CHARITY

Each year, North American Bear Weekend donates all of the proceeds (after expenses) to charities within the LGBT community.  Since the event was founded in 2011, we are very proud to announce we have donated over $350,000 to these charities.  We are excited to be partnering with the following charities in 2026:

PFLAG (NATIONAL CHARITY)

Founded in 1973 by a mother and her gay son, PFLAG was born from the unified front of a family leading with love. An inspiring alliance of LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones continues to fuel PFLAG, fifty years later.

PFLAG’s network of over 360 chapters and more than 550,000 members and supporters are helping create an equitable and inclusive world where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved.

For more information about this organization, visit https://pflag.org/.

 

CAMP BEACON (REGIONAL CHARITY)

Camp Beacon is Kentucky’s first residential summer camp designed for and with LGBTQ youth ages thirteen to seventeen. We offer a safe, fun, and affirming community while providing a typical camp experience at no cost to participants. Additionally, Camp Beacon conducts outreach to youth in rural Kentucky and partners with existing grassroots organizations to develop LGBTQ community year-round. For more information, check out https://www.campbeacon.org/.

 

LEXINGTON PRIDE CENTER (LOCAL CHARITY)

Founded in 1977, the Lexington Pride Center is the oldest LGBTQIA+ organization in Kentucky. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that creates and manages safe and inclusive spaces, programming, and services, including Lexington’s LGBTQIA+ community center and the Lexington Pride Festival, at no cost to those we serve.

For more information, visit https://www.lexpridecenter.org/.