Cleveland Gay Games brings most revenue in event’s history

CLEVELAND (AP) — Organizers say last summer’s Gay Games in northeast Ohio raised the most revenue in the event’s history.

Gay Games 9 Executive Director Thomas Nobbe says the August event held in Cleveland and Akron raised $6.8 million in revenue, netting a small profit of nearly $150,000.

Nobbe said at a forum held by the City Club of Cleveland Thursday that $120,000 of the profits will go toward creating a fund at the Cleveland Foundation to continue to push for an inclusive and diverse northeast Ohio community. Another $27,000 will go to the Akron Community Foundation’s existing Gay Community Endowment Fund.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland reports (http://bit.ly/1LkgV7a ) organizers credit generous corporate sponsors and responsible planning for the games’ economic success.

The games attracted about 20,000 athletes and visitors.