LGBT Compassion in Action

RWF is the world's first and only all-volunteer, LGBT- based humanitarian aid organization. Our mission is to promote peace, unity and hope by leading the LGBT movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. RWF has donated over $4.1 million of life saving aid.

Donate today by Credit card or Paypal or send your check to 4111 - 18th Street, Suite 5, San Francisco, CA 94114.  Your donations are 100% tax deductible.
 
Dear RWF Friends,

One of the hallmarks of Rainbow World Fund (RWF) is that in addition to increasing awareness in the United States of global humanitarian need, we put our compassion into action.


PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: GUATEMALA

For several years now, RWF has supported OTRANS - Organizacion Reinas de la Noche (Organization of the Queens of the Night), a non-profit based in Guatemala that seeks to vindicate the rights of the transgender communities in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras by helping them to fight stigma, discrimination, and violence.       
OTRANS - Human Rights Are Not Negotiable
OTRANS' message  is "Human Rights Are Not Negotiable".   

RWF was first introduced to OTRANS during a humanitarian visit to Guatemala in 2008. Since then, we have provided important financial support for transgender safety and health care, HIV/AIDS prevention programs, and micro credit programs. Some of our support has been used to improve the condition of trans people by developing a network of small refuges of a few rooms each which supply temporary housing for trans ladies in trouble. Much of that trouble comes because trans people attempt to escape life-threatening violence and flee to Mexico and/or the United States. They are often forced to return to their homeland where OTRANS then helps them to establish a safer existence.

Trans Activists at the Pride Parade in Guatemala City

OTRANS leaders themselves are risking their own lives by being politically active, raising awareness for trans people, and advocating for better trans medical treatment. Under any circumstances, this would be a difficult thing to do. But it is made all the harder in a country such as Guatemala that continues to struggle with high rates of poverty, crime, drug trade, and instability. 


ADVOCACY: WASHINGTON, DC 
 
This week RWF volunteers  traveled to Washington, DC and met with Congressional officials to advocate on issues related to global poverty. 

Judith Zellmer, Betsy Noonen, and Jeff Cotter on the Capitol steps taking a break from lobbying.

This was RWF's eleventh trip to Capitol Hill as part of the CARE National Conference. We voiced support for the Global Food Security Act to implement a comprehensive strategy to promote global food security and agricultural development; the Reach Every Mother and Child Act with the goal of ending preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally; and for higher funding of the core humanitarian acts to better respond to natural and man-made emergencies.


UPCOMING EVENTS
  
 
June 26: Be sure to drop by the RWF's Bus of Hope in Jane Warner Plaza (Castro) during San Francisco's 2016 Pride Celebration. We'll be collecting school supplies for needy children in Mexico and monetary contributions for our upcoming Bus of Hope caravan to Mexico this fall.
 
RWF Bus of Hope is used to deliver aid to Mexico.

July 17: RWF is participating in this year's San Francisco AIDS Walk on Sunday, July 17. Please join the Team RWF and put your compassion into action! Starting and ending in Golden Gate Park, the AIDS Walk is a 10K fundraising walk to help us raise money benefitting more than 40 Bay Area AIDS service organizations. Even if you cannot walk on the actual date, you can still be a virtual walker. Visit our team page to learn more.

Team RWF at last years AIDS Walk. 
 
     
SUPPORT RWF's WORK

Please bring new hope to our friends and family around the world. Put your tax-deductible gift to work immediately by donating online or mail your donation to Rainbow World Fund, 4111 - 18th Street #5, San Francisco, CA 94114.

Yew-Hoe Tan visiting children in Guatemala.

Your gift will help RWF promote peace, unity and most importantly, hope, to those who need it most.

Thank you for your help and compassion.

Sincerely,


Jeff Cotter
Founder and President