Navigation

Make Waves With Us: Support NWPA Pride Alliance on Erie Gives Day 2026

Make Waves With Us: Support NWPA Pride Alliance on Erie Gives Day 2026

For over 30 years, NWPA Pride Alliance has been showing up for the LGBTQIA+ community across Northwestern Pennsylvania. Since starting out in 1992, our core mission hasn't changed: we’re here to build safe, welcoming, and fun spaces where everyone can be their authentic self.

Erie Gives Day is coming up on Tuesday, August 11th, and we’d love for you to join us in making some serious waves across our region!

Pride is (and Always Will Be) Free for Everyone

We stick to a simple promise: every single one of our signature events is 100% free. Cost should never get in the way of finding community, celebrating, or feeling supported.

Your support keeps these awesome spaces open to everyone:

  • Erie Pride Parade: Painting Downtown Erie’s State Street with cheerful colors, music, and love.
  • Pride on the Bay: Bringing thousands of us together at Liberty Park’s for local performers, drag shows, community resources, vendors, and great vibes.
  • Pride on the Diamond: Gathering Crawford County at Meadville's Diamond Park to celebrate local pride.
  • The Annual Pride Picnic: Our classic Presque Isle tradition filled with good food, family, and friends.
  • Monthly Queer Happy Hours: Casual, fun get-togethers every month in both Erie and Meadville.

100% Volunteer-Run, 100% Direct Impact

Here’s the best part about how we work: we are completely volunteer-run. That means no paid bosses, no office rent, and zero payroll overhead.

While some charities use donations for staff salaries, 100% of your gift to NWPA Pride goes straight into our events, programs, and safety setups.

Every dollar raised on Erie Gives Day goes right to work funding:

  • Permits & Venues: Locking down great spots like Liberty Park and Presque Isle.
  • Safety & Security: Teaming up with local safety crews, hiring EMTs, and securing standby medical teams so everyone feels safe celebrating.
  • Event Insurance: Keeping our guests, volunteers, and venues protected.
  • Event Basics: Covering stage sound, port-a-potties, trash cleanup, and volunteer gear.
  • Local Talent: Fairly paying the awesome local musicians, performers, and drag artists who bring the energy to our stages.

How Erie Gives Boosts Your Gift

Erie Gives Day, hosted by the Erie Community Foundation, takes place on the second Tuesday of August. Online giving is open for a full 24 hours, running from midnight to midnight at ErieGives.org!

Any gift of $25 or more given to NWPA Pride Alliance Inc. gets extra match money added to it from the Erie Community Foundation pool!

If you need a hand making your donation, friendly staff and volunteers will be available to take phone donations from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Just call 814-454-0843 and they'll get you set up.

Last year, you helped us raise $5,212.81 during Erie Gives. That money was huge in helping us bounce back strong, covering safety gear, venue setups, and insurance after the 2024 washout. This year, your gift will help us dream bigger, keep safety a priority, and ensure every event stays completely free.

Save the Date!

Can't make it on August 11th? No sweat! You can support us anytime by volunteering, grabbing some cool merch from our online store, or donating directly on our website.

Thanks for showing up, celebrating with us, and helping us make waves all across Northwestern PA!

Published: August 4, 2026
Back to News & Stories
Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson

No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.