May We Call You Captain?

The 2010 Equality Gala will follow the daytime 2010 Equality Conference to be held at the UNCG Elliott University Center. Last year's Equality Conference & Gala attracted 400 attendees, up from 350 the year before, and we expect 450 this year. We plan to open registration in early September, and the conference and gala schedules and programs should be complete by the end of September.

The Equality Gala is Equality NC Foundation's annual fundraiser and our opportunity to celebrate the work we do together with our supporters across the state. Last year we celebrated passage of the landmark School Violence Prevention Act and honored State Senator Julia Boseman for her courageous stand against school bullying. This year our goal is is to raise $50,000 to help Equality NC Foundation educate LGBT North Carolinians and their allies about ending LGBT employment discrimination in North Carolina.

Won't you help us reach this goal by agreeing to be a table captain at the gala? We'd love to hear from you by Labor Day!

It's easy to sign up. Simply contact Shawn at shawn@equalitync.org or 919.829.0343 x 114 to let him know you'd like to be a table captain for the 2010 Equality Gala. He will ask you if you'd like to have your name added to the list of table captains at our online registration site, then all you'll have to do is recruit nine friends to join you at your table. When they go online to register for the gala, they'll just need to register under your name.

You also have the option of paying $1,450 up front for your table so your friends won't have to pay and you'll receive a generous tax break! Alternatively, you can pay $1,000 to sponsor a table for students who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend.

Just let Shawn know your preference so he can make sure you have the right information to move forward. Either way, Equality NC Foundation will benefit!

This year the gala registration fee is $145 for individuals ($175 after October 22), $75 for students ($95 after October 22), and $85 for people with income challenges (reduced rate not available after October 22). Registration is complimentary for each person who has made gifts totaling $1,200 or more to Equality NC and Equality NC Foundation during calendar year 2010.

Thanks so much, and we look forward to hearing from you!