The Matthew Shepard Foundation is proud to announce that Judy Shepard has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 3, 2024. From the White House press release: Today, President Biden named nineteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to…
Hello my friends, When we conceived of the Matthew Shepard Foundation 25 years ago, a few weeks after Matt’s murder, Dennis and I were motivated to transform our grief into something meaningful: to fulfill Matt’s desire to create a better world and, in doing so, to erase the hate that cost us our son. The…
We at the Matthew Shepard Foundation are devastated by the loss of 16-year-old Nex Benedict, a non-binary student from Owasso, Oklahoma, who died after being attacked by other students at their school. We join in the community’s plea for answers and call on local law enforcement and the FBI to proceed swiftly with this active…
In honor of his memory and legacy, the Matthew Shepard Stamp Campaign supports the establishment of a commemorative US Postage Forever Stamp featuring Matthew’s image. The campaign committee believes in the power of community and the importance of remembering our history, which is why they’ve started this project – to help make a real difference…
The 2023 Matthew Shepard Foundation Gala on Saturday, October 14 not only commemorated 25 years of Matthew’s legacy, but it also brought together 640 MSF supporters, raising over $568K to support our critical programs and resources. The event celebrated 2023 Making a Difference Award honoree, Billy Porter, 2023 Dennis Dougherty Award for Community Leadership honoree,…
(l-r) James Asher, Stephen Belber, Greg Pierotti, and Amanda Gronich in the opening moments of The Laramie Project. As we examine the legacy of Matthew Shepard, it is clear that The Laramie Project has played a vital role in educating communities about Matt’s story, while affording people an opportunity to discuss the play and its…
Matthew Shepard Foundation Annual Gala: The 25th Commemorative Year Honoring Billy Porter, Chasten Buttigieg, and the Be A Friend Project Denver, CO – The Matthew Shepard Foundation will be hosting their annual fundraising gala on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Doors open at 6 p.m. The 2023 gala, presented by…
As part of the 25th Commemorative Year, we will be highlighting our dedicated Board of Directors, interviewing each of them to learn more about their passion for the Foundation, how being on the Board has impacted their lives, and what they see for the future of MSF. Bob Witeck is President of Witeck Communications, Inc., and,…
As part of the 25th Commemorative Year, we will be highlighting our dedicated Board of Directors, interviewing each of them to learn more about their passion for the Foundation, how being on the Board has impacted their lives, and what they see for the future of MSF. Becky Monroe is a civil rights attorney who has…
As part of the 25th Commemorative Year, we will be highlighting our dedicated Board of Directors, interviewing each of them to learn more about their passion for the Foundation, how being on the Board has impacted their lives, and what they see for the future of MSF. In his professional position as the Executive Vice President…