Hosted by Baltimore Community Foundation’s LGBTQ Fund and Maryland Art Place

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Saturday, October 24 by 5pm

Baltimore, MD – The LGBTQ Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) is proud to partner with Maryland Art Place (MAP) to host MASKerade Baltimore, a virtual mask design competition and silent auction fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit The LGBTQ Fund, which was launched in 2018 to provide life-sustaining and life-affirming support for Baltimore’s diverse LGBTQ community, particularly vulnerable young people. To date, the Fund has awarded nearly $100,000 to organizations fighting discrimination, providing health services, producing art and culture events and supporting young people with anti-bullying and suicide prevention programs. MASKerade will support the establishment of an endowment to continue grantmaking in perpetuity. The event is generously sponsored by LifeBridge Health. 

 

Inspired by the ever-present face masks of the COVID-19 pandemic, MASKerade Baltimore planning began over the summer. In late August, MAP issued a Call for Entries and is currently offering template masks for artists, makers and crafters to pick up through September 30 at both their location in Downtown Baltimore and at Jill Andrews Gowns in Hampden. Entries are due by October 24 and will then be judged by the MASKerade Baltimore Committee and included in a virtual silent auction November 7 – 13. Artists will receive 40% of the proceeds, providing much-needed income during the economic downturn, while the remainder and any additional they wish to donate, will benefit The LGBTQ Fund. The event will be held at https://maskeradebmore.givesmart.com/, where guests can also donate directly to the Fund without participating in the silent auction.

 

LGBTQ Fund Co-Chair Franklin McNeil, Jr. emphasized the urgency of the fundraising effort: “Those who are marginalized will be even more marginalized post-COVID-19 pandemic. Those who need our assistance need it now, more than ever. Thanks to [event chair] Jon Kaplan’s guidance and leadership, MASKerade Baltimore will add to the fund to help those within the LGBTQ+ community in need during these challenging times. I hope everyone who is able will join us for this event.”

 

Amy Cavanaugh, Executive Director of event co-host MAP expressed their support for the cause as well. “When MAP was approached to participate in this event it felt like something we had to do. Such a great opportunity for artists (and non-artists) to have some fun during this awful pandemic and a wonderful way to raise awareness around the LBGTQ Fund at BCF, particularly as it relates to our youth who may be struggling with their identity, issues of acceptance and bullying.” 

 

While the event committee is doing much of the organizing and coordination, it is supported by BCF, which hosts the LGBTQ Fund and processes all gifts and grants. “The LGBTQ Fund is a model for collaborative philanthropy that engages and responds to needs heard directly from the community,” said BCF CEO Shanaysha Sauls. “BCF is proud to host the Fund and support MASKerade Baltimore’s goal of creating an endowment to ensure support for vital anti-discrimination, suicide prevention, peer counseling, self-expression programs and more continue for LGBTQ youth community. This is exactly what we are here for.”

 

MASKerade Baltimore is made possible with generous support from lead sponsor LifeBridge Health. Said LifeBridge Health President & CEO Neil Meltzer: “At LifeBridge Health, our purpose statement is ‘Caring for Our Communities Together,’ and we are so pleased to support the Baltimore Community Foundation’s MASKerade Baltimore and the vision to raise awareness and funds for issues facing people in our LBGTQ community.”

 

For more details on MASKerade Baltimore, see the timeline below or visit https://maskeradebmore.givesmart.com/. To sponsor MASKerade Baltimore, contact Dara Schnee, VP of Philanthropy at [email protected]. 

 

TIMELINE

 

MASK PICKUP: 

Through September 30

 

PICK UP PROTOCOL:

Masks can be picked up through September 30 at one of the following locations:

 

Jill Andrews Gowns 3355 Keswick Rd, Baltimore MD 21211

Monday – Friday between the hours of 10am and 5pm.

The front door to the lobby will be unlocked; there will not be time slots to pick up.

 

-OR- 

 

MAP, 218 W Saratoga St., Baltimore, MD 21201

Tuesday – Friday between the hours of 10am and 4pm

Call when you get to MAP: 410-962-8565

 

*If artists are unable to pick up a mask from the specified location, shipment can be arranged.

 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Saturday, October 24 by 5pm

 

SILENT AUCTION:

Saturday, November 7 at 10am – Friday, November 13 at 10pm

 

MASK DROP-OFF TO WINNING BIDDERS:

Tuesday, November 17 – Saturday, November 21

 

 

About BCF & The LGBTQ Fund at BCF

BCF is a philanthropic foundation created by and for the people of Greater Baltimore where many donors join together to make the region they love a better place today and for future generations. To achieve maximum impact, the foundation primarily focuses grantmaking on neighborhoods and education with the intention of addressing persistent racial disparities in economic opportunity. The foundation is comprised of 800+ different philanthropic funds with more than $173 million in assets. Over the past 48 years, BCF has granted more than $500 million to hundreds of organizations across the Baltimore region. www.bcf.org

 

The LGBTQ Fund at BCF was launched in 2018 to provide life-sustaining and life-affirming support for Baltimore’s diverse LGBTQ community, particularly vulnerable young people. To date, the Fund has awarded nearly $100,000 to organizations fighting discrimination, providing health services, producing art and culture events and supporting young people with anti-bullying and suicide prevention programs.  www./lgbtq.baltimorecommunityfoundation.org/

 

About Maryland Art Place (MAP) 

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. www.mdartplace.org

 

About LifeBridge Health
LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland. LifeBridge Health includes Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Grace Medical Center and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/Coronavirus