LOS ANGELES — The Trans Adult Industry Foundation, Inc. (TAIF), a Los Angeles based non-profit organization has launched.
The organization’s The Board of Directors includes advocate and educator Buck Angel, Grooby owner Steven Grooby, and Grooby marketing director Kristel Penn.
“Giving back is a very important part of my work so joining with TAIF was a no brainer,” Angel said. “We as adult entertainment producers and performers have been shunned by some LGBTQ organizations when we have tried to donate our money. This makes me sad because essentially they are saying, ‘your money is not good enough to save lives.’ So with that came TAIF, and something good came out of a negative. Excited to see the future of TAIF and helping our community. #gratitude.”
Grooby added, “We've a long standing history of promoting and donating to causes that are related to our specific niche and I've nurtured a few ideas on how we can 'give back' to our community without being able to bring them to fruition. TAIF has taken the best of our previous ideas and is also born out of frustration on wanting to get funds to those most in need, with some charities refusing to accept money from adult companies. Buck, Kristel, and I are looking forward to reaching out to other companies, models, and fans and have some cool fundraising ideas, as well as funneling a portion of Grooby's profits directly to the foundation.”
The brain trust said the idea for the organization has been brewing for nearly a year. All agreed on the importance of providing assistance to groups who support trans performers in the adult industry and believed a non-profit organization was the most effective way to ensure funds are distributed where needed. Any contributions made through TAIF will be listed on its website with full transparency.
Lawrence Walters, Esq., general counsel to TAIF, applauded the effort, and said, “The trans community will be well-served by this clearinghouse for effective donations, and the Directors are committed to raising the necessary funds to make a difference.”
TAIF raises money, by fundraising and corporate sponsorships, to distribute funds directly to charitable organizations that provide life-affirming support services to the transgender population. This includes, but is not limited to, groups who work in housing, call centers, emergency shelters, and advocacy. The intention of TAIF is to provide resources to trans people, with a specific focus on the needs of the performers in our community.
The organizers noted that TAIF is not yet a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization; any contributions to the organization are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions.
Companies interested in working with TAIF can email Penn at kristel@grooby.com. For more information on the foundation, visit TAIF.org.
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