Dear Friend,

Thank you for supporting the humanitarian and peacemaking mission of Rainbow World Fund. In this issue:

• Help Cuba recover from Hurricane Melissa



• Volunteer: Help Decorate the World Tree of Hope in San Francisco - November 1-30

• Invite: Dec. 8 World Tree of Hope lighting ceremony

Cuba faces a dire emergency. When the hurricane struck eastern Cuba on October 29, it tore through homes, roads, farms, schools, and power lines. Landslides and blackouts have cut off at least 240 communities, leaving many people in perilous, life-threatening situations.

Thanks to swift action, authorities evacuated more than 700,000 people from eastern Cuba before Melissa struck, saving countless lives. Yet the devastation is made worse by the 65-year U.S. blockade, which has battered Cuba’s economy and cut off access to essential goods, medicines, and recovery supplies.

While Hurricane Melissa also struck Jamaica hard, RWF is focusing its relief efforts on Cuba. Our longstanding partnerships and presence on the ground, combined with the blockade’s stranglehold on aid, make our support in Cuba especially urgent.

For decades, the Cuban people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of hardship. Now, Hurricane Melissa has pushed them to the brink. They need our solidarity more than ever.

Join us in sending urgently needed food, clean water, and supplies. In partnership with the Cuban Council of Churches, we are delivering life-saving assistance directly to those who need it most.

Stand with the Cuban people in this crucial moment.

Please specify “Cuba - LGBTQ Solidarity Fund” when donating online and are asked to designate your donation, or when sending a check to Rainbow World Fund, 4111 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.

We hope that you can join us this holiday season to help decorate the World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

We are incredibly grateful for our returning volunteers, whose dedication and generous spirit make a lasting impact.

We will be decorating the tree during the hours listed below from November 1 to November 30.

You can sign up to volunteer here.

The RWF World Tree of Hope is the largest origami holiday tree in the world, decorated with over 17,000 origami cranes and stars. Each crane is hand-folded and inscribed with wishes for the world's future. RWF creates the Tree as a symbol of global unity and hope, to promote peace, love, and humanitarian action.

There are a variety of tasks to prepare the origami and attach them to the branches of the tree (folding, wiring, sorting, and ironing…). No special skills are needed. You don't need to know how to fold origami.

You must register (at one of the links below) to help.

The decorating dates/times at Grace Cathedral (1100 California St., San Francisco) are:

• Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Sunday, Nov. 2 from 10 AM to 6 PM



• Thursday, Nov. 6 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Friday, Nov. 7 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Sunday, Nov. 9 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Thursday, Nov. 13 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Friday, Nov. 14 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Sunday, Nov. 16 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Thursday, Nov. 20 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Friday, Nov. 21 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Sunday, Nov. 23 from 12:30 PM to 5 PM

• Friday, Nov. 28 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Saturday, Nov. 29 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Sunday, Nov. 30 from 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM

• Monday, Dec. 1 from 10 AM to 6 PM

• Tree take down: Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10 AM to 4 PM

Click here and let us know when you are available to help. 

Alternatively, you can send us a message here.

We ask that volunteers sign up for 3 or 4 hours during these times. This activity is suitable for individuals 13 years old and above. 

There is a lot to do! You are welcome to volunteer for a longer shift and on multiple days.

If you are signing up as a group, please share those details in the group section below. 

Rainbow World Fund invites you to the 20th Annual RWF World Tree of Hope Lighting Celebration at Grace Cathedral

Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus ● Conspiracy of Beards ● Emcee Donna Sachet ● The Very Rev. Malcolm Young ● Consul General of Japan ● Consul General of Germany Theo Kidess ● Rev. Alan Matsui ● SF Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman ● Manny Yekutiel ● Leberta Loral ● Tammy Lynne Hall ● Emperor Ashlé Blow & Empress Afrika America ● Origami Artist Linda Mihara ● RWF Founder Jeff Cotter ● The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will bless the tree

The tree is our annual global holiday project, designed to inspire hope, love, and humanitarian action.

This December, thousands of origami cranes inscribed with wishes for the future of the world - from people all over the world - will grace the 20th annual RWF World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

WHEN: Monday, December 8, 2024 • 6:30 pm to 8 pm

WHERE: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St, San Francisco

FREE Admission

Help spread the word! RSVP and share on FACEBOOK here..

Not on Facebook? RSVP here.

RWF is the world's first LGBTQ+ based humanitarian aid organization. Our mission is to promote peace, unity and hope by leading the LGBTQ+ movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. Founded in 2000, RWF has donated over $10 million of life-saving aid and provided 105,000+ volunteer service hours. RWF is all-volunteer-run.

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.