6th Anniversary - Matthew Shepard October 12

"Give your kids a hug and don't let a day go by without telling them you love them." - Judy Shepard

Matthew Shepard Foundation

Matthew's Place

October 12th, 2004 is the sixth anniversary of my son Matthew's
murder. I quickly learned his violent death was a fairly common
occurrence. This realization prompted our family to create the
Matthew Shepard Foundation and do our part to create a more
respectful and caring culture free from hate. I have spent the past
five years traveling across the nation, speaking to over one million
people at schools, churches, corporations, anyone who will listen,
to try and stem the tide of hate that is eating away at the fabric
of our culture.

As we approach the anniversary, it is apparent that I need to
redouble my efforts to invoke a grassroots solution to this
problem. It is a solution that begins with families, educators,
clergy and our communities as a whole. To do this, I need your help.

We have the opportunity to help our children understand and accept
diversity before their formal school years begin and to reinforce
that acceptance throughout their education.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation has developed educational programs
such as Small Bear, Big Dreams(tm), a preK-12th grade program that
focuses on a fundamental level to teach the values of respect, and
acceptance of all people. If we do our jobs correctly, it should
never cross the minds of our children to harm someone, physically or
emotionally, because of their race, national origin, religion,
disability, gender or gender identity and expression.

Through my speaking program, The Legacy of Matthew Shepard(tm), I have
funded the initial development of Foundation programs and created a
small support team for them. Now, I need your help to take the next
step and deliver these programs to schools and communities and
ensure the Matthew Shepard Foundation continues its mission long
after my ability to fund it ends.

Please consider making a generous
monthly contribution to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Your
financial support is needed if the Foundation is to continue to grow
as an active national educational organization.

Think about what has changed - and more importantly what hasn't.
What has been done to make our communities safer from violence
resulting from anti-gay hate?

Please help us teach all families to
understand diversity without fearing it. Be an example of acceptance
and compassion. The consequences of hate hurt everyone, not only
the victims and their families and friends, but also the families of
the perpetrators. When hate is allowed to flourish unchecked, lives
are lost, lives are ruined and lives are changed forever.

~Judy Shepard