American Express®, the City’s largest private sector employer, has signed up as an Official Partner for Brighton Pride 2014. Financial support provided by American Express and other partners contributes towards helping Brighton Pride meet their production budget and running costs. Brighton Pride, a
Financial support provided by American Express and other partners contributes towards helping Brighton Pride meet their production budget and running costs.
Brighton Pride, a CIC company, donate £1 a head for each ticket sold for Pride to the Rainbow Fund to distribute through their independent grants programme to LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective front line services to the LGBT Community in Brighton and Hove.
Last year’s Pride event raised over £43,000 for the Rainbow Fund.
Beneficiaries of those grants included: Allsorts Youth Project, Lunch Positive, Peer Action, LGBT Community Safety Forum, MindOut, Peer Action, Gay Elderley Men’s Project (GEMS), Older and Out, the Clare Project, Sussex Beacon and Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard.
As in previous years, American Express will be entering a float in the LGBT Community Pride Parade themed ‘The World’s A Disco’. American Express employees including members of Pride UK (American Express LGBT employee network) will be on board, to join in the celebrations.
As part of this new partnership agreement for 2014, American Express has been working with Brighton Pride CIC to introduce electronic payments at the Pride Festival for the first time. Participants will be now be able to pay for tickets on the day and food and drink with credit and debit cards.
Mike Whyte, Vice President, Merchant Services American Express said: “We are immensely proud to be supporting the invaluable work Pride does in raising awareness and funds for the LGBT community. At American Express we encourage people from all backgrounds, talents and perspectives to thrive. Our employees, including Pride UK members will be participating in the Parade and lining the route with family members and friends, alongside tens of thousands of people from across Sussex, to show support for equality and to celebrate diversity.”
Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride CIC, added: “American Express has been involved in the Pride Parade for several years, but the increased backing we’re now receiving from partners will help us beat the fundraising target we achieved last year. With the introduction of electronic payments, we’re also going to be able to provide a more pleasurable experience to Festival goers as they’ll have a number of payment options rather than just cash.”
American Express® proudly supports the LGBT community. The financial services company is a Stonewall 2014 Workplace Equality Index Top 100 Employer and has been the City’s major supporter of Stonewall’s Brighton Equality Walk since 2007.
The American Express LGBT Pride employee network also operates a mentoring scheme with the University of Brighton Careers Service. The six month scheme pairs up students who identify as LGBT with professionals from American Express, to share their experience, build confidence and develop skills that can enhance future career prospects.
Brighton Pride takes place over the weekend of August 2-3, 2014.
For tickets to Pride 2014, to register for an e-newsletter or to make a donation visit, CLICK HERE:
