Matthew Shepard Foundation

{{Infobox non-profit

|name = Matthew Shepard Foundation

|image = MSF_logo.jpg

|tax_id = 31-1640047

|founded = {{start date|1998|12}}{{cite news | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Embrace-A-Benefit-Concert-for-the-Matthew-Shepard-Foundation-20040221 | title=Embrace! A Benefit Concert for the Matthew Shepard Foundation | work=BroadwayWorld.com | date=February 21, 2004 | access-date=October 19, 2013 | author=Lenzi, Linda}}

|founder = Dennis and Judy Shepard

|location = Casper, Wyoming

|key_people = Judy Shepard (Board President)

|mission = The Matthew Shepard Foundation empowers individuals to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy and resources, effecting positive change.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-story | title=The Foundation's Story | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 20, 2013}}

|num_employees =

|budget= Revenue: $732,891
Expenses: $774,774
(FYE June 2016){{cite web | url=http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/311/311640047/311640047_201606_990.pdf | title=Matthew Shepard Foundation | website=Foundation Center | access-date=11 July 2017}}

|website = {{URL|www.matthewshepard.org}}

}}

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is an LGBTQ nonprofit organization, headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, which was founded in December 1998 by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their son, Matthew, who was murdered in 1998.{{cite press release | url=https://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131017-909887.html | title="The Meaning of Matthew" Author Judy Shepard to Speak at Brown Theatre | publisher=Business Wire | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013}} The Foundation runs education, outreach, and advocacy programs.

Programs

The Matthew Shepard Foundation has online and offline programs designed to raise awareness of anti-violence and promote human dignity for everyone by engaging schools, companies, and individuals in dialogues.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/contact-us/faq | title=Frequently Asked Questions | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 20, 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.watermarkonline.com/2009/09/30/the-laramie-project-on-the-11th-anniversary-of-matthew-shepards-death/ | title=The Laramie Project, on the 11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death | work=Watermark Online | date=September 30, 2009 | access-date=October 20, 2013 | author=Miller, Stephen}}

=Laramie Project support=

File:The Laramie Project - group scene from a 2008 performance.jpg at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School]]

The Laramie Project is a play created in the aftermath of Matthew's 1998 murder. The Matthew Shepard Foundation works with companies, colleges and universities, high schools, community theatres, and religious groups to provide a variety of services including media resources, historical background and context, creative consultation, and assistance with school curriculums related to the play. The organization has worked with productions all across the United States, as well as Canada, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. They work in collaboration with the play’s creators, Tectonic Theater Project, and travels to different communities to lead post-show discussions, teach, and serve as a panelist for related community-wide discussions on creating safer communities.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/speaker-bureau | title=Laramie Project Support | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131020055009/http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/speaker-bureau | archive-date=October 20, 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | url=http://www.goupstate.com/article/20131015/ENT/131019803/-1/search10?Title=Blue-Ridge-Community-College-students-take-lessons-from-Laramie-Project- | title=Blue Ridge Community College students take lessons from 'Laramie Project' | work=GoUpstate.com | date=October 15, 2013 | agency=Halifax Media Group | access-date=October 20, 2013 | author=Winkler, Katie | location=Flat Rock, North Carolina}}

=Matthew’s Place=

Matthew’s Place is an online community designed to provide support to teenagers and young adults within sexual orientation and gender identity minorities as well as their allies. The website also provides blogs written by young people from across the United States, resources for those who are struggling with coming out or reconciling their faith and sexual orientation/gender identity, and interviews with notable people within the LGBTQ and ally community.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/mp-overview | title=Matthew's Place | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 19, 2013}}{{cite interview | url=http://act.mtv.com/posts/judy-shepard-carries-on-the-memory-of-her-son-matthew-interview/ | title=Judy Shepard Carries On The Memory Of Her Son, Matthew | date=October 11, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013 | last=Shepard | first=Judy | subject-link=Judy Shepard | interviewer=Davidson, Danica | work=MTV Act Blog | archive-date=October 21, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021074858/http://act.mtv.com/posts/judy-shepard-carries-on-the-memory-of-her-son-matthew-interview/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9f0qTU_JLoC&pg=PP1 | title=Words Hit Hard as a Fist: With 18 Tips on How to Stop Being Bullied | publisher=Balboa Press | author=Rudolph, Charisse J. | year=2011 | location=Bloomington, Indiana | page=105 | isbn=978-1452533896}}

=Public speaking=

File:Judy Shepard o cropped.jpg Live Out Loud|Judy Shepard at Lifeworks Live Out Loud]]

The Matthew Shepard Foundation's Speakers Bureau programs send anti-violence awareness speakers to visit schools, universities, colleges, companies, and community groups around the United States to talk about the impact hate has on communities. The group of speakers includes journalists, authors, activists, and public safety officials.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-work/speaker-bureau | title=Speakers Bureau | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 19, 2013 | archive-date=April 25, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425013452/http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-work/speaker-bureau | url-status=dead }} Judy Shepard also makes public appearances to tell Matthew's story and discuss LGBTQ advocacy.

=Safe schools resources=

The Matthew Shepard Foundation provides resources to help teachers, administrators and support staff make their schools safer places for students.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/educator-resources-2 | title=Educator Resources | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 19, 2013 | archive-date=July 9, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709132229/http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/educator-resources-2 | url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tsz6SyyZ5X8C | title=Youth, Education, and Sexualities: An International Encyclopedia, Volume 2 | publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | year=2005 | location=Westport, Connecticut | page=790 | isbn=0313327556 | editor-first=James | editor-last=Sears}}

=Small Bear Big Dreams=

Small Bear Big Dreams is a Pre-K – 12th grade educational program started in fall 2007 which is designed to teach the values of respect for all people and acceptance of individual differences. The life of Matthew Shepard is chronicled in the storybook Small Bear, Big Dreams. In the book, teddy bears celebrate Matthew’s life and aspirations as well as his struggles.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/sbbd | title=Small Bear Big Dreams | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | access-date=October 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020022401/http://www.matthewshepard.org/our-works/sbbd | archive-date=October 20, 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZ2bPQAACAAJ | title=Small Bear, Big Dreams: One Bear's Adventure to Change the World | publisher=Aardvark Global Publishing | author=Galles, Timothy | year=2006 | isbn=159971499X}}{{cite web | url=http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/matthew-shepard-storybook-celebrates-tolerance-and-diversity/ | title=Matthew Shepard storybook celebrates tolerance and diversity | publisher=Wyoming Arts Council | date=August 28, 2007 | access-date=October 20, 2013}}

=Spirit of Matthew Award=

The Spirit of Matthew Award recognizes and honors those who teach diversity, acceptance, and understanding through their words and actions. The Spirit of Matthew Award was established in Matthew’s name in an effort to encourage the desire for change that Matthew showed in his life. Recipients are honored annually at the organizations Bear to Make a Difference Gala Dinner.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewsplace.com/community/spirit-of-matthew-award/ | title=Spirit of Matthew Award | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | work=Matthew's Place | access-date=October 20, 2013 | archive-date=October 21, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021064559/http://www.matthewsplace.com/community/spirit-of-matthew-award/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://lesbianwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/spirit-of-matthew-award/ | title=Spirit of Matthew Award | work=Lesbian Writers | date=June 20, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.kwqc.com/story/23653338/tipton-teen-to-receive-matthew-shepard-foundation-award | title=Tipton Teen to Receive Matthew Shepard Foundation Award | work=KWQC-TV | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013 | author=McCarthy, Danielle | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131020055008/http://www.kwqc.com/story/23653338/tipton-teen-to-receive-matthew-shepard-foundation-award | archive-date=October 20, 2013 | url-status=dead }}

History

After their 21-year-old son, Matthew, was murdered in Wyoming in October 1998, Dennis and Judy Shepard set out to try to ensure people recognize the role hate plays in society, and to advocate for anti-violence efforts. They founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation in December 1998 in memory of their son and to advance their goals. Judy served as the executive director from 1999 to 2009 and now serves as president of the organization's governing board.{{cite news | url=http://www.advocate.com/society/hate-crimes/2013/09/30/watch-live-judy-shepard-reveals-malice-toward-none | title=Judy Shepard Reveals 'Malice Toward None' | work=The Advocate | date=September 30, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013 | author=Brydum, Sunnivie}}

=The Matthew Shepard Point Scholarship=

In 2006 and 2007, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Point Foundation have partnered to create the Matthew Shepard Point Scholarship, naming three scholars each year to receive annual college scholarships of $10,000 or more. In addition to the monetary award, the scholars become members of the Matthew Shepard Foundation's Youth Advisory Council. Selection of recipients is based on their "academic achievements, as well as a current involvement with helping advance the LGBTQ community, as well as a demonstrated commitment to helping advance equality in the future."{{cite news|url=http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/01/09/4 |title=Foundations partner on LGBT scholarships |work=Gay.com |date=January 9, 2006 |agency=PlanetOut Network |access-date=October 19, 2013 |author=Curtis, Christopher |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016221434/http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006%2F01%2F09%2F4 |archive-date=October 16, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news | url=http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/august162007.pdf | title=Point Foundation Announces Scholarship recipients | work=The Rainbow Times | date=August 16 – September 5, 2007 | access-date=October 19, 2013 | pages=B-8}}

=Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act=

File:Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.jpg, at an October 2009 White House reception]]

{{main article|Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act}}

Since its founding, the organization lobbied for passage of federal, statewide, and local hate crimes prevention legislation. On October 22, 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act.{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_13628360 |title=Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act passes Congress, finally |work=Mercurynews.com |access-date=December 30, 2012}} The Act of Congress was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009,{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/obama-signs-hate-crimes-bill/|title=Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill|work=The New York Times|date=28 October 2009 |access-date=September 29, 2013}} as a rider to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 (H.R. 2647). Conceived as a response to the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., the measure expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/president-obama-signs-hate-crime-prevention-act/ |title=President Obama Signs Hate Crime Prevention Act |publisher=Fox News |date=October 28, 2009 |access-date=September 29, 2013}}