In today’s philanthropic landscape, few organizations are as committed to empowering financial professionals to make a difference as the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation. We shine a spotlight on the generous and often life-changing efforts of financial advisors across the country who dedicate time and resources to causes and organizations close to their hearts. Among the many sectors and communities Invest in Others has supported through its awards and grants, LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations stand out as an important one to highlight.
Celebrating Service Through the Invest in Others Awards
The Invest in Others Awards honor financial advisors who give back to their communities by volunteering with nonprofit organizations. These awards are not just a form of recognition; they also include substantial financial support going to the charities the honorees support. Many of these award recipients over the years have worked closely with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, youth services, healthcare organizations, and community centers, providing critical funding that helps these nonprofits expand their reach and enhance their programs. That’s why we wanted to highlight someone who has made a significant impact over the years!
Get to Know Ferd
In 1997, our 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Finalist Ferdinand Garcia became involved with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), an organization that promotes health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV through sexual health and substance abuse services, advocacy, and community partnerships. Ferd signed up for a seven-day, 545-mile charity bike ride, now known as the AIDS/LifeCycle, benefiting the organization. Through his annual fundraising efforts for the AIDS/LifeCycle event, Ferd has successfully raised more than $10 million to help end HIV!
Ferd has been in the industry since 1990 and has worked for just one firm over those years, the company now known as Osaic.
A Q&A with Ferd
Your first AIDS/LifeCycle ride in 1997 clearly had a profound impact on your personal journey. Can you share more about how that experience shaped your relationship with your commitment to advocacy and philanthropy?
When I signed up for the AIDS ride in 1997, I was completely new to the world of advocacy and philanthropy. The AIDS/lifecycle came at a time in my life where I was still figuring out who I was. I was raised very Catholic, and I didn’t know much about what it meant to be gay living an authentic life. I also thought that being gay meant you would get HIV and get AIDS.
I have also never done anything as physically challenging as the ride. I also have never raised money for any type of cause. So, the idea of riding a bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles and trying to fundraise the $2,500 minimum required to be able to go on the event was very daunting to me. To my surprise, I was able to raise the $2,500 easily. The training and focus and determination helped me ride every mile on that first ride. That was also the first time I experienced the love bubble.
The love bubble is the community that you experience during the week of the ride. Where people come together for a common cause. People from all over the world, gay, straight, bi, young, old, men, women, HIV neg and HIV positive people. It was also that first ride that gave me the courage to come out to my family. I met parents who shared their stories about their son coming out to them. The parents shared how at first, they didn’t accept their son, but now they are riding the ride with their son. I also met parents who lost their son to AIDS and that was why they were there participating in the event. To honor their lost son.
All these experiences that first year created a deep and meaningful impact on me. The ride taught me that if you put your mind to it, a goal, a challenge, an obstacle can be met and defeated and accomplished. The ride taught me about compassion and how to give a voice to the voiceless. The ride taught me to care and root for the underserved communities. The ride taught me how to fundraise. The ride gave a sense of purpose. The ride also taught me that the more you give, the more you get back.
Because of that first ride, over the years, I have tackled physical challenges: a marathon, a triathlon, hiking mountains all as fundraisers for HIV organizations. That first ride also enabled me to serve on 3 nonprofit LGBT and HIV organizations. I tested HIV positive in 2002, five years after participating on my first ride. So, this cause became even more personal to me.
What have been the most meaningful moments or challenges in your fundraising journey, and how have they deepened your connection to LGBTQ+ communities?
There have been so many moments that have been meaningful to me. Over the last 25 years, I have helped over 100 people participate on the ride. Most of these individuals have never fundraised or done anything as physical as riding a bike for seven days over 545 miles. I have inspired some of them to join nonprofits as board members.
Over the years, because of my willingness to share and discuss my HIV status, people’s paradigm of what it means to be HIV positive changed. I also have given people the courage to discuss their HIV positive status in a way that they didn’t think was possible. Seeing the growth in others gave me the energy to keep doing what I’m doing regarding this important work.
As a 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Finalist with the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, how did that recognition influence your advocacy work or open new doors for the causes you care about?
The recognition from Invest in others was invaluable. Our industry is predominantly straight white male. I have met other LGBT advisors over the years, but I haven’t met anyone else who has publicly shared their HIV status. I have been told in the past that ten or so years ago, our industry would not have recognized me for the nonprofit work I was doing because I was gay and because my work supported LGBT organizations. Our industry has come a long way, but we still have a ways to go.
One of the things I love about Invest in Others is how they highlight the important nonprofit work that financial advisors do. My hope is that the organization will continue to serve the underserved communities. My hope is that more minorities, women, and people of color become financial advisors. In a time where our country is so divided, it is crucial that we keep recognizing the incredible work that advisors do to uplift the communities around them that need help and that we continue to encourage advisors to keep paying it forward.
Honoring Pride Month: Reflection and Action
As we recognize and celebrate Pride Month, it’s essential to understand the significance of visibility, solidarity, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals and the organizations that serve them. Pride is more than a celebration in the month of June, it’s a continued call for equity, dignity, and love all year round.
Here are a few ways you can show your support for LGBTQ+ nonprofits and communities:
- Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the challenges LGBTQ+ communities face and the organizations working to address them.
- Donate or Fundraise: Contribute to LGBTQ+-focused nonprofits financially or help organize fundraising campaigns.
- Volunteer Your Time or Expertise: Offer your skills, whether it’s legal advice, financial planning, or marketing, to help these organizations thrive.
- Advocate and Amplify: Use your voice to advocate for inclusive policies and amplify the work of LGBTQ+ nonprofits on social media and in your networks.
The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation exemplifies how the financial services community can be a force for positive change. As we honor the spirit of Pride, let’s follow that example and continue to invest our time, resources, and energy into building a more inclusive and compassionate world for all.
