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IN MEMORY OF ANTHONY CASTRO ~ BPF Receives 3 Anonymous Tribute Gifts Totaling $525

The Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State has received three memorial gifts totaling $525? IN MEMORY OF M. ANTHONY CASTRO (1987-2007). All donations to the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State are 100% tax-deductible, to the full-extent of the law.

Feb 01, 2007

BULLDOG PRIDE FUND UPDATE ~ Feb. 1, 2007

BPF Receives 3 Anonymous Gifts Totaling $525 ~ In Memory of Anthony Castro ~
The Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State has received three memorial gifts totaling $525— IN MEMORY OF M. ANTHONY CASTRO [1987-2007]:

A graduate of Banning High School and an alumnus of Riverside Community College, Anthony Castro came out of the closet at the age of 16 while still a sophomore in high school. His mother immediately abandoned him and he was forced to live in foster care. As the only openly-gay student at his high school at the time, he overcame countless anti-gay stigmas from students, faculty and the community. During his senior year, however, he was an openly-gay a member of the swim team, the wrestling squad, the yearbook staff and the starting quarterback of the Banning Broncos. His leadership efforts were recognized by his football team and his coach-- Castro was eventually was named “all conference.”

Last summer, he played receiver and defensive back with LA Motion, a gay flag football team based in Los Angeles. Castro and the team also traveled to Chicago and participated in the 2006 Gay Games. He is survived by his partner, Cody Mariscal; and legal guardian, Phil Takacs. [Additional obituaries and tributes online: outsports.com, ESPN.com and advocate.com].

"To have the second memorial gift to the Bulldog Pride Fund to be given in Anthony Castro’s name is a fitting tribute," says Peter Robertson, BPF founder. "He was an openly-gay leader in high school while participating in varsity sports, which very uncommon."

The BPF graciously accepts tribute and memorial gifts, as well as donations in the form of securities, real property, corporate matching gifts and bequests. All donations to the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State are 100% tax-deductible, to the full-extent of the law. [Download PDF Donation Form]

BPF Feature Article on GayFresno.Com
Contributing writer, George Cholakyan has authored the first feature on the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State which has been recently posted on Gay.Fresno.Com. A student at Fresno City College, Cholakyan interviewed and photographed Jared Lindo, inaugural BPF scholar; and Peter Robertson, BPF founder, on a campus visit.

“Perhaps the most influential act of kindness on Jared Lindo's part would be his donation to the Bulldog Pride Fund. Upon receiving his [$1,000 scholarship] check Jared immediately donated five percent of this grant back into the fund,” writes Cholakyan. “A little donation from individuals who recognize the importance of social responsibility can make a big difference in a student’s life for years to come. The five percent that Jared donated to the fund may not change the world today, but it will grow with the BPF for many years to come.”

GayFresno.com is the only Fresno-based, not-for-profit gay resource website. Writers and staff volunteer time and experience for the greater good of the community. “For the Community, By the Community.” [See: www.gayfresno.com].

Total BPF Donations Surpass $26,000
With the inclusion of the tribute gift IN MEMORY OF ANTHONY CASTRO, total donations to the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State have surpassed $26,000. The BPF is an endowment that provides an annuity to support student scholarships at Fresno State. The earnings [interest] of the BPF are used to fund scholarships, while the endowment [principal] continues to earn interest in perpetuity for the funding of future scholarships.

“The Bulldog Pride Fund was founded in 2006 and officially established in 2006,” says Peter Robertson, BPF founder. “The endowment has been made possible by the support of 226 generous donors and three gifts from other non-profit organizations.”

The inaugural BPF Scholar, Jared Lindo, was presented a $1,000 scholarship at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala held at the Save Mart Center in October, 2006. The second BPF scholar has been selected and will soon be announced and awarded a $1,000 scholarship in the fall semester, 2007.

Donate to BPF
The Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State accepts checks, as well as all major credit card [AMEX, MasterCard and VISA]. The BPF graciously accepts tribute and memorial gifts, as well as donations in the form of securities, real property, corporate matching gifts and bequests.

A variety of gift plans that secure future revenue for BPF and offers financial benefits for you today may include lifetime income for you, as well as other tax savings. Vehicles for these gifts range from charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder and other types of trusts to beneficiary designations on life insurance policies and retirement plan accounts. For additional information, please contact Peter Robertson, BPF founder by calling [559] 278-7392.

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