The amount is a 16 percent increase over last year’s revenue from the annual Folsom Street Fair.
“The vast majority of this check will support the work of our 16 Bay Area major and supporting beneficiaries that are working diligently to improve our communities in the areas of public health, human services and the arts,” FSE executive director Demetri Moshoyannis said.
“However, our grant-making extends beyond these groups to include our nonprofit beverage partners and a new National Community Grants Program. Combined, we support over 60 worthy charities, and we couldn’t be happier with the amount of this check and the results of our giving programs,” Moshoyannis said.
On Nov. 13 FSE will host a special, invitation-only event and check ceremony, to honor beneficiaries, sponsors and nonprofit beverage partners. The party will be hosted at an exclusive dinner club in the “South of Market” district in San Francisco, and local celebrities expected to be on hand include Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisors Bevan Dufty, Chris Daly, and Tom Ammiano as well as Assemblymember Mark Leno.
The 24th annual Folsom Street Fair was held this year on Sept. 30, attracting more than 400,000 fairgoers. The leather fetish-oriented fundraising event is the sixth largest outdoor event held in California. FSE produces three other fetish fundraisers, including Bay of Pigs, Up Your Alley and Magnitude.
Presenting sponsors of Folsom Street Events include Miller Lite/Miller Genuine Draft, NakedSword, TitanMen.com, and GLOSS. Premier sponsors were RECON, Hot House Entertainment, Elbow Grease, Mr. S Leather, and Maximus Vodka. Charter sponsors were Steamworks, BigMuscle.com, Blow Buddies, Dungeonbeds, Leatherpost.com, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, and Powerhouse. Media sponsors were SF Bay Guardian, IN LA Magazine and Bear Party Magazine.
Major beneficiaries of the FSE’s fundraising efforts include AIDS Emergency Fund, Dolores Street Community Services, Frameline, Healing Waters, Lyon-Martin Health Services, Pets Are Wonderful Support, Positive Resource Center, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, STOP AIDS Project, and Tenderloin Health. Supporting beneficiaries included Berkeley Free Clinic, Black Rock Arts Foundation, GLBT Historical Society, Transgender Law Center and Triangle Martial Arts Association.
