Several LGBTQ+ nonprofits in North and South Carolina are beneficiaries of the inaugural Elton John Impact Awards, a new initiative from iHeartRadio and Procter & Gamble highlighting LGBTQ+ changemakers and organizations providing community support services.
Charlotte Trans Health, the LGBT Center of Raleigh and Charleston-based We Are Family each shared public announcements this week about their involvement with the initiative, which launches June 1 through the iHeartRadio app and iHeartRadio PRIDE stations.
The Elton John Impact Awards build on the broader “Can’t Cancel Pride” campaign launched by iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble in 2020. According to organizers, the initiative has raised more than $17 million for LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations over the past five years.
This year’s awards special features LGBTQ+ honorees including Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck and Chappell Roan. The program is hosted by Billy Porter and Elvis Duran and includes support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation.
While the awards feature internationally recognized LGBTQ+ artists and advocates, local organizations across the Carolinas said the initiative’s funding and visibility will directly support programs serving LGBTQ+ people in their own communities.
Charlotte Trans Health said support connected to the initiative will help fund the organization’s PATH program and educational events.
“We’re honored to be a beneficiary of Elton John Impact Awards – celebrating the changemakers who are redefining culture and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community,” the organization wrote in a public statement.
The Charlotte nonprofit said support from the initiative, P&G and the Looking Out Foundation would help continue services focused on transgender and gender-diverse people in the region.
In Raleigh, the LGBT Center of Raleigh said the initiative would help the organization continue expanding programming and community support services.
“This program goes beyond celebration, providing critical funding and visibility to organizations like ours, helping expand life-affirming programs and reach more people who need support,” the organization wrote on social media.
The center also encouraged supporters to tune in to the June 1 special, which will include stories from honorees as well as comments from Executive Director Kori Hennessey about how the funding helps support the organization’s work.
In South Carolina, We Are Family announced it was also participating as a beneficiary organization connected to the initiative.
“Because of this support and visibility from The Elton John Impact Awards, P&G and The Looking Out Foundation, We Are Family is able to provide life affirming services to youth throughout South Carolina,” the organization wrote in its announcement.
The Charleston-based nonprofit provides programs, leadership development and support services for LGBTQ+ youth and families across South Carolina.
The three Carolinas organizations were among several groups highlighted ahead of the June 1 launch of the awards initiative. Additional information about the program is available at Elton John Impact Awards.
The Elton John Impact Awards podcast special premieres June 1 on the iHeartRadio app, iHeartRadio PRIDE stations and podcast platforms.
