April 30, 2009

CHICAGO — Windy City Media Group is hosting a "25 for 25" charity drive during May to recognize the 25th anniversary of its publisher, Tracy Baim, in Chicago LGBT media.

The charity drive will encourage people to donate in multiples of 25 to LGBT or HIV/AIDS charities of their choice, and the agency with the most donations will receive a $250 additional donation.

In May 1984, Tracy Baim, at age 21, started as a part-time reporter with Chuck Renslow's GayLife newspaper. She graduated that month from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a news-editorial journalism degree. She soon moved up the ranks to become managing editor of GayLife by 1985. In the fall of 1985 she co-founded Windy City Times with three gay men: Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden and Drew Badanish. From 1987-2000, Baim ran her own newspapers ( Outlines and related publications ) , before purchasing back Windy City Times from her co-founder, McCourt, in the fall of 2000.

"I wanted to mark this 25th anniversary by showing my appreciation for the wide range of non-profits serving our community, many of them for decades," Baim said. "Right now, our community non-profits and businesses are hurting. It's time for us to create an economic stimulus package for our own community."

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to send checks written out to the charity of their choice to: Windy City Times, c/o Tracy Baim, 1900 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616. Those checks will be bundled together in "buckets" for charities, and the charity receiving the most donations by June 5, 2009, will receive a $250 bonus.

"No black-tie galas, no new outfits, no parking, no pie toss, no muss, no fuss," said Assistant Publisher Terri Klinsky, who has been with WCMG almost 14 years. "We wanted a simple way for our community to recognize Baim's 25-year milestone, by giving back to the charities who need support."

People can write their check to any registered non-profit serving the Chicago-area LGBT or HIV/AIDS communities. "We focused on a range of charities serving Chicago for at least 10 years," Baim said. "There are hundreds of local charities we could have selected, and if you're favorite is not here, please feel free to write them in."

The suggested charity list is:

About Face Theatre

Affinity Community Services

AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Amigas Latinas

Asians and Friends/Chicago

Association of Latin Men in Action

BE-HIV: Better Existence with HIV

Center on Halsted

Chicago House

Equality Illinois

Howard Brown Health Center

Lambda Legal Defense

Lesbian Community Care Project

Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association

PFLAG: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Test Positive Aware Network

Vital Bridges

Or the charity of your choice.

For more information e-mail editor@windycitymediagroup.com .

Windy City Media Group produces Windy City Times, Nightspots, OUT! Resource Guide, Identity online, WindyCityQueercast.com and QueerTVNetwork.com . Windy City Media Group is also the producer of these annual events: Windy City Gay Idol, 30 Under 30 and the Windy City Times Theater Series. To download all of the products visit www.windycitymediagroup.com . Send questions to publisher@windycitymediagroup.com or call ( 773 ) 871-7610.

Contact: Tracy Baim

773-387-2394

editor@windycitymediagroup.com