Coors Comes Out
for Shepard Foundation

The Coors Brewing Company is the first corporation to commit charitable funds to the Matthew Shepard Foundation's new "Campaign to Erase Hate."

Judy Shepard, mother of slain college student Matthew Shepard, made a vocal plea for donations to the campaign at a recent Shepard Foundation gala. The beer company responded by announcing they will match 100% of the first $25,000 in individual donations made through the "Campaign to Erase Hate" website at www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Erase_Hate_Project_Main_Page.

The campaign aims to make society safer for LGBT people through increased education, advocacy, and awareness.

"We are starting a movement of people dedicated to erasing hate from our schools, workplaces, and communities," said Shepard in a release. "For the last 10 years, individuals have been raising [funds] themselves to do amazing things with no resources. What we are trying to do is give this great work a structure and create a community of individuals who are using their voices and talents to address these issues."

Coors, which battled accusations of homophobia in years past, is making a public commitment to gay rights with its donation to the Shepard Foundation.

"Coors takes great pride in being a partner with an organization with such a powerful and important message," said Doug Sanborn, Coors's manager of corporate relations, in a release. (The Advocate)