Evan's 10th Pride Run - LGBTQ2I Community Relief
Tax deductible
THE SHORT VERSION
This year would have been my 10th Pride Run, marking my 10 year coming out-iversary, and I was on track to surpass $25K raised over my 10 years of running. And while Pride festivities and the Pride Run may be cancelled, I've chosen to head to the LGBTQ+ village on Saturday, June 27 and run the Pride Run route anyway. There's never been a more important time to support the LGBTQ+ community than now.
So help me achieve my goal by supporting The 519 - a charity at the forefront of the COVID-19 response within the LGBTQ+ community. All donations larger than $20 are tax-deductible.
THE LONG VERSION
My Story
It was 10 years ago this past May that I felt safe and ready to come out and live my life authentically for the first time. In that time, I've found such comfort in being part of the LGBTQ+ community here in Toronto and have been fortunate enough to meet and recent marry my husband, Jason.
All those years ago, I made a commitment to myself and my community that I would use my privilege to be a voice for others and support my community as best I could. One way to do that was to participate in the annual Pride and Remembrance Run, through which - together with my friends and family - we've raised over $22,000 for LGBTQ+ charities in Toronto over my 9 years of running.
Why the Pride Run?
This year would have been my 10th Pride Run, on track to exceed $25,000 raised.
Since 1996, the Pride and Remembrance Run has taken place on Pride weekend in Toronto with the mission of fundraising for a variety of beneficiaries that are focused on providing youth, health/wellness and cultural support services to the LBGTQ+ community.
For the first year ever, the Pride Run, along with all physical Pride festivities in Toronto, has been cancelled for the health and safety of everyone. While necessary, it means that all the funds the Pride Run and many other Pride-centric fundraising activities that typically generate the resources required to support our community year-round will not come this year. Couple that with the needs of our community being greater than ever due to COVID-19 and this could spell disaster for our community.
The Run Must Go On...
So while the Pride Run has decided not to run a virtual fundraising effort, I felt the run had to go on.
So on Saturday, June 27 at 10:00, I'm going to run the Pride Run route from the LGBTQ+ Village to Queens Park in support of The 519.
Why Support The 519?
The 519 is one of Canada's largest LGBTQ+ community centres and charities, and is the central hub of our community. They are committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ+ communities.
As a registered charity, you can trust that your donation is going to the right people and places and with COVID-19 relief top of mind, it's never been more important to give.
As part of The 519's COVID-19 relief effort, they've enlisted "An Army of Lovers" to respond to the most urgent needs of our community:
• Hundreds of free take-away meals seven days a week
• Crisis Settlement Support for LGBTQ2S Refugees and Permanent Residents
• Crisis Counselling Support for LGBTQ2S Communities
• Free Legal Clinic offering interim Telephone Summary Advice for LGBTQ2S communities
• Free Virtual Tax Clinic to support folks/families with earnings under CAD 40,000 in need of help with filing their income tax and benefit returns
• Friendly check-ins by phone or email to though in need
• And so, so, so much more...
How Donating through GoFundMe Works...
When a donation is made through GoFundMe to a registered charity like The 519, donations are guaranteed to be tax-deductible and will receive tax receipts automatically from our charity partner, PayPal Giving Fund.
GoFundMe has the first and only Donor Protection Guarantee that ensures donations end up in the hands of intended charity. For more information about how donating through GoFundMe works, read more here: gofundme.com/c/how-it-works
This year would have been my 10th Pride Run, marking my 10 year coming out-iversary, and I was on track to surpass $25K raised over my 10 years of running. And while Pride festivities and the Pride Run may be cancelled, I've chosen to head to the LGBTQ+ village on Saturday, June 27 and run the Pride Run route anyway. There's never been a more important time to support the LGBTQ+ community than now.
So help me achieve my goal by supporting The 519 - a charity at the forefront of the COVID-19 response within the LGBTQ+ community. All donations larger than $20 are tax-deductible.
THE LONG VERSION
My Story
It was 10 years ago this past May that I felt safe and ready to come out and live my life authentically for the first time. In that time, I've found such comfort in being part of the LGBTQ+ community here in Toronto and have been fortunate enough to meet and recent marry my husband, Jason.
All those years ago, I made a commitment to myself and my community that I would use my privilege to be a voice for others and support my community as best I could. One way to do that was to participate in the annual Pride and Remembrance Run, through which - together with my friends and family - we've raised over $22,000 for LGBTQ+ charities in Toronto over my 9 years of running.
Why the Pride Run?
This year would have been my 10th Pride Run, on track to exceed $25,000 raised.
Since 1996, the Pride and Remembrance Run has taken place on Pride weekend in Toronto with the mission of fundraising for a variety of beneficiaries that are focused on providing youth, health/wellness and cultural support services to the LBGTQ+ community.
For the first year ever, the Pride Run, along with all physical Pride festivities in Toronto, has been cancelled for the health and safety of everyone. While necessary, it means that all the funds the Pride Run and many other Pride-centric fundraising activities that typically generate the resources required to support our community year-round will not come this year. Couple that with the needs of our community being greater than ever due to COVID-19 and this could spell disaster for our community.
The Run Must Go On...
So while the Pride Run has decided not to run a virtual fundraising effort, I felt the run had to go on.
So on Saturday, June 27 at 10:00, I'm going to run the Pride Run route from the LGBTQ+ Village to Queens Park in support of The 519.
Why Support The 519?
The 519 is one of Canada's largest LGBTQ+ community centres and charities, and is the central hub of our community. They are committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ+ communities.
As a registered charity, you can trust that your donation is going to the right people and places and with COVID-19 relief top of mind, it's never been more important to give.
As part of The 519's COVID-19 relief effort, they've enlisted "An Army of Lovers" to respond to the most urgent needs of our community:
• Hundreds of free take-away meals seven days a week
• Crisis Settlement Support for LGBTQ2S Refugees and Permanent Residents
• Crisis Counselling Support for LGBTQ2S Communities
• Free Legal Clinic offering interim Telephone Summary Advice for LGBTQ2S communities
• Free Virtual Tax Clinic to support folks/families with earnings under CAD 40,000 in need of help with filing their income tax and benefit returns
• Friendly check-ins by phone or email to though in need
• And so, so, so much more...
How Donating through GoFundMe Works...
When a donation is made through GoFundMe to a registered charity like The 519, donations are guaranteed to be tax-deductible and will receive tax receipts automatically from our charity partner, PayPal Giving Fund.
GoFundMe has the first and only Donor Protection Guarantee that ensures donations end up in the hands of intended charity. For more information about how donating through GoFundMe works, read more here: gofundme.com/c/how-it-works
Organizer
Evan Pacht
Organizer
Toronto, ON
519 CHURCH STREET COMMUNITY CENTRE
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically tax deductible in Canada.
