Building Our Next Chapter: A Message from the CEO
As To Proudly Go continues its fifth year, I am excited to share several important developments that reflect how far our organization has come and the direction we are heading.
Since our founding in 2021, To Proudly Go has grown from a simple idea—bringing people together through a shared love of science fiction to support the LGBTQIA+ community—into an organization that has produced hundreds of events, supported performers, built lasting partnerships, and contributed more than $16,000 to charitable causes.
Throughout that journey, our mission has remained the same: to celebrate our community, support one another, and help build the kind of hopeful and inclusive future that inspires us.
At our October 7 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors approved several important measures that will help us carry that mission forward.
Strengthening Our Leadership
One of the most significant developments is the establishment of a Co-Chair leadership structure for our Board of Directors.
I am pleased to share that John Lutton and I will serve as Co-Chairs, with John bringing his experience as one of To Proudly Go's original incorporators and its first Chief Financial Officer. I will continue serving as Chief Executive Officer.
This shared leadership structure reflects our commitment to collaboration, continuity, and building an organization that can continue to grow and evolve.
We are also delighted to welcome Marsh Shugart, known to many in our community as drag performer Kailee Rose, to the Board of Directors. Marsh has been involved with To Proudly Go since our earliest days, contributing to our events, programming, and community-building efforts. Marsh will also serve as a Senior Advisor, bringing valuable experience and institutional knowledge to our leadership.
We are equally excited to have Edie serving as Chief Communications Officer, helping strengthen how To Proudly Go connects with our community, shares our work, and builds relationships with supporters and partners.
Recognizing the Many Ways We Serve Our Community
Over the years, To Proudly Go's work has expanded beyond its original charitable fundraising activities. Our events, performances, partnerships, and community initiatives have become important ways we carry out our mission.
Our Board has now formally established a framework recognizing four core areas of programming:
Charitable Grants Program: Supporting nonprofit organizations whose work benefits the LGBTQIA+ community and advances our charitable mission.
Community Events Program: Bringing people together through conventions, Pride celebrations, science-fiction events, community gatherings, and partnerships.
Drag Show Fundraiser Program: Combining entertainment, LGBTQIA+ visibility, and charitable fundraising through drag and variety performances.
Performer Support Program: Creating opportunities for performers through compensation, resources, professional development, and participation in our events.
These programs reflect the work our organization has developed over the past five years. By bringing them together under a clearer framework, we can better communicate our impact, expand our opportunities, and plan for the future.
They also reflect something important about To Proudly Go: our mission has always been about more than raising money. It is also about creating spaces where people feel welcome, supporting LGBTQIA+ artists and performers, building relationships, and celebrating the power of community.
A Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
I am especially proud to announce that To Proudly Go has earned the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered through Candid's nonprofit transparency program.
This achievement reflects our commitment to sharing meaningful information about our mission, leadership, programs, finances, goals, and impact.
Our website also provides access to our Annual Reports covering every fiscal year since our founding. These reports document the organization's development, charitable contributions, programming, and accomplishments, giving our community and supporters a clearer picture of the work we have done together.
For a volunteer-led organization like ours, these efforts represent an important investment in accountability, credibility, and the trust of the people who support us.
Looking Toward the Future
As we look ahead, our priorities include expanding our community partnerships, developing sustainable programming and fundraising opportunities, supporting LGBTQIA+ performers, strengthening our volunteer leadership, and finding new ways to connect with the communities we serve.
The past five years have demonstrated that To Proudly Go is not defined by any one event, venue, or individual. We are defined by the people who believe in our mission and the connections we create together.
I want to thank our Board of Directors, leadership team, volunteers, performers, community partners, and everyone who has supported To Proudly Go along the way. Your contributions have made this organization what it is today.
There is still much more we want to accomplish, and we welcome those who want to be part of what comes next—whether by attending our events, volunteering, partnering with us, or supporting our charitable work.
The future we imagine through science fiction is one built on diversity, compassion, cooperation, and possibility. Our goal has always been to bring a little more of that future into the world we live in today.
We have accomplished a great deal together, and I believe our next chapter can be even more meaningful. Thank you for continuing this journey with us.
Live Proud and Prosper.
Michael Agnew
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Chair
To Proudly Go Inc.
