Dear Friend,

Thank you for supporting LGBTQ+ compassion in action and joining RWF in standing in solidarity with our global LGBTQ+ family.

• Project Update: Solidarity in Cuba 
• Volunteer: August 24 at Origami Palooza in SF

In May, the Rainbow World Fund made its 10th humanitarian aid trip to Cuba. We visited many important projects that we have supported for years.

We delivered $17,500 in grants and essential supplies, supporting these vital initiatives and reinforcing our commitment to making a positive impact. We met with members of Cuba's diverse LGBTQ+ community throughout the trip. Each visit reminded us of our shared humanity that connects us across borders.

We visited the National Center for HIV Prevention, where life-saving education and resources are provided, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, a beacon of hope within the community.

We spent time at Retoños Martianos, a dynamic special school dedicated to nurturing children with developmental disabilities, offering them the care and education they deserve.

The Grandparents Center, a warm and welcoming daycare for older people, was another significant stop, providing essential support for Cuba's senior citizens. Many of the elders shared stories about life before and after the Cuban Revolution.

We reconnected with inspiring young leaders from the Student Christian Movement in Havana, Matanzas, and Cienfuegos, who shared their visions for the future. At the United Nations Association, we learned about their vital roles in promoting development, human rights, and sustainability.

Our journey also included meetings at the Centro Oscar Arnulfo Romero, a social justice nonprofit, and Línea de Apoyo a Personas que Viven con VIH, a national organization that helps people living with HIV, providing vital spaces of healing and support.

Our visit to a bustling Soup Kitchen in Havana highlighted the critical need for food security. At the same time, the Home for Children without Family Support reminded us of the importance of care and compassion for the most vulnerable.

We were deeply moved by our visit to a Pediatric Neurological Clinic and the HIV Regional Coordination & Support Center in Matanzas, where dedicated professionals work tirelessly to improve health outcomes. We met with the Center’s director, Dr. Jorge Pedro Rodriguez, who passionately described his work assisting children with neurological conditions. The staff’s dedication inspired us all.

We had the privilege of meeting with CENESEX, a crucial organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Cuba. We marched with the director, Mariela Castro, who has been a longstanding champion for equality, in the lively Havana LGBTQ+ Pride march, affectionately known as the “Conga".

The LGBTQ+ community continues to make remarkable progress. In 2022, same-sex marriage was legalized after a national referendum, and adoption by same-sex couples was legalized in the new family code.

This was a powerful way to express solidarity and support for the LGBTQ+ community, as together we celebrated identities, struggles, and civil rights victories with music, dancing, and colorful displays of pride.

Learn how to join our next journey to Cuba here.

Join RWF at East Japan Center Mall in San Francisco's Japantown, where we will be teaching origami and folding the classic crane model for this year's RWF World Tree of Hope. 

Origami Palooza will feature origami exhibits, challenges, and opportunities to win prizes. The event is FREE and open to everyone. Special guests include origami experts John Collins and Robert J. Lang.

The RWF World Tree of Hope is our annual global holiday project promoting peace, love, and humanitarianism. The 23-foot Holiday Tree is decorated with thousands of origami cranes and stars that are inscribed with people's wishes and hopes for the future of the world. Wishes are sent in from around the world. Learn more about the tree here.

When: Sunday, August 24, from 11 AM to 4:30 PM

Where: East Japan Center Mall, 1737 Post Street, San Francisco

Volunteer: We can use your help at our table. Please respond here to sign up to help.

Event Information: Details about the larger event

At RWF, we are proud to be the world's pioneer LGBTQ+ focused humanitarian aid organization. By championing peace, unity, and hope, we are at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ movement, actively engaging in humanitarian relief endeavors. With a remarkable track record of over $10 million in life-saving aid contributions, helping tens of thousands, and 105,000 volunteer service hours, RWF invites you to join us in making a meaningful difference on a global scale. Founded in 2000, RWF is a volunteer-run nonprofit.

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