(Beverly Hills, June 4, 2010) The David Bohnett Foundation has announced grants totaling $1.1 million to groups across the U.S. in support of diverse programs. Grantees include the National Black Justice Coalition, University of Michigan David Bohnett Public Service Fellowships, Service and Advocacy for LGBT Elders, and Freedom States Alliances/Stop Gun Deaths.

Announcing the grants, Foundation Chairman David Bohnett said, “The grants awarded this spring reflect our deep commitment to gun safety, animal rights, socially responsible mass transit, lesbian and gay civil rights, and other social justice programs that are making significant contributions toward positive change in their communities.”

Grant recipients are:

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. Center for Great Apes Freedom States Alliance/ Stop Guns Death Friends of the National Zoo Gay & Lesbian Institute Gay-Straight Alliance Network Human Rights Campaign Foundation Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. Michael D. Palm Center National Black Justice Coalition, Inc. National Center for Lesbian Rights National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Research Foundation of the City University of New York on behalf of John Jay College Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Transit Coalition University of Michigan

View a more detailed listing of grant recipients.

Since 1999, the David Bohnett Foundation (www.bohnettfoundation.org) has awarded grants totaling over $40m to date in several primary funding areas: The Fund for Los Angeles, supporting a broad spectrum of arts, educational and civic programs; LGBT-related causes; voting rights and registration initiatives; supporting research and public policies to reduce the toll of firearm violence; and animal research and rights.

David Bohnett serves as Chair of the David Bohnett Foundation; the head of the early stage technology fund, Baroda Ventures and was the co-founder of GeoCities.com, an Internet based media and e-commerce company in 1994. GeoCities was acquired by Yahoo! in 1999. His goals are improving lives, empowering individuals and building viable communities by connecting like-minded people in meaningful ways. Also central to Bohnett’s vision is his call to action to aspiring philanthropists to begin their giving by getting personally involved with causes with which they identify so that they can experience service first-hand.