Each year, our beneficiaries are carefully chosen by the committee for the valuable services they provide the gay and lesbian community. This demonstrates our support for the many organizations that have a positive affect on the lives of thousands of gays and lesbians in the Washington, DC area and across the country.

THE METRO DC CENTER FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
www.dccommunitycenter.org

Washington, DC remains one of the few major cities in the country with a large gay and lesbian population that does not have a central meeting place for our community. But that is about to change. A coordinating committee consisting of representatives of various community groups, including The Cherry Fund, will continue planning a new community center. The Cherry Fund will continue to assist with the development of a center that meets the programming needs identified by the members of the coordinating committee. Already on the table for discussion are meeting spaces, office space for non-profit organizations, a theatre space, and possibly housing and primary medical care. Last year, The Cherry Fund donated $70,000 to this worthy cause. The Cherry Fund will again make a donation to aid in the development of The Metro DC Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People this year.

THE VICTORY FOUNDATION
www.victoryfoundation.org

The Victory Foundation is the only national organization whose sole mission is to increase the number of outstanding openly gay and lesbian public servants. They help to level the playing field for good candidates, providing lesbian and gay Americans with a greater degree of participation at the table of public policy. The Victory Foundation recruits, trains, and provides qualified openly gay candidates with the financial and technical support they need to run winning campaigns. The Victory Foundation has supported qualified candidates in 32 states and the District of Columbia and has helped triple the number of openly gay officials from 49 in 1991 to 156 today. Counted among The Victory Foundation's more than 100 wins are the nation's first statewide openly gay elected official and the nation's first openly lesbian member of Congress.

SMYAL
www.smyal.org

SMYAL was founded in 1984 in response to reports that youth from DC who displayed gender non-conformist behavior were being sent to St. Elizabeth's mental hospital. Weekly support groups were formed and facilitated by volunteers. The reponse from youth was overwhelming, and soon weekly support groups turned into daily programming. Daily programming then resulted in the purchase of two townhouses in Capitol Hill that serve as SMYAL's Youth Center. Since 1984, SMYAL has served thousands of GLBTQ youth. All of SMYAL's programs operate out of their new Youth Center located at 408 7th Street SE in Washington DC (near the Eastern Market Metro station). Right now, they are in the process of launching new and exciting programs in addition to their ongoing ones. SMYAL youth play an active role in determining what new programs we will offer.

THE MAUTNER PROJECT FOR LESBIANS WITH CANCER
www.mautnerproject.org

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary of dedicated community service, the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer is the nation's premier lesbian health organization. The Mautner Project mission is to provide: Direct services to lesbians with cancer, their families and caregivers; Education and information to the lesbian community about cancer; Education and information to the healthcare community about the needs and concerns of their lesbian clients; Advocacy on lesbian health issues in national and local arenas. Through an innovative combination of local direct services and national outreach and education, the volunteer-driven Mautner Project plays a leading role in lesbian health education and promotion, provides technical assistance to lesbian cancer projects throughout the country, and coordinates the National Coalition of Feminist and Lesbian Cancer Projects. We educate healthcare providers on the special concerns of lesbian clients and increase access to healthcare for all lesbians through the nationwide dissemination of "Removing the Barriers," our field-tested training program developed in collaboration with the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Mautner Project produces books, videotapes and other educational materials on lesbian health and is the organizer and host of "HEALING WORKS: the National Conference on Lesbians and Cancer."

Copyright © 2003 The Cherry Fund. All Rights Reserved.