ABOVE: Photo via the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber.
TAMPA BAY | The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber is supporting a partnership between the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Grubhub for Pride Month.
The chamber has served Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ business community for decades. It does so as an affiliate of NGLCC, which provides LGBT Business Enterprise certification to LGBT-owned businesses while promoting equality for all.
NGLCC announced its partnership with Grubhub earlier this month. Throughout June, the leading food ordering and delivery service is allowing diners to participate in its “Donate the Change” program to raise funds for the organization.
The initiative has raised millions of dollars since 2019, allowing patrons to round up their order totals to benefit those in need. Doing so this Pride Month will allow NGLCC to later disperse grants and scholarships to help LGBTQ-owned restaurants and local chambers recover from the economic effects of COVID-19.
“We are proud to join our partners at the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce in their work with Grubhub to ‘Donate the Change’ throughout Pride season and beyond,” Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber President Justice Gennari says. “This kind of supportive collaboration is at the heart of who we are as an LGBT business community.
“All proceeds raised will go directly to NGLCC to support the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+-owned and LGBT+-ally owned restaurants,” he continues. “As an NGLCC affiliate this means our community restaurants, bars and cafes offering food service will have the opportunity to apply for a grant that we will help give out through the partnership!”
NGLCC President Justin Nelson first detailed the effort June 1. “We often say at NGLCC that ‘If you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it,’” he shared. “That is especially true of the LGBTQ+-owned restaurants across America who kept our communities and first responders fed throughout the pandemic.
“We’re proud to partner with Grubhub to encourage customers across the country to round up and donate their change this June, and help keep our community-owned businesses strong,” he continued. “America’s 1.4 million LGBTQ+-owned business owners have demonstrated incredible resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now we can all give back to help them recover stronger than ever.”
“As the world starts to return to a new normal, we know many businesses are rebuilding and reopening, especially LGBTQ+-owned restaurants that are often the pillars of their communities,” Grubhub Vice President of Brand and Creative Jessica Burns added. “We’re thrilled to partner with NGLCC and give back to the LGBTQ+ community – one that has shown incredible strength and support for those in need throughout the pandemic.”
To participate in the program, diners are encouraged to order takeout at Grubhub.com, its brand Seamless at Seamless.com, or to use their respective mobile applications. They can opt-in to “Donate the Change” throughout the end of the month to make a difference.
“The LGBT community spends more than $917 BILLION every year as consumers,” Gennari says. “Let’s put that to good use helping our restaurants thrive!”
For more information about the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber, visit TampaBayLGBTChamber.org. Learn more about the NGLCC and its partnership with GrubHub at NGLCC.org.
