The LGBT&S Alliance Fund announced this week it will distribute $28,303 to nine area projects as part of the funding organization's 2011 grant cycle.

From the press release:

The Alliance Fund, a special project of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, announced the awards on November 8. The funds will be applied to one-year projects starting in 2011. Organizations and projects receiving awards include the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA), the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s LGBTQ film festival, the LGBTQ Behavioral Health Coalition, VOICES, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) program at Wingspan EON lounge, Wingspan’s EON youth lounge, Southern Arizona Gender Association at Wingspan, the Institute for LGBTQ Studies at University of Arizona (UA), and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, also at the UA.

These valuable awards are the outcomes of an annual competitive grant round, and they will be presented to recipients at a donor reception in early January. The Alliance Fund also announced that the LGBTQ Behavioral Health Coalition project to train mental health professionals in LGBTQ issues and care will be designated the winner of the Noel Matkin-Jim Sincox Tribute Award, and that the first Jim Leos-Clint McCall award will be shared by the SAAF-Wingspan EON program and by the UA Office of LGBTQ Affairs Safe-Zone program. The two special awards honor long-time activists and contributors to activities and projects that benefit the LGBTQ community in Southern Arizona.

The LGBT&S Alliance Fund also announced it has received a grant from the Funders for LGBTQ Issues organization to allow its participation in a national Queer Youth Initiative. The grant requires matching funds and the proceeds will underwrite projects that support LGBTQ youth. A matching-fund campaign has begun and deliberations are also underway on best use of the award. Information and funding application information is available at www.alliancefund.org. For questions please contact Alliance Fund board member Edna Meza Aguirre at emacananea@yahoo.com