Provincetown LGBTQI non profit collective SUMMER OF SASS receives 5th anniversary donation totaling nearly $4 million at onset 

Funds have purchased a permanent residence and operational headquarters 

for future generations of LGBTQI program participants. 

PROVINCETOWN, MA (August 24, 2022) – Moved by 5th anniversary fundraiser for the Summer of Sass program, a non-profit supporting LGBTQI young adults, a private  family has provided necessary funds for the group to purchase a single-family home in the town’s East End neighborhood.   The donation will additionally provide 25 percent of the program’s annual budget up to $100 thousand a year in perpetuity. Though they wish to remain anonymous, the family challenges other longtime Provincetown residents to follow their example in financial support of disadvantaged LGBTQI youth.   

The brainchild of comedian and activist Kristen Becker, Summer of Sass offers a critical intervention for young people struggling in oppressive areas of the country and helps to stabilize them on the shores of Provincetown, MA, a summer tourist destination known for its acceptance and celebration of those things that make each of us unique. The not-for-profit organization subsidizes travel costs and initial housing as participants get settled in, connects them with local employers and offers overall support as they build confidence and widen their perspectives.  

The Victorian 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom property purchased is located on a third of an acre and dates to 1880. Becker sees the $3.7 million home as symbolic of the way Provincetown must pledge to care for its own future. Since annual operational expenses now increase fourfold with the addition of permanent housing and meeting space, she hopes community members will be similarly inspired to commit to recurring tax-deductible donations. Agent Nathan Butera of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty contributed his commission fees upon the close of sale.

“This incredibly generous donation is a game changer for us and will save the lives of young queers for generations to come,” says Summer of Sass founder and director Kristen Becker. “Provincetown’s storied history as a supportive destination for queer people is well established but at a time when access to affordable housing has become a critical issue and LGBTQI rights are under increased attacks across the country we need to be doing more to honor and build on that history and ensure that the opportunity to experience Provincetown is accessible to those who need it most.”