News Release - December 09, 2010
Margie M. Palmer, Media Relations Coordinator
858-225-8700, ext. 5002
Empowering Spirits Announces Funding Partnership With TRU
TRU pledges to donate a percentage of every credit and debit card transaction at participating businesses to ESF each month
SAN DIEGO, CA — The Empowering Spirits Foundation (ESF), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization has finalized a collaborative funding partnership with TRU, an independent consulting company which helps businesses save money on payment processing products and services. TRU has committed to donating a percentage of each transaction made at a participating business to ESF at the end of each month out of their own profit, with no additional cost to participating business owners.
“Being raised by missionary/foster parents I learned at a very early age the importance of using my life as a way to give back to others and to improve my community. After reading countless articles about how individuals have given away their fortunes toward the end of their life, I thought why wait,” said TRU President and Founder Matthew Focht, noting the organization will be donating 20 percent of its monthly profits to non-profit organizations, including ESF. “TRU's long-term goal is to do much more than simply give back. If we can lead by example, as my parents did, and prove this to be a successful business model, then we can show other businesses how to do the same and collectively change the world for the better.”
TRU’s Director of Partnership Development Joe Wogoman said he and Focht sought out ESF in particular because “ESF is taking an innovative, yet common sense approach to dispelling the stereotypes that are at the very heart of discrimination,” he said.
“After hearing the arguments for and against Prop 8; the 2008 ballot measure which banned same-sex marriage in California, my eyes were opened and I was made aware of many other inequalities imposed upon same-sex couples across the country,” Wogoman said. “I immediately knew that I wanted to raise money and awareness for a civil rights organization because I believe that everyone should have the same freedoms, rights and protections. It seemed to me that having one set of rights for one group and restricting the rights of another group was the very definition of discrimination.”
Wogoman said anyone can help. All supporters of ESF; whether business owners or not, will have a critical role in the success of this partnership and are encouraged to contact him directly at 877.878.1777 or via e-mail at jwogoman@itstru.com.
ESF President and CEO A. Latham Staples said the partnership will not only help expand ESF as an organization, but will help ESF to increase its national presence and expand outreach efforts.
“ESF is honored to have been chosen as a beneficiary of TRU’s efforts,” Staples said. “Being reached out to by an organization previously unconnected to the LGBT community shows us that we’re on the right track with our core mission and goals. We look forward to expanding our outreach efforts to continue to engage in non-partisan dialogue with individuals who might not know an LGBT person in an effort to promote understanding and equality.”
About the Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc.
The Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc. (ESF), a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, is a non-partisan civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality through community service activities. Since its inception ESF has been taking the struggle for LGBT equality into the next era by fostering non-confrontational dialogue with individuals and institutions that may have not previously supported LGBT populations. Instead of attempting to change laws ESF strives to change the hearts and minds of those who are generally ignored by existing LGBT organizations.
###
Additional Questions?
If you are a member of the media please contact us and a member of our Media Relations team can answer any of your questions, or help you arrange for interviews or staff appearances.
