Brother, Help Thyself Awards $75k in Grants

Brother, Help Thyself (BHT), one of the truly worthwhile LGBTQ organizations, handed out a total of $75,000 in grants to 34 LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS nonprofits in the Greater Baltimore-Washington, DC region. The ceremony was held on January 20 at the Baltimore Eagle.  

Mayor Catherine Pugh brought greetings on behalf of the residents of Baltimore, as did Jeffrey Hitt of the Maryland Department of Health.

“The story here isn’t that BHT gave out $75,000 today,” said Andrew McCarty, grant reception chairman, in a statement. “The story here is that in the era we find ourselves in today, where our freedoms and rights, and healthcare choices are being threatened, these 34 non-profits, with our help, are out there each and every day fighting to preserve and defend those rights and freedoms in support of our community. We are proud to play a small role in that work.”

2017 BHT Grant Awards

AIDS Action Baltimore - $4,140.00

Athletes United for Social Justice - "The Grassroots Project" - $1,130.00

Black, Gifted & Whole Inc. - $5,830.00

Breaking Ground - $2,930.00

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop - $830.00

Casa Ruby Inc. - $4,390.00

D.C.’s Different Drummers - $1,130.00

DC Center for LGBT Community - $2,360.00

Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church - $150.00

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC - $560.00

FreeState Justice - $920.00

Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore - $770.00

Health Options & Positive Energy Foundation, Inc (HOPE DC) - $3,790.00

Heart to Hand, Inc - $3,410.00

HIPS - $3,580.00

HopeSprings, Inc. - $3,350.00

Latino GLBT History Project - $2,200.00

LULAC Council 11125 - $1,000.00

Mary's House for Older Adults, Inc. - $8,280.00

Metro DC PFLAG - $850.00

Mid-Atlantic Deaf & Interpreter Fund - $1,670.00

Mosiac Theater Company of DC - $350.00

New Ways Ministry, Inc. - $1,980.00

PFLAG Columbia-Howard County MD - $1,020.00

PFLAG Westminster MD - $1,020.00

Rainbow Families DC - $2,080.00

Rainbow History Project Foundation - $790.00

Rainbow Theater Project - $540.00

SMYAL - $1,690.00

St. Margaret's Church Vestry - "Charlie's Place" - $3,030.00

TransGender Education Association of Greater Washington - $1,460.00

UUC of Rockville "Rainbow Youth Alliance - $4,740.00

Wanda Alston Foundation - $2,470.00

Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club - $560.00

TOTAL

$75,000.00

BHT also presented four annual community service awards:

▲Anthony J. Bachrach Award for Outstanding Service (to an individual), to Baltimore’s own Rik Newton-Treadway for his longtime and terrific support of our community.

 ▲Billy Collison Award (to an underdog, and grantee), was presented to the Latino GLBT History Project who does so much, with so very little, to preserve the history of the LatinX LGBTQ community in Washington, DC.

 ▲George Dodson Business Award (to a business supportive of the community) was presented to the Baltimore Eagle (for a second time no less) for its outstanding support of our community.

 ▲Founders Award (to a non-profit, doesn’t have to be a grantee) was presented to the Wanda Alston Foundation for its record of vital service to the homeless LGBTQ youth population in Washington, DC.

“Our community has some great unsung legends who for years have gone about their days working for the betterment of LGBTQ people,” said McCarty. “None of us are in this for self-aggrandizement, and we believe it is vital to recognize folks and groups we collectively feel are worthy of recognition.”

Since its incorporation in 1978, BHT has now given out $3,169,699.45.  For more information about BHT call 202-347-2246  or email  info@brotherhelpthyself.org.