They recently made a significant financial contribution to gay rights efforts in the state of Florida with a $60,000 donation to Equality Florida, one of the state's largest civil rights organizations, "dedicated to eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and class". The donation is among several service and charity initiatives implemented by the company and is one of the largest financial contributions ever received by the advocacy group.
The donation to Equality Florida followed a chance encounter, according to Corbin Fisher CEO, Jason Gibson, at a cocktail party.
"Through mutual friends and acquaintances at this function, I had the pleasure of meeting several individuals who spend tremendous amounts of time and energy fighting discrimination against GLBT Floridians," recalls Gibson. "I was moved by the extent of their enthusiasm, impressed by their dedication, and further impressed by their considerable accomplishments in pursuing their mission to end discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation."
More after the jump.
Corbin Fisher regularly donates to various gay rights groups and charities, including similar advocacy and education organizations in California and at the national level. The contribution to Equality Florida marks its biggest single donation to an individual group, however.
"Beyond gay rights being a cause more than worthy of whatever support we can offer, and beyond Equality Florida being a remarkable and effective organization pursuing that cause, the tireless work of such organizations and the individuals behind them have a very real impact upon the lives of our employees, our friends, and our members," notes Gibson.
Corbin Fisher executives regularly meet to discuss ways to contribute to worthwhile causes, according to COO Brian Dunlap. "We understand that our audience comes to us for the content that we produce, but also recognize and appreciate that having such a large audience offers an opportunity to positively impact a variety of causes." Through its websites, newsletter and social networking site presence, Corbin Fisher has regularly encouraged members and fans to contribute to causes such as earthquake relief in Haiti, the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the US, and relief efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Further, the company encourages its two dozen plus employees to donate time and resources to causes they find worthwhile. Donations made by Corbin Fisher employees to charitable, non-profit organizations are matched by the company. Corbin Fisher employees can also take "service days", skipping work to spend time volunteering for charity and service organizations without sacrificing vacation time or pay. The company has also made its General Counsel, Marc Randazza, available for a variety of pro bono work.
