I agree with your point on the GLBT community boycotting Israel [“Mark My Words,” Feb. 6-12]. On your point about reactivating the Sally Tyre Fund, I say what for? We now have more nonprofit funds than we need or can support. Since the Sally Tyre Fund was created, there are not just hundreds of GLBT funds, but thousands serving all manner of needs in our community. I might also mention that we didn’t even have the problem of AIDS when Sally Tyre passed on. I might suggest, for the cost of staffing and processing candidates for scholarships, plus the accounting, oversight and distribution, it would be far wiser to contribute to The Point Foundation that runs the largest GLBT fund in America doing the very same thing. It has had tremendous success and has a proven track record of graduating students, which can be easily seen on its Web site. This year and for the next several years, we will see many smaller nonprofits either merge or go out of existence because of lack of funding. In this issue of PGN, you speak of the cutbacks in support for our three block-party functions, driving them to cut back on programming as well as seeking more help from the public, which may not come. Not a very good time to be reactivating an unknown entity, which will only take away from those GLBT funds now struggling for support. I recently had to deal with a similar decision on the creation of yet another foundation and, speaking with many in the nonprofit business, was told by one and all there was no need for more funds. I urge your reconsideration before going forward with this idea.
Mel Heifetz Philadelphia