Centaur Motorcycle Club will donate $160,000 from proceeds raised at January’s Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend to LGBTQ organizations.
Gary Samuels, president of the Washington, D.C.-based leather organization, said the success of the fundraiser was “a testament to the generosity, dedication and spirit of our members, volunteers and the broader community who come together each year to support a greater cause.”
As part of its broader mission, Centaur MC donates hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to national and local charities, many of which benefit the LGBTQ community.
This year’s award winners also include Team DC’s scholarship program, which supports LGBTQ student-athletes in leadership roles on and off the field. The Bear History Project preserves the history and diversity of the bear subculture. Harm reduction nonprofit organization HIPS. The Leather Archive is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM communities. and the Rainbow History Project, which documents D.C.’s LGBTQ history.
Other award recipients include the LGBT Fallen Heroes Foundation, which recognizes LGBTQ law enforcement officers, first responders, and fallen military personnel; Rainbow Railroad is an international organization that helps LGBTQ and intersex people flee violence and persecution and relocate to safer countries. Waves Ahead is a Puerto Rico-based LGBTQ advocacy organization that provides mental health and support services to older adults. Side by Side is a nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ youth and their families.
Centaur MC will also donate to the LGBT Life Center, which serves the LGBTQ and HIV communities of Hampton Roads, and MedStar’s Quality of Life Fund, which supports patients facing financial hardship with essential needs not covered by insurance.
“Giving back is fundamental to the Centaur tribe,” Samuels said in an email. metro weekly. “Our community is built on the idea of connection, resilience and chosen family – values that have sustained us for generations.
“We recognize that the spaces we enjoy today were created by our predecessors, and it is our responsibility to carry on that legacy. By supporting organizations that provide care, advocacy, history, and safe spaces, we help ensure that the LGBTQ+ community continues to grow stronger, more visible, and more supported for years to come.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
