The $25,000 Challenge: 72% and hours to go!

As of today at 4 PM, Spectrum has received a total of $18,393 in gifts and pledges toward our year-end goal of $25,000.  Thanks to everyone who has helped us reach our goal!

To learn more about Spectrum and the $25,000 Challenge, visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.

Ready to make your tax-deductible gift to Spectrum? Click on the present below, which will take you to PayPal. If you wish to make your gift or pledge by phone, call (415) 472-1945, ext. 209. You may also send your check to Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael, CA 94903. All pledges and gifts received by midnight, December 31st, will be counted toward our goal. Thank you, and Happy New Year!

The $25,000 Challenge: 64% and three days to go!

Thank you! Your support will help us ring in 2011 with our new Youth Advocacy Project, which will empower LGBT youth and their allies to create safer schools and communities throughout the North Bay.

Also in store for 2011: a variety of new and continuing support, services, and activities for the LGBT community, including:

• Intergenerational storytelling
• Grief and loss support
• Individual and family counseling
• Support for parents of LGBT youth
• Lunchtime gatherings for LGBT older adults
• Inservice training for health and social service providers
• Celebrations for LGBT people and allies

Here's how to make your year-end gift.

Thank you for standing with us.  Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve Comedy Celebration with Kevin Meaney

The Other Cafe Comedy Showcase's New Year's Eve Comedy Celebration
starring KEVIN MEANEY
Fun, Laughter, Easy & Relaxed - in beautiful Marin!
December 31st - 8:30 PM
 
 

Spectrum's friends at Osher Marin JCC want you to know about this special evening right here in Marin.
 
The Other Café Comedy Showcase Presents:
A Stand Up Comedy New Year's EVE Celebration In Marin

Say goodbye to an easy year to forget… with a spectacular comedy night to remember!

With a rare west coast appearance from comedian & star of Broadway's Hairspray and countless appearances on Jay Leno

KEVIN MEANEY!
Special guests include:
Famed comedian/juggler Michael Davis & SF Favorite Geoff Bolt and MC/host Robert Strong


Fri. Dec. 31 @ 8:30
Includes After Party & Countdown with the stars 11:15 – 12:30

NEW YEARS EVE MADE EASY
Come for the comedy~8:30
Stay for the after party~11:15 – 12:30 included with your tix

Countdown-champagne toast-desserts-fun-friends
Ample FREE parking on site and at street make this THE stress free, fun, and fabulous way to ring in 2011 with laughter and friends in beautiful Marin.

So forget the two drink minimum, bridge toll, parking fees and traffic and party with national talent right here in Marin.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS are available TO MEMBERS OF THE Other Café email list
Sign up for the discount code and get more NYE line up info at http://www.theothercafe.com/
VIP tix include champagne & reserved premier table seating

Buy Tix HERE: www.marinjcc.org
Presented in association with the Osher Marin JCC
200 N. San Pedro Rd. San Rafael
Marinjcc.org ~ 415.444.8081

The $25,000 Challenge: 60% and counting!

With just four days left of Spectrum's year-end fundraising challenge, we've raised $15,600 toward our goal of $25,000. 

Did you know that 30% of all gifts to charity are given during the last 48 hours of the year?  It's not too late to make a tax-deductible gift, and we thank you for considering Spectrum as one of the organizations you support this year.

Stay tuned, and thank you for supporting our work.

Read more about the $25,000 year-end challenge here.

The $25,000 Challenge: 56% and counting!

Thanks to the generous donation of new and old friends, we've raised $14,300 toward our goal of $25,000 by December 31st. 

To those who celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas!  We'll be back online next Monday, December 27th.

Learn more about the $25,000 Challenge here.

The $25,000 Challenge: 52% raised with 11 days to go!

We've raised a total of $13,428 in new gifts and pledges toward our $25,000 year-end goal. Thanks to all who have given! Every gift counts -- no matter how small.

Learn more about Spectrum's $25,000 Year-End Challenge here.

Thank you, one and all, for moving us closer to our year-end goal!

The $25,000 Challenge: 40% raised with 12 days to go!

The $25,000 Challenge: We broke the $10k mark. $15,000 more to raise, 12 days to go. Click on the box to make your gift today, and thank you!

The $25,000 Challenge: 36% and Counting

We've raised nearly $9,000 of our $25,000 year-end goal! Thank you to those who have given -- we couldn't do it without you.

You can be sure of this: after twenty-eight years, Spectrum continues to be your voice for justice on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the North Bay.

You may ask yourself: Is our work still needed, after all these years? Hasn’t the world changed? Haven’t things improved?

The answer is, yes. LGBT people have made tremendous gains toward full equality, and with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, we've made one giant leap forward.

But you and I both know that our work is not finished.

Many people are still afraid to be out at work. Marriage equality is not entirely won, and legally married same-sex couples do not receive the federal benefits that heterosexual couples get - including those who serve in the military. Each day at school, students of all ages hear anti-gay comments. And, tragically, LGBT youth sometimes take their own lives because they just can’t take it anymore.

Your investment in Spectrum’s work ensures:

• Safety, compassion, and advocacy on behalf of LGBT youth
• Friendship, care, and support for LGBT older adults
• Visibility of LGBT people and families in the community
• Leadership in promoting safer schools and workplaces
• Advocacy on laws and policies that protect LGBT people

With your support, we will continue to make it better, right here at home. Thank you for standing with us.

Read more about the $25,000 Year-End Challenge here.

A $25,000 Year-End Challenge

A $25,000 Year-End Challenge

Dear Friends,

Spectrum's work is all about standing as a beacon of light for the LGBT community in the North Bay, especially for young people who turn to Spectrum for support and guidance, and to seniors who are charting new ground for living life fully.


Russ Zink and Sean Callaway

As 2010 comes to a close, Spectrum supporters Russell Zink and Sean Callaway want to do something special to support our work.  So, we've set a goal of raising $25,000 for Spectrum by December 31st. Russ and Sean have pledged a special year-end gift of $2,500 toward this goal.

Russ and Sean are inviting you to help them meet this goal any way you can. Your gift will go directly toward promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for LGBT people of all ages in the North Bay.

Help us raise $25,000 by December 31st to support Spectrum's new Youth Advocacy Project. We'll be advocating for safe schools and legislation such as the FAIR Education Act, which ensures that LGBT people are fairly and accurately included in instructional materials.

Make your year-end gift online now using PayPal

(you don't need an account to do so)

If you prefer to make a pledge or credit card contribution to Spectrum by phone, call 415-472-1945, ext. 209. Credit and debit cards, monthly pledge payments, and one-time gifts are accepted.

To send a check:
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, California 94903

Because Spectrum is a non-profit organization, your gift is tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax accountant to find out what type of charitable contribution would best serve your needs.

Spectrum's Federal Tax Identification number is 94-2840016.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

Support group for LGBTQ Youth, December 8th

The next meeting of Spectrum's support group for LGBT and questioning youth ages 14-25 will be on Wednesday, December 8th, 5:00 - 6:30 PM at Spectrum. This is a drop-in group for youth who are just coming out, or have questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity.  Facilitated by Cristin Brew, MFT, the group provides a safe and supportive environment.  For more information and directions to Spectrum, call Cristin Brew at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203. 

This season, shop Spectrum's Amazon stores!

'Tis the season to shop, and Spectrum has three ways for you to round out your holiday giving!



First, bookmark this page! When you click through to Amazon using the banner you see here, Spectrum will earn a percentage from the sale. It's an easy way to support your favorite LGBT Center!

Second, visit our book store, which carries hundreds of LGBT-themed books that have been donated to us over the past 28 years. There are some real finds here and most of our books are in near-perfect condition. And, after shipping costs, Spectrum keeps 100% of the profit on each book sale, which will benefit our programs and services.

Finally, shop the Spectrum aStore, which contains jewelry, clothing, housewares, dvds, cds and other gift items we've selected especially for our site.

All of our online shopping portals are maintained by our Intergenerational Volunteer Task Team.  Thanks to Frances and Jourdan for your fine work on our sites.

Happy holidays, and happy shopping!  Thanks for supporting Spectrum.