Through activism, allyship and love, Cherry Republic proudly commemorates Pride. As a company, we understand the impacts we can have, and take responsibility in supporting our customers. This weekend, June 24th and 25th, 5% of profits will be donated towards various organizations. The organizations differ depending on the store location in Michigan.
Traverse City, Glen Arbor (Retail and Pub) and Charlevoix Locations:
These locations will be donating the profits to Up North Pride. Starting in 2014, a group of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members gathered to discuss the need to represent and celebrate the queer community in Northern Michigan. The gathering was first prompted when a mother asked why there wasn’t a Pride festival in Traverse City, and how important she felt it was to raise her children in a community that celebrated diversity. Up North Pride has grown to be the largest participant-driven LGBTQ+ Pride March in Michigan that attracts more than 6,000 attendees in 2019. This organization is Northern Michigan’s leader for LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Up North Pride’s MISSION: Our mission is to foster inclusive spaces by providing education and resources, inspiring activism and advocacy, and producing community-focused 2SLGBTQIA+ programs and events
Up North Pride’s VISION: We envision a community where 2SLGBTQIA+ members are visible, celebrated, and supported in all aspects of life.
Ann Arbor and Frankenmuth Locations
These locations will be donating to Ruth Ellis Center. Founded in 1999, Ruth Ellis Center (REC) has established a national reputation for quality and innovation in providing trauma-informed services for lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth, and young adults, with an emphasis on young people of color, experiencing homelessness, involved in the child welfare system, and/or experiencing barriers to health and wellbeing.
Ruth Ellis Center’s mission: It is our mission, to create opportunities with LGBTQ+ young people to build their vision for a positive future.
Ruth Ellis Center’s vision: Our vision is a world where LGBTQ+ young people are safe and supported no matter where they go.
Holland Location
The Holland location will be supporting Out On The Lakeshore. This organization was started in 2015, and was initially introduced to the Holland community at PRIDE in June of that year. OOTL was established to provide a community center for the LGBTQ+ community to provide programming, resources, support, and education to LGBTQ+ people and allies. OOTL also is the host of the annual Holland PRIDE celebration, which serves as our largest fundraiser each year. They strive to relate, celebrate, educate, advocate and collaborate with the LGBTQ+ community, while fighting for equality, while also raising awareness that there is still work to be done.
OOTL’s mission: Our mission is to provide a constant source of support and understanding to the LGBTQ community of the greater Holland area. We seek to create a community in which all persons are afforded equal rights and opportunities.
OOTL’s vision: Our Vision is a community that welcomes all people. It is our desire that all forms of discrimination are removed in order to create a safe, open, and accepting environment for the LGBTQ community. We strive to provide the education, events and resources necessary to foster understanding, and to advocate within Holland for a community that accepts and embraces all.
Cherry Republic is proud to help support these powerful organizations this weekend. We understand that there is much more work to be done, however we hope that our efforts this weekend will raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community.
