STER KINEKOR AND JOBURG PRIDE PARTNERSHIP BEARS FRUIT
Pride Co-chair Zak Mbhele.
The partnership between Ster Kinekor and Joburg Pride has resulted in palpable benefits for the not-for-profit organisation that puts on the annual Joburg Pride Festival, said the event’s organisers in a statement.
At a Joburg Pride fundraising screening of the Oscar-winning film Milk at Cinema Nouveau screened by Fish Eagle Brandy, Bedford Centre on 22 April, Ster Kinekor Theatre’s Mary Githu (National Marketing Manager) handed over a cheque to the chairs of Joburg Pride, Tanya Harford and Zak Mbhele, to the value of R 25,650.
The funds were raised at last year’s Pretoria and Joburg premieres of the RuPaul movie, Starrbooty, in association with the Therapy Viva la Glam Pride After Party. Harford thanked those who have consistently attended Pride fundraising events as well as Ster Kinekor Theatres for its fantastic support over the last two years:
“Joburg Pride is reliant on sponsorships and donations. Without these funds and the people and organisations that help us raise them, we would be unable to organise what is rapidly becoming one of Joburg’s leading events.”
An additional R 8,000 was raised at the Milk screening, once again thanks to the kind support of Ster Kinekor Theatres and members of the LGBT community. At least one more additional fund-raising film screening will take place later this year, ahead of the 2009 Joburg Pride event in October.
Well Done. Well done to Tanya and her team. Finally Joburg Pride has proper organisers. And it is high time that we as a community get more hands on involved in the day and events. The more visible we are the more sponsors we will attract. Sydney Mardi Gras is a huge month long event and companies are falling over each other to have their names on the sponsor list, because with a minimum of 300 000 spectators alone at the march, it is fantastic exposure for their companies and products.
Jo-burg pride should really have many more events to raise funds, more than just a few movie screenings. There are brilliant gay movies out there and we could have many screenings.
Why not also hit the heart of the gay culture and organise a few parties as well during the year, sort of an extention of the Pride Afterparty. Get a good venue, charge R10 more per entry, and see the guys/gals flocking to join. Do day parties, like H20, or ESP. Then perhaps sell train rides to Cape Town pride, MCQP, and Pink Loerie, etc etc.
I am really looking forward to this years pride. If it is anything like last year, it can only be great.