Boston Pride’s end-of-year giving campaign to raise funds for hurricane relief efforts for the LGBTQ community in Puerto Rico surpassed expectations raising more than $10,000 for the Puerto Rican LGBT community post Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island.
Donations are still being accepted online at http://www.bostonpride.org/pr/.
The goal of 10K was reached primarily through a drive on Giving Tuesday and a brunch on Sunday, December 17, at Club Café thanks to Boston Latinx Pride, which partnered with Club Café. The funds go to Waves Ahead, a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit that provides support to the LGBTQ community affected by Hurricane Maria.
“Boston Pride is tremendously grateful to those who attended the Hurricane Relief brunch and to the performers who donated their time,” said Marco Torres, Boston Pride Board Member and Chair of Latinx Pride. “The event was truly a rainbow representation from our community that cares so deeply about others and who rallied around this important cause to help our LGBTQ Community in Puerto Rico.”
The fundraising brunch at the Club Café was sold out and featured entertainment by drag performers Verna Turbulence, Pandora Seecret’s, Bokita, Kris Knievil, Jayden Jamison KA St. James, Tee Sparks, Kamden T. Rage and Karroll Barreneche who donated their time, talent and tips for the event. Guitarist Gian Carlo Buscaglia, who also donated his time, serenaded the audience with traditional holiday songs from the Latino community.
At the brunch, Wilfred Labiosa, former Boston Pride Board Member and founder of Latinx Pride and Manager of Waves Ahead, told the crowd about the current situation in Puerto Rico for the LGBTQ community and others, many of whom are affected by depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other afflictions in the aftermath of the hurricane.
“There is still time to donate and make a huge difference in the lives of LGBTQ people in Puerto Rico who have been severely impacted by the Hurricane,” Labiosa says. “$28 will provide one month of clean drinking water for one person, $1,000 will provide a generator and one month of meals for one person, and any level of donation is appreciated.”
