April 1, 2017 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is pleased to announce our three 2017 grant recipients, and our new grant cycle, starting April 5, 2017. This year JCF awarded two general fund grants and one matching fund grant. Our General Fund grants cover 100% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery. Our matching grant is from the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund (Hembrough Grants) which covers 50% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery; the … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Angie Torres
Angie is a passionate and driven LGBTQ activist hailing from New York City. Angie is a proud alumni of the nation's first accredited LGBTQ high school, Harvey Milk High School. She's appeared on several television shows and networks, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC and America's Next Top Model, in an effort to further educate the world on the issues that plague the LGBTQ community. Angie feels extraordinarily blessed and thankful to have been awarded the Jim Collins Foundation grant out of hundreds of applicants. After feeling so disconnected with her body her entire life, she now knows … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Cael Neary
It is commonly said that the end goal in life is to be happy. However, when my parents told me in my adolescent years, “We just want you to be happy,” their definition of daily and ultimate “happiness” did not include queerness or gender transition. When I finally made it out of the house and moved to college in Wisconsin, I could live as Cael 24 hours a day for the first time in my life. Every now and then, when I nearly forget how far I’ve come, I recall those first weeks, where it dawned on me that each day, I could simply get dressed. I am ready for the next step. I am ready for my body to … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Christyna
I wish I could tell you that I knew I was transgender all of my life. I have had bishops from church tell me I was going to hell for having such thoughts and wanting to be this way. I had family who later came around to this ideal of Christyna, instead of Christopher. At the JCF they believe in me, they believe in us, as people. I’m thankful for the hardships I have gone through on this journey because it shows me, as well as everyone else, anything is possible if you need or want it enough. If god hands you lemons make a merengue pie. It just tastes better! “At the JCF they believe in me, … [Read more...]
Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2016 Grant Recipients
April 5, 2016 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is thrilled to announce our 2016 grant recipients and open up a new grant cycle, starting April 15, 2016. This is the first year JCF offered two grant options for those seeking surgical grants. General Fund grants cover 100% of the medical fees associated with the gender-affirming surgery. Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund (Hembrough Grants) cover 50% of the medical fees associated with the gender-affirming surgery, requiring each recipient to … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Bayne
I wish I could say I always knew I was a boy or at least point to a moment of epiphany when it all made sense, but it wasn't like that for me. I just always knew I was "wrong" in some very deep but inconceivable way. I started down a path of slow self-destruction around age 10. I cut, burned, starved, refused to speak, punched walls, pushed people away, drank, etc. I finally sorted it out in my mid to late 20s. That was over a decade ago. Being trans in the deep South is a daily struggle – from the narrow-minded perspective that is so common to the physical torment that is the reality of … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Katrina Dawn Stewart
Since I transitioned in 2001, I have given back to the GLBT community at the local, state, and national level through leadership, advocacy and education. This work was in response to my own need to build the safety nets of support I needed as I began living authentically. That work developed into a passion to both make the road of transition easier socially for others and to break through to create understanding in the communities I touched so as to be the change I wanted to see in the world. While at times frustrating and challenging, this has given me joy and has satisfied my heart. At 44, … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient JC
My name is JC, I'm 23 years old and I live in Seattle Washington. Since my earliest memory I have always known that I was different. At pre-school age I can recall asking my mom to wear her night gowns and high heels. Not wanting to upset my dad we would always wait until he left for work. Growing up my best friend was also my neighbor, her name was Emily, I would spend most of my days at her house playing dolls, dress up and my all time favorite game pretty pretty princess. I have two older brothers, Josh and Jason, they both excelled at sports and it was a major passion of theirs. From a … [Read more...]
Barriers to Care Still Prevalent for Transpeople in the US
The story of Caitlyn Jenner’s journey has made headlines across the world in recent weeks. However, most transpeople still face significant barriers to accessing self-affirmative health care. In this article, Jim Collins Foundation President, Kylie Aquino, discusses the obstacles to care that many transpeople still have to overcome...read full article … [Read more...]
Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2015 Grant Recipients
March 31, 2015 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is thrilled to announce our 2015 grant recipients and open up a new grant cycle, starting at midnight tonight. Jim Collins Foundation 2015 Grant Recipients include Alexander, Alexandria Fresh, and Rose Groeschel who share their stories at jimcollinsfoundation.org. “On this Transgender Day of Visibility, we are pleased to share the powerful stories of our grant recipients: Alexander, Alexandria, and Rose,” said Kylie Aquino, JCF President. “Like … [Read more...]
2015 Grant Recipient Alexandria Fresh
My first step in self acknowledgement was in 8th grade when I came out to my mother, telling her that I was attracted to men but did not like being called gay. My attraction was like any other girl my age. Later on, I met my first transwoman at the age of 14. She was a pageant girl from Atlanta, and she was absolutely beautiful. I was fascinated with how she became who she was, and the more she and I developed a relationship, the more I knew that this was who I was; this was the answer to all of my questions. I experimented with dressing up in private on the weekends, when I was with friends, … [Read more...]
2015 Grant Recipient Alexander
At 34 years old, I have lived a few lifetimes of pain and what seems to be bad luck. To the point where I just begin laughing about it, it was like a routine. It took me years to finally realize that by surviving, I had become a stronger person with enough compassion to want to make a difference in the lives of others. When I got the call about being one of the grantees of the Jim Collins Foundation, it seemed unreal. So few dreams come true in our lifetimes, and I have received one of mine. It has been hard to describe. It feels like I am living inside a great dream, and every time I think … [Read more...]
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