Tyson Family Foundation to give $500,000 for NWA Pride Weekend

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) ago 45 views 

Northwest Arkansas Equality Inc. in Fayetteville will receive $500,000 from the Tyson Family Foundation to be a presenting sponsor of NWA Pride Weekend through 2030. The 22nd NWA Pride is set for June 26-28.

The multi-year commitment builds on the foundation’s previous investment, as it’s been a leadership sponsor of NWA Pride Weekend since 2022. The gift ensures the event’s operations and infrastructure remain strong, allowing for continued growth and accessibility of “one of the region’s most visible and impactful annual celebrations of the LGBTQ community, culture and belonging,” according to a news release.

More than 45,000 people from across Arkansas and the region attend NWA Pride Weekend to celebrate identity, build connection, and strengthen visibility and commitment to equality. The Tyson Family Foundation’s gift will help to sustain and strengthen these experiences, ensure NWA Pride Weekend continues to “evolve as a space where every person can be fully seen and affirmed, with an intentional focus on uplifting voices and experiences that have too often been pushed to the margins,” according to the release.

“NWA Pride is about the moments people carry with them long after the festival ends. Moments of feeling seen, supported and accepted,” said Joseph Porter, operating officer of NWA Equality. “We’re grateful for the Tyson Family Foundation’s continued investment in this program, ensuring those moments remain accessible to our entire community for years to come.”

The release shows that the Tyson Family Foundation’s gift reflects its confidence in NWA Pride Weekend and NWA Equality’s mission to serve LGBTQ people and families throughout the region.

“We’re proud to support NWA Equality not only for what happens during Pride Weekend, but for the work the organization carries out every day of the year,” said Olivia Tyson, president of the Tyson Family Foundation. “The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life and support the communities where we live and work. Through its advocacy, health initiatives, and community partnerships, NWA Equality strengthens Northwest Arkansas and expands access and belonging for LGBTQ individuals and families across our region. We are honored to invest in that work and its long-term impact.”

Established in 1970, the Tyson Family Foundation invests in education, health, arts and culture, youth programs, and scholarship opportunities for Tyson Foods Inc. employees and their families. The foundation is led by President Olivia Tyson.