Why Your Gift Is So Important

It was my second day on the job. The phone rings. Aimee looked at me with a smile and said, “well you can take that phone call if you are ready for the challenge.” I answered the phone and a depressed, and almost crying voice asked me: “can you help me, I don’t know what to do, I have no reason to live….” I listened and with what I hoped was a compassionate voice I said, “I’m not a therapist, but I am here for you.” After a lengthy conversation, I had a better understanding of how difficult life was for this individual. What I learned was that even the smallest indication of acceptance can change the world for some people. The conversation lasted almost an hour. At the end of the conversation and with a sense of community that I’d never felt before I said, “please do not hesitate to call us again, you are not alone. Together we can overcome anything.”

On Wednesday, I returned to work for my third day at the Center. Aimee said, “Hey Andre, there is a message in the voicemail for you, you need to listen to it right away.” And there it was, an unknown voice saying thank you, “my name is….. I’m the therapist of…., the person you spoke to yesterday and I need to let you know: you saved a life, my patient was suicidal and he is still here with us because of your organization and your support. Again, thank you very much and continue doing what you do.”

I am not sure I have the words to express how this experience changed my life. I wake up everyday with the feeling that the work we do at the Center is something positive, something special. And, everyday I walk through the door of the Rainbow Center gives me continued strength to do what we do best: love, accept and support for our GLBTQA community. It does not stop here. Everyday brings new stories. Each passing day and each empowered person makes our community stronger. There is more to come. - Andre Cuesta, Center Manager

Want To Know More About Us?

Follow the link below to learn more about our programs, publications, history, and how we're making Pierce County a safer, healthier place for its LGBTIQA citizens. Then, through Network for Good, you can donate online. Grab your credit card, and help us help Tacoma and Pierce County! Thank you.

The Rainbow Center is a nonprofit corporation meeting the requirements of IRS Code section 501(c)(3). Charitable contributions made to Rainbow Center are tax deductible. Rainbow Center accepts gifts by cash, check or through online credit card donations (see below). To meet donor needs, Rainbow Center offers several convenient vehicles for giving:

Individual Donations

Major Donor - an individual can be recognized as a major donor with a contribution of $500.00 or more during the year.

Donations can be made by check to:
Rainbow Center, 741 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402

• Bequests
  If you are drafting or revising a will, consider naming Rainbow Center as beneficiary for your estate.
• Monthly Pledge Program
  Rainbow Center can send you a monthly (also, quarterly, semi-annually or annually) reminder notice regarding a pledged amount.
• Honorary & Memorial Gifts
  What better way to salute friends, family, and loved ones than by making a donation in their honor or memory? Rainbow Center staff will gladly notify the honoree of your generosity.
• United Way Campaigns
  Many Tacoma area residents designate Rainbow Center to receive funds through private, local, state, and federal United Way Campaigns. Just designate Rainbow Center under Other Organizations when making a United Way Pledge.
• Matching Gifts
  Most companies offer as part of their benefits package a matching gifts program that will match in whole or part your donations to nonprofits. Contact your human resource officer for more information. This is an easy way to double the impact of your gift.

Coroporate Sponsorship Program

Giving In-Kind

Nonprofits like Rainbow Center keep expenses low by using items that have been donated, such as books, office supplies, professional services, etc. Please contact us if you are interested in In-Kind donations.

Volunteering

We're currently seeking three categories of volunteers:

• "Tour Guides"
  these are people who want to greet visitors, show them around the center and answer questions about the Tacoma LGBTIQA community
• Office Support
  Filing, cleaning, organizing, answering phones, newsletter support, secure advertising for publication
• Event Volunteers
  for our March Out for Art and November Black and White Gayla auctions.

Our focus is on cultivating office volunteers who can keep our doors open and ouremployees focused on what needs their attention. If you want to meet new people, and help folks in need, fill out the application below, and drop it off or email it to Aimee. We can't wait to meet you!

All volunteers must fill out a volunteer form and complete an orientation interview.
Download application here.

General Volunteer Needs:

Rainbow Center thrives on a vibrant community of volunteers. The following is a list of activities our volunteers make possible:

• Speakers’ Bureau
  An important part of the work the Rainbow Center does is to educate professionals and the general public about the GLBT community. Research shows that people are less hostile towards gay people once they have met someone who positively self-identifies. With the Speakers’ Bureau, volunteers are trained to make public presentations so that audiences can hear the diverse stories of GLBT individuals in their own words.
• Administration
  If you have daytime hours available during the week, consider becoming an administrative volunteer. With a part time staff of two, the Rainbow Center utilizes the services of reliable volunteers in the office setting to make sure the job gets done right. Assistance with file keeping, data entry, compiling statistics, web research and telephones are always needed.
• Technology Support
  If you enjoy web maintenance, troubleshooting, and creative problem solving, the Rainbow Center can use your help.
• Special Events
  Successful events like our Art Auction and Black Tie as well as our educational programs only happen with the support of dedicated volunteers. Whether you are a planner at heart and wish to serve on a committee, or if you are a worker-bee present on the day of the event, the Rainbow Center needs your help.
• Board Membership
  The Rainbow Center Board of Directors is a volunteer body that governs the policies of the RC. Board members are nominated by the Board Development Committee, are elected for two-year terms, and are expected to participate fully in center activities. If you wish to apply for Board Membership, please contact the Rainbow Center office at (253) 383-2318.

Please contact us if you have any questions about donating, volunteering, or other ways you'd like to support the Rainbow Center.

Aimee Welch Champion, Executive Director
aimee.welch@rainbowcntr.org

Andre Cuesta, Center Manager
andrec@rainbowcntr.org

Rainbow Center
(253) 383-2318
fax (253) 383-2978
741 St. Helens Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402