Release:
It is nothing short of a miracle the Come Out With Pride 2011 Production Team, led by Executive Director and Senior Executive Producer Mikael Audebert has accomplished in the past 30 days. After being rained out on Saturday October 8 along with many other Central Florideolaa outdoor events, Come Out With Pride’s Executive team has turned around, re-scheduled the event in a matter of days and brought back everyone who had committed to the 1st round. That is over 110 vendors, 80 parade units comprised of over 2,000 individuals AND a second round of Fireworks sponsored by The Vue At Lake Eola.
This Sunday starting at noon an expected 100,000 individuals from all walks of life will gather at Lake Eola for a festival, a Parade, entertainment and a truly colorful fireworks show in the skies of the City Beautiful.
“This is truly team work at its best” stated Executive Director Mikael Audebert. “Thanks to the community, local businesses and the city of Orlando, we were able to raise the additional and unbudgeted $15,000 needed for the redo”.
This is the 7th year for Come Out With Pride which has grown from 5,000 attendees in 2005 to over 75,000 last year. The organization provides grants to smaller non-profit organizations and resource groups. The annual event is the main source of income to fund those grants hence the importance of a successful “take two” this Sunday.
“Come Out With Pride is the annual celebration for the Metro Orlando LGBT community estimated to be over 200,000 individuals strong, notwithstanding the transient population working for local tourist attractions” said Audebert. “In addition, Come Out With Pride helps generate an estimated 8 million dollars for the local economy either on the day of the event or throughout the year by providing a platform for local and national businesses to promote & sell their goods and services to our community. Last but not least, an estimated 25% of the attendees are “straight” allies who strongly support this community’s equal rights and diversity.” added Audebert.
Some of the main sponsors include Disney, Wells Fargo, Coors Light, Suntrust, Esurance, ADT Security, Aetna, Chase, Bank of America, Darden, Coca Cola and many more local and national corporations.
Come Out With Pride is a 501c3 non-profit organization owned by the Orlando LGBT Chamber of Commerce, theMetropolitan Business Association. It is also sister organization to the new LGBT Convention and Visitor Bureau (Converge) headed by Mikael Audebert and Gina Duncan.
