By Dale Madison
Fund is a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization, which focuses on the needs of women, seniors, healthcare, the arts, and the youth in the community. They work with other not-for-profits and service organizations, including the Wilton Manors-based Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation, for which they offer resources for men and women living with HIV/AIDS, in conjunction with Island City Health and Fitness. Our Fund has helped sponsor those that are unable to pay for gym memberships and life and nutritional counseling programs. Our Fund CEO Anthony Timiraos says the organization has developed several levels of support.
“We have so many ways that people can help,” he notes. “There is the entry—or, “Bronze”—level, which is a contribution of $1,500 to $2,499. Our “Silver” level is $2,500 to $4,999. “Gold” level is a contribution of $5,000 to $9,999. The “Diamond” is set at $10,000 to $14,999, and our “Platinum” level is $15,000 and above.”
“One of the things about us is that if you want to leave money to several organizations—let’s say the Pride Center, Poverello, and Broward House, as examples—you can express the amount for each organization, and we will disperse that money for you—I hate to say ‘upon your departure,’ but that’s what it comes down to,” he notes, in a manner that’s almost apologetic.
“Every dime that we bring in stays in our community, hence the name ‘Our Fund,’” Timaraos explains. “When someone wills us money, we keep it in the community, and dispense it in that manner. For example, let’s say someone leaves $500,000, and they specify a certain organization to receive that money. Perhaps that puts the donation level over a certain amount that may cause them to lose other federal, state, or local funds. “What we do is we send that money over a period of time, as to not compromise other incomes.
Let’s face it, right now all of the nonprofits are suffering, due to budget cuts. What we do is perfectly legal, and we don’t want to see any of the LGBT organizations get hurt. They all are doing so much good work, the last thing that we want to do is limit their ability to continue to serve a community that is in need,” he adds. For more information, visit: our-fund.org.
