(LOS ANGELES) – The David Bohnett Foundation, grant-making organization formed in 1999 for the purpose of improving society through social activism, has presented their first round of major grants for 2004.

“We are pleased to extend grants to these extremely worthwhile organizations that are committed to improving society and making life safer and extending the legal rights for thousands of Americans,” said David C. Bohnett, Chairman of the David Bohnett Foundation. Bohnett founded GeoCities, an Internet based media and e-commerce company in late 1994, and sold it to Yahoo! In 1999.

The Board of Directors has approved grants including $150,000 to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Foundation for Project Breakthrough to achieve true equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans by electing and supporting openly LGBT candidates and officials at the federal, state and local levels of public office.

Other grants include $35,000 for the Sexual Orientation in the News Program at the University of Southern California; $35,000 for the Service Members for Legal Defense Network for gays and lesbians in the military; $25,000 to the Alliance for Justice for the Coaches Against Gun Violence program; $25,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council for Green Ports and the Clean School Bus campaigns; and $25,000 for the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund in San Jose, CA for accessible voting systems so disabled voters in California can safely and accurately cast their ballots.

“This round of grants addresses social needs across a broad variety of areas including issues affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, gun violence, voting rights and the environment,” Bohnett said.

The David Bohnett Foundation is a grant making foundation with a 30-million dollar endowment, dedicated to improving society through social activism. The Foundation makes grants to national organizations, those who focus their efforts in Southern California and to local gay and lesbian centers across the country for the creation and support of David Bohnett CyberCenters.

The David Bohnett Foundation also supports the creation of David Bohnett CyberCenters that offer educational, research, and recreational opportunities to the local gay and lesbian community via access to the Internet in 19 cities across the United States.

“This round of funding includes grants for new CyberCenters including one at UCLA in Los Angeles,” said Michael Fleming, executive director. “In the past year, the Foundation has spent more than $350,000 to refresh all 19 CyberCenters with new IBM computer equipment. In addition to serving the needs of the LGBT community, many CyberCenters also serve as a hub for educational opportunities for seniors and youth.”

David Bohnett CyberCenters can now be found in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Burlington, VT, Long Island, Cape Cod, West Palm Beach, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Orange County and San Francisco.

The Foundation encourages grant proposals from non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) designations whose mission and programs include development of mass transit and non-fossil fuel transportation; promotion of the positive portrayal of lesbians and gay men in the media; voter registration and education; animal language research, animal companions and eliminating rare animal trade; reduction and elimination of the manufacture and sale of handguns in the U.S.; and community based social services that benefit gays and lesbians.

For information about the David Bohnett Foundation, contact Executive Director Michael Fleming at 310.277.4611; mfpfleming@yahoo.com; www.bohnettfoundation.org

Press Contacts: Rob Wynne, 310.924.1710, rob@wynnepr.com Seth Jacobson 310.592.3900