Six Local Queer Youth-Serving Organizations Selected for Grants of up to $20,000 From the Charles & Jack Fund for LGBTQ+ Advancement

This past year, the Foundation announced a $2 million endowment, the Charles & Jack Fund for LBGTQ+ Advancement, created by the late Charles Gruenberger and Jack Kersey — two longtime trailblazers in advocating for queer rights and HIV/AIDS education in Louisville.

The late couple entrusted the Community Foundation staff to continue their legacy of creating social good by determining the most impactful use of the proceeds from their initial gift. Through their initial endowment of two million dollars with the Foundation, this fund will continue to generate perpetual and permanent support for Louisville’s LGBTQ+ community. The Foundation enlisted the help of local people intimately involved in the queer community to determine an impactful use of available funds.

Through the hard work and dedication of the Charles & Jack Fund Advisory Committee, they awarded six grants of $20,000 to local area nonprofits working to uplift and support Louisville’s LGBTQ+ youth:

Kentucky Health Justice Network (KHJN)—KHJN supports Kentuckians in achieving autonomy in their lives and justice for their communities. They advocate, educate, and provide direct services to ensure that all Kentucky communities and individuals have the power, access, and resources to be healthy and have agency over their lives. They plan to use this funding to hire a part-time Trans Health Coordinator who will assist in helping Trans Kentuckians access the healthcare they need, as well as reaffirm their autonomy and community.

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee members Robert Barry Fleming and Senator-elect, Keturah Herron; Oliver Hall of KHJN; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville; Advisory Committee member Lisa Gunterman

Louisville Pride Foundation – The Louisville Pride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and advances equity and representation for all people. They produce the annual Louisville Pride Festival, a free community celebration held in September on Bardstown Road, and manage the Louisville Pride Center, an LGBTQ+ community center in Old Louisville. With this grant, they will be able to provide a safe and engaging space exclusively for queer youth at the Louisville Pride Center where they can connect with community resources, engage in fun activities, and cultivate a network of support.

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee members Robert Barry Fleming and Senator-elect, Keturah Herron; Anthony Munger and Ebony Cross of the Louisville Pride Foundation; Advisory Committee members Joel Buno and Lisa Gunterman; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville

Louisville Youth Group (LYG) – LYG empowers QTBIPoC/LGBTQIA+ youth to grow into healthy and resilient leaders through community connection, life skills education, and social advocacy. All programs and services are provided to the youth at no cost and offer an affirming and supportive space for social growth, leadership development, and community connection. This local organization plans to use the grant dollars from the Charles and Jack Fund for LGBTQ+ Advancement to support and enhance its current programming for queer youth.

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee members Robert Barry Fleming and Senator-elect Keturah Herron; Madelyn Spalding and Elana Rosenberg of LYG; Advisory Committee members Joel Buno and Lisa Gunterman; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville

Queer Kentucky – Queer Kentucky is a diverse LGBTQ+ run non-profit founded in Louisville, Kentucky, working to bolster and enhance Queer culture and health through storytelling, education, and action. Thanks to this $20,000 grant, Queer Kentucky will directly support local queer creatives (ages 18 -24).

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee members Robert Barry Fleming and Senator-elect Keturah Herron; Spencer Jenkins of Queer Kentucky; Advisory Committee members Lisa Gunterman and Joel Buno; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville

Sweet Evening Breeze – Sweet Evening Breeze is committed to Louisville’s LGBTQ+ young adults, 18 to 24 years of age, experiencing homelessness; by going beyond the expectations of a shelter, providing housing, hope, and healing. While the $20,000 grant will support every service this organization provides, it will remove the financial barrier of accessing mental health care by providing free counseling services to young queer adults.

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee members Robert Barry Fleming and Senator-elect Keturah Herron; Stuart Walker of Sweet Evening Breeze; Advisory Committee members Lisa Gunterman and Joel Buno; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville

UofL LGBT Center – The University of Louisville LGBT Center is committed to dismantling cisheteropatriarchy and other systems of oppression. We strive to affirm LGBTQ+ students, staff and faculty through an anti-racist lens, rooted in social justice and intersectionality. The Center plans to use this grant funding to cultivate and preserve safe spaces for queer youth on campus bolstering a network of peer support, mentorship, advocacy, and education.

See pictured above (left to right): Advisory Committee member Robert Barry Fleming; Marian Vasser of UofL LBGT Center; Advisory Committee member Senator-elect Keturah Herron; Amarrie Massey and Byron Terry of UofL LBGT Center; Advisory Committee members Lisa Gunterman and Joel Buno; Gad Niyiragira of the Community Foundation of Louisville