RWF News

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Completed Projects

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7th Annual Trip: Journey to Guatemala

July 8-17, 2010

Encounter new lands and peoples in a way that values them, deepens your spirituality, broadens your world view and begins to heal the world. Walk with a legendary people, learn about Mayan spirituality, and explore human rights issues with a people whose traditions span centuries of development. Experience ancient, colonial, and modern influences that have molded a people of unique strength and deep faith. Help deliver medical and educational supplies... be forever changed. Travel with RWF to Guatemala, learn more here.

6th Annual Trip: LGBT Voices on Capitol Hill

May 11-12, 2010

RWF with Congresswoman Barbara Lee(D)

Make Your Voice Heard on Capitol Hill. Please consider joining us on next year's journey to Washington, DC. Join RWF and CARE for a National Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. The conference is a two-day annual event where RWF donors and supporters can take part in the fight against global poverty, HIV/AIDS and issues of humanitarian aid. Travel with RWF to Washington, DC, learn more here.

Bus of Hope returns to Mexico, Fall 2010

Following the success of our 2008 aid trip to Mexico, RWF's Bus of Hope will be returning to Tijuana in the Fall of 2010. In October 2008, RWF left San Francisco on the Bus of Hope, our rainbow-colored bus, for Tijuana, Mexico to deliver medical and school supplies to two orphanages, an HIV/AIDS medical clinic, and a school. The project benefited some of the poorest children and families and the LGBT HIV positive community in Tijuana. In addition to delivering supplies we gave financial grants to the orphanage and the HIV medical clinic.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Bus of Hope Project! Over 5000 pounds of humanitarian aid was delivered, from life saving medications, medical supplies, school supplies, art supplies, computers, soaps and toiletries, to over 1500 Christmas gifts for the children. We received donations of supplies from the LGBT and friends community throughout California and from as far away as Utah. Your generosity has been amazing. Dozens of individuals contributed as well as fifteen partner organizations.

Hope in Haiti

RWF's ongoing commitment to Haiti: After the profound impact of World War II on the American economy and nearly every other aspect of American life, the United States Agricultural Department urged all Americans to grow "victory gardens" to produce fresh fruits and vegetables for their kitchens.

Many Americans answered the call and soon victory gardens were being planted in backyards and on rooftops across the nation. By 1943, over 20 million victory gardens had been planted, producing some eight million tons of food and nearly 50 percent of all fresh vegetables consumed in the U.S.

RWF is funding a project in Haiti that is demonstrating similar results, helping families living in the poorest slums of Gonaives fight against poverty and malnutrition by establishing and nurturing kitchen vegetable gardens. Learn more here!

Spotlight on RWF Board Members

Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL, Ph.D., is a reform-minded Roman Catholic nun, activist and co-founder of New Ways Ministry - helping LGBT Roman Catholics in the United States. She has a doctorate in Mathematics Education from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1971, Gramick began working with gays and lesbians. In 2000, Gramick and New Ways co-founder Father Robert Nugent were ordered by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI) to cease ministering to gays and lesbians due to the Church’s teaching that same-sex relationships are sinful. While Nugent formally acquiesced to the decision by resigning from New Ways, Gramick respectfully set aside the order altogether. Gramick is the author of several books on LGBT Catholic issues. The documentary In Good Conscience details her journey of activism, the Vatican’s attempt to silence her and her decision to disregard that attempt.

Karen Kai, J.D. joins RWF Board of Directors as an independent research and writing consultant and a community activist who has served on many California non-profit boards and on national Asian American civil and human rights non-profit boards. She is a former Chairperson of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and served as co-chair of its LGBT Advisory Board. Kai first started working with RWF in 2006 during the A Wish for the World campaign. We welcome her expertise and creativity.

Learn about RWF's donation policy and amazing efficiency here.

Hunger in Haiti: RWF is partnered with CARE to fund maternal and child health care programs in Haiti's Northwest Department. Click here to learn more.

Hunger in America: RWF is committed to help end hunger in the USA. We are partnered with America's Second Harvest (ASH), the nation's food bank network in this goal. During the Hurricane Katrina crisis RWF raised nearly $400,000 to provide emergency food aid and help restore the network of ASH foodbanks that were destroyed. Click here to learn more.

AIDS in Africa

RWF's newest partnership is with Africare working in the areas of HIV/AIDS. Our partnership focuses on saving the next generation of young Africans. Click here to learn more.

Disaster Relief:

RWF is partnered with CARE for international disaster assistance. Since 2004, RWF has donated $300,000 to aid a number of international recovery efforts including the tsunami in Southeast Asia, earthquakes in Peru and Pakistan, and hurricane recovery in Haiti.