The Pride Center at Equality Park

The Pride Center at Equality Park, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale
Formation 1993 (1993)
Founder
  • Alan Schubert
Type Charitable organization
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)[1]
Purpose Healthcare, Education, Ending HIV/AIDS
Headquarters Wilton Manors, Florida, United States
Area served
South Florida
Method Donations and Grants
Revenue
$2.2 million
Website pridecenterflorida.org

The Pride Center at Equality Park, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale “provides information, news and events that affect South Florida's LGBT community.”[2][3][4][5][6] Established in 1993, the center is headquartered within “30,000 square feet of meeting and office space for individuals, programs and services, as well as synergy among organizations” to “celebrate, nurture and empower the LGBTQ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida.”[2][7][8]

Pride Center Florida reports hosting “more than 60 regular meeting groups each month” serving “more than 25,000 adults and youth” annually with a focus on “HIV testing, education, outreach and risk reduction services to prevent the spread of HIV infection and to enhance HIV/AIDS awareness.”[9][10][11][12][13]

In 2015, Pride Center Florida generated more than $2 million in annual revenues, primarily from grants and government contracts of $1.2 million and $527,000 in annual members' dues and contributions. Net assets exceeded $6.2 million, including property and equipment valued at more than $5.3 million.[14] Programs are supported by a diverse group of local and national sponsors, such as Wells Fargo, Jet Blue,[15] Whole Foods, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Ketel One, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, and AHF AIDS Healthcare Foundation.[2]

SAGE, "the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults," is one of the center's most popular programs, including "398 active members" with "175 LGBT seniors attending weekly get-togethers." In August 2016, SAGE estimated there are "43,000 LGBT older adults in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties."[16]

The agency organizes an annual Tropical Plant Fair each spring, including several dozen vendor booths.[17]

Founder Alan Schubert

The Pride Center grew out of the initial vision of founder Alan Schubert, one of the earliest public leaders of Fort Lauderdale’s gay and lesbian community. Schubert died of cancer on June 1, 2016. He was 70 years old. Schubert's legacy includes the Pride Center where the main building bears his name and a long history of financial support and bringing community resources together on behalf of causes that included “the Broward Gay and Lesbian Youth Group, the Child Care Connection, the Jewish AIDS Network, Broward Public Library, Human Rights Campaign, Center One and Tuesday's Angels.”[18]

Upon his death, The Pride Center said: Alan Schubert's "impact on this community and beyond is immeasurable. In 1993, Schubert--philanthropist and gay pioneer--conceived the idea for the then Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida. Alan determined that a safe community center in Fort Lauderdale could assist existing and new groups serving the LGBTQ communities."[18]

Housing for LGBT Seniors

In August 2016, a partnership between the Pride Center and Carrfour Supportive Housing secured financing to develop, build and operate South Florida's first supportive housing community that will significantly serve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered seniors.[19][20][21] Carrfour’s competitive application for tax credits won funding from Florida Housing Finance Corporation for “housing credit and gap financing for affordable housing developments for persons with a disabling condition,” providing the financing needed to begin construction of The Residences at Equality Park as an initial 48-unit apartment complex on the Pride Center's campus at North Dixie Highway and Northeast 20th Drive in Wilton Manors, Florida.[22][23][24]

The effort to create affordable, supportive housing in Wilton Manors began in 2012 when City Commissioner Tom Green proposed development of affordable housing for the community’s primarily LGBT seniors.[25][26] Three years later, the proposal won unanimous support from the City Commission to create “12,346 square feet of retail space and 130 affordable housing units” within The Pride Center's five-acre campus.[2][27] Pride Center formally partnered with Carrfour to pursue funding, develop and operate the housing complex.[28]

Public Outreach

Since 2010, Pride Center Florida has published a quarterly newsletter, known as the Pride Center Voice. The newsletter is distributed in print and electronically. The organization also maintains an active social media presence, including on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.[2]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ GuideStar.org , accessed 2016-08-28
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 - Pride Center Florida Official Website.
  3. ↑ Miller, Marissa (2 February 2016). "A Concierge for Same-Sex Weddings in Florida". New York Times.
  4. ↑ Diaz, Johnny (12 June 2016). "As gay pride month begins, LGBT community reacts to mass shooting". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  5. ↑ Fox, Sheldon (13 June 2016). "As LGBT community mourns Orlando shooting victims, local entities show support". WSVN Channel 7.
  6. ↑ Diaz, Johnny (18 June 2016). "Wilton Manors Stonewall Festival: 'We are not going to be intimidated'". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  7. ↑ Diaz, Johnny (17 September 2015). "The Pride Center planning to build playground in Wilton Manors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  8. ↑ Shapiro-Sacks, Jennifer (1 July 2015). "LGBT center hosts first Diversity Honors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  9. ↑ Balter, Julie (22 February 2016). "Equality in LGBT health care". Miami Herald.
  10. ↑ Zinn, Dori (26 August 2016). "Mobile Mural Looks to Bring Attention to HIV/AIDS". South Florida Gay News.
  11. ↑ "2013 IRS 990" (PDF). The Pride Center. 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  12. ↑ Berardi, Tucker (17 August 2016). "Daddy's and Ice Cream: Pride Center launches new social". South Florida Gay News.
  13. ↑ Sturgis, Christina (16 August 2016). "'Gayborhoods' Offer Higher Home Values". Tampa Bay Times.
  14. ↑ "Consolidated Financial Statements 2015 and 2014" (PDF). The Pride Center. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  15. ↑ "JetBlue achieves top score in LGBT workplace equality". Jet Blue. 19 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Rothaus, Steve (23 August 2016). "SAGE for LGBT seniors to at last launch affiliate in Miami-Dade County". Miami Herald.
  17. ↑ "2016 Tropical Plant Fair" (PDF). The Pride Center. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  18. 1 2 "Pride Center Founder Dies: Cancer claims Alan Schubert". South Florida Gay News. 8 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Mask, Carina (12 June 2016). "The future of senior housing for the LGBTQ community". Miami Herald.
  20. ↑ Goldberg, Samantha (26 August 2016). "First Affordable LGBT Senior Housing to Rise in South Florida". Multi Housing News.
  21. ↑ "Carrfour plans affordable housing at Pride Center in Wilton Manors". South Florida Business & Wealth. 28 August 2016.
  22. ↑ Owers, Paul (23 August 2016). "Affordable housing project in Wilton Manors will cater to LGBT seniors". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  23. ↑ Kallergis, Katherine (23 August 2016). "Carrfour, the Pride Center team up for LGBT senior housing in Broward". South Florida Real Estate News.
  24. ↑ Bandell, Brian (23 August 2016). "Developer reveals plans for LGBT-focused senior housing community". South Florida Business Journal.
  25. ↑ Boo, Robert (1 February 2016). "Home Sweet Home: Center explores paths to affordable senior housing on campus" (PDF). Pride Center Voice.
  26. ↑ Borg, Jeff (2 May 2016). "Welcome to South Florida's gayborhoods". Miami Herald.
  27. ↑ d’Oliveira, Michael (5 November 2015). "Senior Residences Planned for Equality Park". South Florida Gay News.
  28. ↑ Croce, Brian (26 August 2016). "Senior LGBT Development on Tap for South Florida - Carrfour Supportive Housing has been selected to build 48 affordable apartments on The Pride Center's campus". Multi Family Executive.
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