FUND IN MEMORY OF GWEN ARAUJO ANNOUNCED

On the first anniversary of the savage murder of Gwen Araujo, a 17-year-old living as a male-to-female transgender woman in Newark, California, Horizons Foundation announced the establishment of a special fund named in her honor. The Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education will make grants to support school-based programs in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area that promote understanding of transgender people and issues.

From: Julie Dorf jdorf@horizonsfoundation.org

HORIZONS FOUNDATION
The Nations First Lesbian and Gay Foundation

PRESS RELEASE

October 2, 2003                    
For Immediate Release                    
Contact: Julie Dorf
Director of Philanthropic Services
(415) 398-2333 ext. 103
jdorf@horizonsfoundation.org

FUND IN MEMORY OF GWEN ARAUJO ANNOUNCED

San Francisco, CA -- On the first anniversary of the savage murder of Gwen Araujo, a 17-year-old living as a male-to-female transgender woman in Newark, California, Horizons Foundation announced the establishment of a special fund named in her honor. The Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education will make grants to support school-based programs in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area that promote understanding of transgender people and issues.

What happened to Gwen Araujo, her suffering and that of her family, must never happen again," said Roger Doughty, Horizons Executive Director. The LGBT movement has a history of fighting back, and this Fund is a new resource in the continuing struggle against transphobia and hate crimes."

In keeping with Horizons commitment to community involvement in grantmaking, the grants made through the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund will be advised by an advisory committee of individuals with expertise in transgender issues and school-based advocacy. Horizons has a long history of funding transgender organizations and programs; over the past two years, over 20% of Horizons community grants have supported the transgender population of the Bay Area. Establishment of the Fund was announced publicly today at Horizons Foundations annual Celebrating Our Communities" event, at which a Cornerstone Award was presented to Gwen Araujo, and accepted on her behalf by her mother, Sylvia Guerrero.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Horizons Foundation serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community by making grants, strengthening LGBT organizations and leadership, and increasing philanthropic giving.

Photos from the announcement of the Fund will be available on Monday, October 6 by going to www.horizonfoundation.org/photos.

Julie Dorf, Director of Philanthropic Services and Development
Horizons Foundation
870 Market Street, Suite 728
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415 398-2333 x103
Fax 415 398-4733
JDorf@horizonsfoundation.org
www.horizonsfoundation.org