LEATHER ARCHIVES ON SOUND FOOTING

For Immediate Release
Contact : Executive Director Rick Storer

6418 N Greenview Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
773.761.9200

www.leatherarchives.org


Leather Archives and Museum Begins the Decade Financially Strong

The Leather Archives & Museum is beginning the decade fiscally strong and with exciting plans to further its work of preserving, archiving and displaying the history of the international fetish community. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in the Roger's Park neighborhood of Chicago, set record development goals in 2009 despite the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

President and Founder Chuck Renslow, who also founded the International Mister Leather Contest in 1978, emphasized the generous and growing support of individuals and leather organizations in the past year : "Thanks to our expanding support base, as indicated by a nearly fifty percent increase in membership dues as well as a fifty percent increase in contributions from individuals and organizations, The Leather Archives & Museum stands strong on a solid financial foundation. Indeed the organization is more fiscally resilient now than ever since its founding in 1991."

Mark Frazier, a recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 who joined the LA&M's Audit Committee in 2009, reported that the annual audit indicates a 26% increase in the operating fund. "The LA&M is poised to expand its programming in the new decade, and hopefully establish an endowment fund to ensure the preservation of the fascinating history of the leather tribe for years to come."

The Board of Director's fiscal management in the past year permitted the LA&M to purchase the historically significant mural, "The Gold Coast Man," that was created by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos in 1966 to promote the legendary Gold Coast Bar in Chicago. The LA&M has several major initiatives for 2010, including the long-awaited Women's Leather History Project, the acquisition of the Marcus Herandez and Fakir Musafar collections, and the purchase of a new computer system to help preserve our leather history in a digital format.

The most recently filed Federal Form 990 as well as the financial returns for two prior years may be viewed at www.guidestar.org. For more information about the Leather Archives & Museum, view the organization's website at www.leatherarchives.org or call Executive Director Rick Storer at 773.761.9200.