As a member of the board of Phoenix Pride, Hamill served as the Director of Exhibitors, Media and Sponsorship 2001-2005; Vice President of Administration 2005-2007; Vice President of Marketing 2007-2008; and Vice-Chair 2008-2009. Don was the recipient of the 2003 Pride President’s Award. Don’s extensive experience in marketing and management helped bring Phoenix Pride to a new level.

Brandi Sokolosky, Executive Director of Phoenix Pride said, “I am so proud to call Don Hamill one of my mentors. Don is what most would call an idea man and most of those ideas come to him at 4:00 in the morning. I can’t count the number of amazing ideas he generated so early in the morning. The brainstorming sessions we have shared over the years have helped me not only grow professionally but personally. Don has one of the biggest hearts, he cares for his community very much and I’m forever grateful for our mentorship and friendship.”

“Don Hamill’s involvement with Aunt Rita’s Foundation began in 2008 when a group of people, Don being one, approached us about bringing AIDS Walk back to Phoenix. Two years ago, Don agreed to lend his expertise and energy to serve as a member of the Aunt Rita’s Foundation Board of Directors. Aunt Rita’s Foundation has been extremely fortunate to have Don’s involvement and we thank him for all that he has done for Aunt Rita’s Foundation and the community.” says Kit Kloeckl, Executive Director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation.

On Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 5:30pm on the main stage of Rainbows Festival, Don Hamill was presented an award that read, “Phoenix Pride & Aunt Rita’s Foundation recognize the leadership ofDon Hamill, whose vision inspired a decade of Rainbows Festival, the growth of Phoenix Pride and the rebirth of AIDS Walk Phoenix.” From our organizations to Mr. Don Hamill, Happy Anniversary! Congratulations for an amazing 10 years with Rainbows Festival, the best Urban Street Fair in Arizona!

About Phoenix Pride: The mission of Phoenix Pride is to celebrate and promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the metropolitan Phoenix LGBTQ community. Phoenix Pride organizes the annual Phoenix Pride Parade and Festival as well as anAwards Gala, Miss & Mister Phoenix Gay Pride Pageant and OUTdayPHX, a celebration of National Coming OUT Day. Through these events, Phoenix Pride raises money for the Phoenix Pride Community Foundation that
supports the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Program, Community Grants Program and the Partnership Program serving individuals and organizations in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Phoenix Pride was founded in 1981. More information can be found at www.PhoenixPride.org.

About Aunt Rita’s Foundation: Aunt Rita’s Foundation raises and equally distributes money to Central Arizona programs that prevent HIV/AIDS or assist those living with HIV/AIDS. Aunt Rita’s Foundation accomplishes this through direct public education and signature fund-raising events. More information can be found at www.auntritas.org

Phoenix – On Sunday, October 2, 2011 after 10 amazing years, Don Hamill, owner of Rainbows Festival, announced he is passing the torch to Phoenix Pride, producers of the annual Pride Parade and Festival. In its 10th year, Rainbows Festival has become a local favorite, attracting over 10,000 attendees from all over Arizona. Its diverse entertainment, family friendly environment and free admission are just a few reasons behind the festivals increasing popularity. Don Hamill, the event’s founder and parting owner says the success of his event can be accredited to the “fun and friendly atmosphere where people can bring their children, their partners, and their friends and enjoy Arizona’s greatest Street Fair.”

The acquisition of Rainbows Festival will be official for Phoenix Pride as of November 1, 2011. The decision to acquire Rainbows Festival was made by a unanimous vote from Phoenix Pride Board of Directors on Monday, September 12, 2011. “With the addition of Rainbows Festival to the lineup of annual events, Phoenix Pride can better serve the needs of our community,” says Brandi Sokolosky, Executive Director of Phoenix Pride. “The board of directors and staff are committed to the continued success of Rainbows Festival, so much so that every member of our board made it perfectly clear during our last board meeting that Rainbows Festival will always be a community event for everyone to enjoy. It is important for Pride, as an organization, to continue to offer a family friendly event that is free to the public, especially with Rainbows Festival now being the official home of Phoenix Pride’s OUTday PHX, a celebration of National Coming OUT Day.”

Throughout the year, Phoenix Pride hosts a series of community events with the goal of raising money for the Phoenix Pride Community Grants Program, Scholarship Program and the Pride Partnership Program. The Pride Community Grants Program helps fund non-profit organizations that serve the needs of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community.

The Pride Scholarship Program assists college bound LGBTQ identified students to begin or continue their academic careers. Since 2008, Pride will have contributed over $300,000 back into the Phoenix LGBTQ community. The acquisition of Rainbows Festival will allow Phoenix Pride’s Community Foundation to develop its giving programs into self-sustaining funds that will benefit the LGBTQ community’s future needs. “Our goal is to grow the grants and scholarship programs in order to better provide for the needs of the LGBTQ community,” says Sokolosky. Are there plans to grow Rainbows Festival? Sokolosky says, “Yes, growth is inevitable but it will be gradual. Phoenix Pride is known for being over the top so you can bet you will see changes but the one change you will not see is an admission fee added for Rainbows Festival, it will remain a free event to the public. Phoenix Pride is committed to the success of AIDS Walk Phoenix and we will continue the collaboration that has been built between Rainbows Festival and Aunt Rita’s Foundation. In 2012 you will see the addition of the OUTday PHX Stage, featuring Coming OUT Stories presented through every form of artistic expression from local community members, community leaders, local celebrities and national celebrities. We are excited for the opportunities this acquisition will open up for Phoenix Pride to better serve the members of our community and we truly can’t wait to get started.”

About Phoenix Pride: The mission of Phoenix Pride is to celebrate and promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the metropolitan Phoenix LGBTQ community. Phoenix Pride was founded in 1981. More information can be found at www.PhoenixPride.org.

Phoenix ‐ On August 1st,the Phoenix Pride Board of Directors voted to award $5,000 to ThisisHOW, a local organization whose mission includes creating opportunities that empower transgender people to succeed in accomplishing their goals, and reconnect with themselves and others.

ThisisHOW has launched a new project “Life Made Better –Our Own Place” after their current property, which was leased, recently received a notice of foreclosure. The property is home to 8 residents who are members of the most under served population in the Phoenix metro area. The organization must raise a minimum of $20k to ensure their current level of service to the community. Through their housing, education and empowerment programs,they have helped over 500 individuals since their launch 6 years ago.

Brandi Sokoloski, Executive Director of Phoenix Pride commented, “in addition to our yearly Parade and Festival,the Phoenix Pride organization works to promote the success of every member of the LGBTQ community. The decision to award $5,000 to the ‘Life Made Better –Our Own Place’ project helps members of our community build better lives for themselves and overcome the many challenges that members of the trans community have to confront on a daily basis.”

ThisisHOW’s Executive Director, Antonia D’orsay is “ecstatic!” She commented, “this has re-energized the staff and board and has given us the energy to move forward to accomplishing the rest of our fundraising goal.”

The donation from Phoenix Pride puts the organization $6,000 short of reaching their fundraising goal. If you’d like to donate, visit www.thisishow.org.

About Phoenix Pride: Phoenix Pride is a local nonprofit whose mission is to celebrate and promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the metropolitan Phoenix LGBTQ community. The organization organizes the yearly gay pride parade and festival in April, as well as a series of community events including the Mister & Miss Gay Pride Pageant, Pride Gala, OUTday PHX. Phoenix Pride raises money to support LGBTQ serving organizations through the Phoenix Pride Partnership and Grants Programs. Additionally,the Phoenix Pride supports college bound LGBTQ students through the Pride Scholarship Fund. www.phoenixpride.org

About ThisisHOW: ThisisHOW is a local nonprofit whose mission is to create opportunities and environments that empower transgender people to recover,to succeed in accomplishing goals,to reconnect with themselves and others, and strive for a purpose in life,making them healthy, vibrant and whole.

www.thisishow.org