Diving for Life Jamboree, 2009: Bonaire
Pink flamingos and gay divers - what a natural combination. The 2009 Diving for Life Scuba Jamboree will be held at Captain Don's Habitat on Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, from September 19-26, 2009. Further information and registration instructions can be found on the DFL website. For more information about DFL, please email Kelly Thiemann.
About Diving for Life
The Northern California Rainbow Divers (NCRD) has participated in Diving for Life since 1994. The jamboree is a fund-raising event that offers a fun-filled week of diving attended by over one hundred LGBT divers from throughout the world. All proceeds from the jamboree are donated to local charitable organizations that support the health and social concerns of the gay and lesbian community. To-date, NCRD has donated over $134,000 to local charities with Diving for Life funds. Most recently, over $68,000 was raised in 2009 by all of the participating dive clubs who attended. Information on all of DFL′s charity recipients including NCRD′s can be found on the DFL website under Beneficiaries.
(Photo by David Doom.)
(Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
Diving for Life Charity Recipients
DFL 2008 -- Five Charity Awards of $12,700 Announced in 2009
In the spring of 2009, the Northern California Rainbow Divers (NCRD) awarded $12,700 to five deserving charities as a benefit from DFL 2008 funds:
- Health Trust ($1,000): in memory of NCRD member Tim Shannon
- Pets are Wonderful Support ($1,000): towards pet food bank for pets of clients who have HIV/AIDS
- Berkeley Free Clinic — Gay Men′s Health Collective ($1,700): travel expenses for two HIV healthcare workers from Mexico to attend a train–the–trainers′ course sponsored by GMHC
- Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County ($4,000): funded a workshop to organize against homophobia and a dance
- Advocates for Informed Choice ($5,000): summer intern to advocate medical community on intersex choice
DFL 2007 -- Five Gifts to Charities in 2008, Totaling $13,525
NCRD′s allocation from the DFL 2007 funds were awarded in early 2008 to:
- Lyon-Martin Health Services ($1,000): funded a mobile clinic at the SF Dyke March
- Breast Cancer Action ($1,525): advocacy work
- Health Initiatives for Youth ($2,000): general support for school programs
- Advocates for Informed Choice ($4,000): agency developed a brochure for parents to know their rights within the medical community on intersex choice
- Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County ($5,000): funded a workshop to organize against homophobia and a dance
DFL 2006 -- Two Charity Organizations Benefit from Funds Totaling $10,328
The Northern California Rainbow Divers (NCRD) awarded our 2006 DFL funds to the following two highly deserving, health-related charity organizations:
- Larkin Street Youth Center, Rapid Testing Program ($4,828)
The Rapid Testing Program will provide anyone with a swipe of their cheek cells with a Q-tip an HIV determination within 20 minutes. Counseling is also provided for those who test positive. Larkin Street′s goal is to test every young person between 18-24 years of age. - Project Open Hand, Breast Cancer Nutrition Services ($5,500)
The funding will provide twelve women and their families with groceries for one year. The program′s services include a daily, home-delivered hot meal, or seven frozen meals delivered all on one day. Also included are nutrition education, support and follow-up. Groceries are provided for women who are feeling better and want to cook but don′t have the energy to go to the grocery store. It also helps people who have different dietary needs than the meals that are pre-cooked.
DFL 2005 -- Record Breaking Year
Feney Matthews, NCRD President;
Kelly Thiemann, DFL Liaison (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
Leslie Ewing, Lyon-Martin Development Director;
Kelly Thiemann, DFL Liaison (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
A record breaking $18,190 in Diving for Life charitable funds were awarded to five gay and lesbian health-related charities:
- Lyon-Martin Clinic ($5,000): to provide subsidies for 10 people
(difference between actual costs
and what is reimbursed) for medical treatment. - Healing Waters ($5,000): to provide 15 to 24 people with HIV/AIDS scholarships for recreation trips involving water (white water rafting and sea kayaking).
- Gay Men′s Health Collective of the Berkeley Free Clinic ($3,000): for equipment that would allow this all-volunteer group to conduct STD training.
- Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center ($3,600): for six stipends of $600 each for peer educators (the Center would not have to check immigration status and can provide services in many more languages).
- Magnet ($1,500): partial payment for a new server for client computer records. They have exceeded demand for capacity on the current server due to client utilization of the health and social programs the agency offers.
Matthew Denckla, Magnet Board Member (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
Feney Matthews, President;
Jeff Thomas, GMHC volunteer (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
Rob Everett, Healing Waters Executive Director; Kelly Thiemann, DFL Liaison (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
DFL 2004 -- Three Organizations Receive Funds Totaling $11,616
The 2004 DFL funds allocated to NCRD went to
- Project Inform ($1,000)
- Positive Resources of Santa Clara County ($5,308)
- East Bay AIDS Center and the FCN, The Downtown Youth Center ($5,308)
DFL 2003 Funds Benefit Two Groups
Two San Francisco-based nonprofits were beneficiaries of $2,570 each from the NCRD share of 2003 Diving for Life beneficiary funds: PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) and the Deaf Gay & Lesbian Center.
DFL 2002 Funds Donated to the Metropolitan Community Foundation
At the May club meeting, there were presentations by three organizations nominated to receive the club′s share of funds raised at Diving For Life 2002. After the presentations, a vote of the members present chose the Metropolitan Community Foundation.
With 23 participating divers in 2002, NCRD raised $5,796. We presented the check to the Metropolitan Community Foundation during the July 24 club meeting. The MCF works to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable in our community, by providing services and advocacy for individuals such as the hungry and homeless, those living with HIV and AIDS, and those who face discrimination.
DFL 2001 Check Presented to AIDS Emergency Fund
One of the highlights of the club meeting on July 15, 2002 was the presentation of a check for $6,090 to the AIDS Emergency Fund. This check represented our portion of the funds raised at Diving For Life 2001.
Receiving the check was Dave Fox, who read a thank you note from the president of the fund, Ralph Petersen. The AIDS Emergency Fund provides direct financial assistance (for payment of rent and other bills) to persons disabled by HIV/AIDS and breast cancer.
At Left: Frances McCormick, NCRD Dive Planner in 2002, presents the DFL check to Dave Fox
of the AIDS Emergency Fund. (Photo by Gary Morgret.)
DFL 2000 Check Presented to Youth Group
of the QKids Youth Group. (Photo by Ralph Wolf.)
At the club meeting on February 19, 2001, Steve Graham, NCRD′s Diving for Life Liaison, presented a check for $11,300 to representatives of the QKids Youth Group associated with the Billy DeFrank Gay and Lesbian Center in San Jose.
The money from the DFL 2000 proceeds, which NCRD granted to the youth program, is earmarked for general expenses with an emphasis on AIDS education, prevention, and awareness programs. This is the largest community grant that NCRD has been able to make through the Diving for Life program.
The DeFrank Center′s QKids are a social/activity group for gay and lesbian teens, led by trained group facilitators. The group provides young people with an opportunity to meet others, socialize, and just be in a safe environment. Workshops, speakers, movie nights, games, and dances are featured on occasion.
Of particular note, the DeFrank Center′s QKids presented the proposal for funding to the NCRD grant review meeting by themselves. Members present at the grant review meeting were very impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the youth group during their presentation.