OTTAWA – The Ottawa Family Pride Fund is looking for donations to support the local LGBTQ community.
Dylan Conmy, founder of the Ottawa Family Pride Fest, said the fund was established to make sure the town’s Youth Outlook Drop-In Center would always have funding. Youth Outlook operates a number of drop-in centers for LGBTQ youth across the Fox Valley region west of Chicago.
“Our Ottawa Drop In Center celebrated 6 years this year, and it covers a very wide span of zip codes,” Conmy said. “Resources are important everywhere, as is peer involvement, but in rural areas especially it can be hard to feel seen and heard. So, the Family Pride Fund is set to try to alleviate any financial stress that might come up for the volunteer-run center.”
The fund is overseen by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation in LaSalle.
Fundraisers are held throughout the year, with the biggest being the Ottawa Family Pride Fest on the second Saturday of June in downtown Ottawa.
“This is 100% family-friendly, and draws in thousands of guests,” Conmy said.
At the end of June, a check will be presented to Youth Outlook with the proceeds. Last year was the first year for the festival and raised $5,000 for the drop-in center and it’s hoped more will be raised this year.
“We are raising money until the end of June for this check presentation, so we are inviting everyone to share the link to the Family Pride Fund and let’s see how much we can raise in the last week,” Conmy said.
The Pride Fund is a tax-deductible 501(c)3. Donations to the fund can be made here.
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