Niagara Pride, Inc

Niagara Pride, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families. We offer community-based educational programming, affirming and safe social meeting opportunities, and engage in charitable work for numerous organizations in Niagara County and the surrounding counties of Western New York.

Our agency relies heavily on donations to fund the services we provide, and all the work is done by our board of directors and/or volunteers, who are not compensated in any way.

Some of the services Niagara Pride offers include:

• Know Your Status campaign to help provide sexual health and wellness materials for free to individuals as well as share information about HIV and STI testing in all 8 counties of WNY.
• Diversity and Inclusion Trainings – Niagara Pride offers trainings to businesses, agencies, and organizations, on both the local, State, and federal level for a nominal fee. In 2022, over 7,000 around the US were trained by our organization, and in first six months of 2023, over 6,600 people locally and nationally have taken our training.
• GSA Grant Program - Niagara Pride offers grants to local middle and high schools to help them fund projects that will promote LGBTQ+ diversity and create affirming learning environments for students.
• The Jean Hopkins Memorial LGBTQ+ Scholarship Program for high school seniors pursuing higher education; this scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated academic achievement while also showing leadership and advocacy in the LGBTQ+ community.
• WNY Shopping with Pride - an annual campaign designed to promote and highlight locally owned LGBTQ+ and ally owned businesses.
• WNY LGBTQ+ Health Fair - Niagara Pride organizes the only health fair in WNY dedicated to sharing information about community providers offering services and programs that are LGBTQ+ specific and/or affirming.
• WNY Pride 5K Fun Run/Walk - this yearly event brings the WNY community together to kick off Pride Month in a fun and positive way
• Rainbow City Pride, Oliver Street Pride, and Newfane Pride - in partnership with other local agencies/organizations/businesses, Niagara Pride hosts 3 major Pride festivals in June
• And in partnership with other agencies, Niagara Pride has been able to offer groups/services for addictions, breast and prostate cancer screenings, housing discrimination assistance, and support for LGBTQ+ Veterans

In addition to the aforementioned core services, Niagara Pride offers monthly social meet ups as well as various holiday themed events, which are open to all and free of charge.

The mission of Niagara Pride is to:

1. Promote visibility of the LGBTQ+ community throughout Niagara County and Western NY;
2. Create safe and welcoming events and meetings for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies, in order to allow for positive socialization that is free of bullying, harassment, and of any negative stigma associated with identifying and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community;
3. Create community partnerships with local organizations to promote the enhancement of mental, physical, social, and overall holistic wellbeing of LGBTQ+ individuals in Niagara County and the surrounding WNY areas;
4. Engage in community service and charitable programming designed to promote our mission and help others in the community;
5. Create community based educational programming aimed at increasing awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and eliminating discrimination.

Niagara Pride, Inc is a Charity participating in the Sabres Fan Appreciation Rollover Raffle a 50/50 Raffle event, presented by Buffalo Sabres Foundation.