April 28, 2025
Pride Center agreement will help strengthen LGBTQ+ services in Western New York
Today, Evergreen Health (Evergreen) and GLYS announced they have entered into a member substitution agreement for the Pride Center of Western New York (Pride Center). Through the agreement, GLYS will acquire the Pride Center. This acquisition is designed to leverage the unique strengths of both organizations while offering a more tailored approach to services for the LGBTQ+ community in Western New York.
Under the terms of the agreement, GLYS will assume management of the Pride Center’s operations, as well as the community programming-related grants it has long administered. The Pride Center will remain intact and will continue its mission under new oversight and management. Additionally, the Pride Center will continue to refer clients with medical needs or concerns to Evergreen’s health care services.
“We’re thrilled for this new chapter of the Pride Center,” said GLYS Executive Director, Jack Kavanaugh. “Our deep experience in grassroots community services, combined with the Pride Center’s longstanding commitment to the community, will ensure we can meet the social needs of our diverse population—especially in these challenging times.”
Known for its extensive experience in advancing community-based programming, GLYS is particularly well-equipped to address the pressing needs of LGBTQ+ youth in the region. With this acquisition, GLYS will enhance its support for some of the most vulnerable in the community, continuing the Pride Center’s legacy while expanding its reach. At the same time, Evergreen will maintain its focus on advancing health care and treatment services for the LGBTQ+ community.
“This is just the latest chapter of our organizations’ shared history,” said Evergreen CEO Ray Ganoe. “Evergreen and GLYS have been at the forefront of serving the LGBTQ+ community since the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, when both our organizations were established. We share several of the same founders and, at one time, GLYS was even co-located with the Pride Center in the same space. This acquisition ensures the needs of our community will continue to be met and allows each of our organizations to focus on what we each do best in order to serve the community.”
The acquisition of the Pride Center represents a powerful step forward in both organizations’ ongoing commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ population, particularly as executive orders from the new administration threaten to undermine the rights of marginalized groups. Together, Evergreen and GLYS are dedicated to standing strong in their respective missions by ensuring
continued access to vital health care, as well as social services, and community support resources.