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The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation (SDHDF/"The
Foundation") was founded in July 1996, in response to a tragic
event. On May 18th, 1995 Lincoln Aston was brutally murdered
in his San Diego home. Lincoln's friends and family were moved by
the tragedy and it became a catalyst for a reexamination of the
issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community
and the efforts being made to deal with these issues today and into
the future.
Lincoln's family held conversations with Lincoln's
friends and expressed a willingness to make a substantial contribution,
as a memorial, to a charity or charities that could help ensure
that issues of safety, security, aging and self-awareness would
be dealt with on an ongoing basis in our community. From the sale
of Lincoln's personal possessions, Lincoln's heirs contributed $29,000
as a gift to our community.
The consensus among Lincoln's friends who were
charged with determining the best vehicle for the funds was that
while a number of organizations deal with many issues of broad importance,
most notably The Center, what was needed most was an organization
whose goal was long range planning for and preservation of funds
to meet the ongoing needs of these and other organizations.
In 1996 The Foundation's original Board of Directors
determined that the establishment of an endowment fund would assure
funding for LGBT service organizations on a long-term basis. As
a 501 (c)(3) public charity SDHDF was formed to establish a permanent
charitable endowment.
As a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
community foundation, SDHDF was formed as a grant making organization
supporting charitable purposes. Charitable funds established by
individuals, businesses and organizations have made and will continue
to make our community a better place to live and work.
Community based organizations deal with many issues
of broad importance and the delivery of critical services on a current
and daily basis. Funding for their efforts is frequently tenuous,
relying on government programs and grants.
Resources from the Foundation's endowment will
be available in the event a government program is cancelled, funding
lapses, bureaucratic snafu's create budget short falls or available
funding may not apply to a specific but necessary program or service.
It is the Foundation's goal that there be no lapse in the delivery
of critical services within our community.
Giving
We focus on creating unique plans for donors that
are difficult to create alone. With our resources your contribution
can have a more substantial direct impact on your community. We
research valuable programs and bring them to your attention, so
you can make informed decisions on where to direct your funds.
Whether you are interested in a one-time cash
gift or planned giving, we help you support a value you treasure.
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