McConnell's Supports The Pacific Pride Foundation

While we've come a long way, the need to support our friends and our neighbors whose voices and rights have been wrongfully silenced grows stronger. In support of the Pacific Pride Foundation (PPF), we launched Sprinkled With Pride, and 5% from every scoop and pint sold will be donated to support the wide array of free and low cost services they offer to the LGBTQ+ community. Together, our fight for equality and safety continues. 

Pacific Pride Foundation's advocacy and education efforts meet the ongoing and emerging needs of a diverse population in order to create a thriving and visible LGBTQ+ community and to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. You can learn more about PPF at pacificpridefoundation.org

To find out a little more about PPF, we interviewed some of the folks behind the scenes.

Keilani Garcia, she/her/ella, Community Education Coordinator

What is your favorite part about working at PPF? My favorite part about working at PPF is being able to connect and collaborate with the people in our communities here in Santa Barbara County.

What are some of the new initiatives or practices that PPF have been working on? In September 2020, three of our Youth Leaders pitched the idea for a new youth group just for LGBTQ+ youth of color so they could have a space to be in community just with each other. We just completed our first school year with the PROUD Youth of Color group in action and we have big plans for next year!

Sky Limón, they/them, Community Education Coordinator

What is your favorite part about working at PPF? My favorite part is I get to work in community, for community.

How have/can the community continue to stay involved and connected? Volunteer for our Syringe Exchange Program! We build safer use kits, safer sex kits, and Naloxone kits to lower the spread of HIV & Hep C, and prevent overdoses.

Jackie VanLingen, she/her/hers, Development & Events Manager

What is your favorite part about working at PPF? Producing the Pacific Pride Festival is the highlight of my job. It’s such an honor to provide a safe, visibility space for the LGBTQ+ community to feel completely at home.

What has been your biggest challenge and biggest accomplishment over the past year? I felt that the absence of events and being in community was a big challenge for PPF this year. However, my most treasured moment happened out of a virtual event, PROUD Prom. Our youth were engaged for the entire hour, and even did a virtual after party in their own chat room.

George Bowles (they/them), Communications and Operations Manager

What is your favorite part about working at PPF? I would say that my favorite part about PPF is that it gives me the opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much. Through our various programs and services, I feel like I can adequately serve the LGBTQ+ community here in Santa Barbara and beyond.

Kirstin Flickinger, she/her/hers, Executive Director

What is your favorite part about working at PPF? My favorite part of working at PPF is knowing that, every day, I'm working with incredible people to help ensure a healthy, vibrant, and visible LGBTQ+ community.

What are you most excited about for the future? As someone who moved to Santa Barbara during the pandemic, I'm most looking forward to spending time in person with new friends on the Central Coast.