Sisters Bless Community $11,000 Awarded in Community Grants
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., announce $11,000 in community grants to be awarded 7pm, Thursday, September 23rd at their next Grants Give-a-way at Harvey's Restaurant (Castro & 18th streets in San Francisco). Since their founding in 1979, the Sisters have raised and distributed well over $500,000 to non-profit organizations that serve queer and marginalized communities.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 16, 2004
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., announce $11,000 in community grants to be awarded 7pm, Thursday, September 23rd at their next Grants Give-a-way at Harvey's Restaurant (Castro & 18th streets in San Francisco). These funds are possible through the generous donations at the Pink Saturday Celebration this past June and are in addition to the Pink Saturday gate partner grants. "I'd like to think its my stunning beauty and the high heels that seduce the money, however, I must admit it's the genuine goodwill of the folks at Pink Saturday that enables us to provide much needed assistance to a spectrum of organizations that strengthen our community." said Sister Selma Soul, Board Member of the Sisters. Since their founding in 1979, the Sisters have raised and distributed well over $500,000 to non-profit organizations that serve queer and marginalized communities.
"The Sisters choose to support charities that are confronting inequality, celebrating diversity and beauty, and comforting those in need. Some of the most moving requests came from a children's Polynesian dance troop looking for new costumes, an agency that provides non-judgmental post-abortion counseling to Latinas and a community arts project for developmentally disabled adults using visual arts to express acceptance and tolerance for the queer community." states Sister Roxanne Roles, Treasurer for the Sisters.
Community Grants with short description of project:
Free Battered Women is a volunteer based coalition that strives to end the re-victimization of incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. Since 2003, they have helped secure the release of twelve incarcerated survivors. The Polynesian Dance Club at Malcolm X Academy Elementary School in Bayview Hunter's Point provides a renewal source of community pride and inspiration. The Sister's grant will cover the cost of uniforms for 25 performers in this joyous performance group. The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee is installing a bust in San Francisco City Hall of San Francisco's first openly gay politician and inspirational community leader - Harvey Milk whose life was tragically ended by assassination. "Let's put Harvey Milk back in City Hall." The STOP AIDS Project Leather Events Action Group is introducing a cutting-edge HIV prevention workshop series for the leather, fetish, and BDSM communities in San Francisco. The Stonewall Project is publishing a color brochure - How Speed Effects the Body. This informational handout along with their website tweaker. org provides non-judgmental harm reduction content to gay and bisexual men of San Francisco who use methamphetamine. Exhale is an Oakland-based organization that provides non-judgmental counseling, information and referrals to women and girls after an abortion, with complete respect for reproductive freedom. The Sister's grant will expand outreach to the Spanish speaking population. Recycled AIDS Medicine Program (RAMP) supplies hundreds in Mexico City and Santiago Chile with HIV/AIDS medications that would otherwise be thrown away. Their mission is to be a bridge for people until they can enroll in a stable treatment program. Youth Gender Project is working to empower and advocate for trans, gender-variant, and questioning youth. Their upcoming Genderblast V will feature workshops, entertainment, possibly even the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The AIDS Housing Alliance/SF is a first-of-a-kind housing referral service for people living with AIDS. They provide apartment listings, deposit assistance, and advocacy for those in need. Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits exists to restore and recover the role of two-spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community. They foster an understanding of the LGBT Two-Spirit through outreach pow wows and local Pride celebrations. The Filipino Task Force on AIDS is committed to end the increasing risk of HIV and AIDS in the Filipino Community. They have provided linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive information and support services to over 25,000 LBGT Filipinos. ACCESS/Women's Health Rights Coalition has ensured that low-income, young, uninsured, immigrant, and rural women have access to affordable reproductive health care and accurate sexual health information. Catherine's House is a program of the Catholic Worker Farm at Earth Abides Land Trust in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It is a retreat center for persons living with AIDS and other terminal illnesses. The Sacred Dying Foundation is focused on improving end-of-life care and awareness. They are hosting a workshop for hospices, medical facilities, and religious congregations to discuss vigil programs and quality care. Creativity Explored is an artistic organization serving those with developmental disabilities. Through their work, they promote identity, tolerance, and diversity within the community - a place where art changes lives. The Quan Yin Healing Arts Center provides traditional Chinese medicine treatments and acupuncture healing to HIV positive clients through its Tenderloin clinic. It has become internationally recognized for their community-based model of health services. BUILD produces a diverse spectrum of public art exhibitions involving a variety of local artists and cultural communities. Their Sugar Valley project is meant to promote contemporary art practices within the queer culture. Sac Valley POZabilities provides free activities and outlets for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Sacramento Valley. Activities have included river cruises, campouts, picnics, and cultural trips to San Francisco museums. Everything is Going to be Just Fine Productions is creating a short film called "The Fairy Tale". This light-hearted campy comedy supports positive and happy gay relationships and celebrates a same-sex wedding scene on the steps of City Hall. The Zen Hospice Project provides a spectrum of innovative programs including residential care, volunteer services and education. They seek to cultivate wisdom and compassion through service.
Historically, The Sisters have given grants to under-funded, smaller organizations and projects providing direct services to queer and marginalized communities. "This year, grant applications were submitted by a wide variety of human service, education and arts organizations, many were first time requestors of the Sisters," stated Sister Roxanne Roles. Blessed by the generosity of the community, the Sisters in turn make thoughtful, timely and much needed grants to worthy organizations to educate, liberate and serve those in need.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. is a 21st Century Order of queer nuns. Since their first appearance in San Francisco on Easter weekend, 1979, the Sisters have been accused of "Ruining it for Everyone" with habitual injection of gaiety into serious affairs including human rights, political activism and religious intolerance. The Sisters consider it their mission to "ruin" all detrimental conditions including complacency, guilt, and the inability to laugh at one's self.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc.
584 Castro Street, PMB 392
San Francisco, CA 94114
Http://www. thesisters. org (http://www. thesisters. org)
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