Happy holidays, Friends and Family! Understanding you get a lot of these requests this time of year, here's the Executive Summary : I'm on the Board, this is the only non-profit for which I fundraise, AVP does incredible and much-needed work in NYC and nationally, your support means a lot to me personally, and I would appreciate a donation of $75 or anything you're able to give!

Now for those who want more detail: I have served on the Board of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) for over two years. This was my first non-profit Board membership, and there's a reason for that: I think AVP is incredibly important. AVP is an organization that works to fight, eliminate, and publicize violence against the LGBTQ community, and conducts outreach to victims of such violence, including same-sex domestic violence. We've got a hotline, social programs, and have developed a robust in-house clinical legal practice. We just hired a new Executive Director, and there's a lot of work to do, so we need your help. Last year AVP received nearly 3,500 calls on its 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline (hat's approximately one call every two and a half hours). AVP is here for all LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of violence whenever and wherever help is needed. I support AVP because, although I hope never to need its services, it is an incredible resource for those who do!

I could really use your help in support of the Board's end-of-year fundraising efforts. AVP is important to me because we may win equality in the courts, but until we are safe in our streets from violence against us on the basis of sexual orientation/identity, we are not truly equal. I love NYC and I want it to be a great place for us to live and work!



AVP can only do this work with your support. I hope you will join me - this is the only charity I'm working with and the only one I will ask you to help me support.

I'd love if you could give $75, but we will take anything, and just having your support for my new Board initiative will be meaningful to me. If you are financially unable to give, but you think this sounds interesting, please let me know so I can help you get involved or in attendance at in the future!

Thanks and happy holidays,

Brian

