Largest Single Bequest Ever to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) Movement By Early Microsoft Employee
Pride Foundation to Distribute Weiland's Groundbreaking Bequest
SEATTLE, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Pride Foundation of Seattle is honored
to announce the establishment of a sizable new fund from the estate of Ric
Weiland. Mr. Weiland's gift of $65 million is the largest single bequest
ever to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement. As one
of Microsoft's first employees, having joined the company that was started
by two of his high school classmates Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Ric Weiland
used philanthropy to strengthen his community by giving generously to many
organizations. When Weiland died in June of 2006, he made sure that the
work he cared about in his life would continue, leaving the vast majority
of his estate to LGBT, HIV/AIDS, environmental and education organizations.
Pride Foundation is honored to be one of the organizations receiving a
tremendous bequest from Ric Weiland for our grants, scholarships and
leadership development work and for distribution to organizations working
to advance LGBT equality.
"Ric was one of Pride Foundation's closest supporters, not just as a
donor, but as a board member and volunteer," said Audrey Haberman,
executive director of the Pride Foundation. "All of us feel such a
tremendous loss with him gone. Ric's bequest will do what he always
wanted-inspire others to give to the causes they care about to the full
extent that they can."
A modest man, Weiland could have easily started his own foundation, but
chose instead to work through existing national and local organizations. He
was known for carefully vetting the charities he supported and shunning
public accolades. Weiland intended his gifts to inspire people to work
together for positive change and to strengthen the communities that they
touched.
"Ric was a good friend, a terrific computer programmer and a very
generous man," said Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and friend of
Weiland. "His gift to the Pride Foundation demonstrates his compassion and
dedication to the community, and I'm very proud to have had him as a
friend. He will be sorely missed but his legacy lives on through the work
of Pride and the charitable organizations it supports."
Through his estate, Weiland established a fund at Pride Foundation that
will provide $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national LGBT and
HIV/AIDS organizations that he personally selected. In addition, he
bequeathed $19 million directly to Pride Foundation for our scholarships
and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community.
The following organizations will be receiving funding from the Weiland
Designated Fund at Pride Foundation:
-- amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
-- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
-- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
-- In The Life
-- International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
-- Lambda Legal
-- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
-- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
-- Project Inform
-- Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
"Ric gave scores of LGBT groups significant resources to achieve real
change during his lifetime. He did not seek the spotlight -- or even
acknowledgement -- as he gave away tens of millions of dollars," said
Urvashi Vaid, executive director of the national Arcus Foundation, who also
knew Ric as a friend. "With this extraordinary gift, Ric's legacy
challenges each of us to commit more fully to our own community and to
realize that there is much more still to be done."
Ric Weiland died in June of 2006, at the age of 53, committing suicide
after struggling with depression. He is survived by his partner, Mike
Schaefer of Seattle and his nieces and nephews.
About the Pride Foundation
Pride Foundation is a community foundation serving the Northwest's
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Pride Foundation makes
grants to organizations and gives educational scholarships to students in
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Founded in 1985, Pride
Foundation has given more than $7.2 million to over 500 organizations and
522 students in an effort to strengthen the LGBT community. To learn more
about Pride Foundation and the 10 beneficiaries of the Weiland Designated
Fund, please visit http://www.pridefoundation.org.
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