The Jim Collins Foundation | PO Box 7097 | New York, NY 10150

Jim Collins Foundation

Support trans health

2015 Grant Recipient Rose Groeschel

At first, I didn't think there was anything wrong me. I knew I was a girl, until my preschool teacher told me I couldn't play with the kitchen set at playtime. I cried and told her, "I have the same one at home. Why can't I play with this one?" Her answer was the beginning of a journey down a dark lonely road. "It's for girls," she said, "You're not a girl, you're a boy. Boys play with boys' toys; go play with the Lincoln Logs or trucks!" From then on, every single night when we said prayers, I would wait until Mommy left the room and pray, "Dear God, please make me a girl." Many nights, I … [Read more...]

Krysallis Anne Hembrough Gifts Legacy Funds to Jim Collins Foundation

JCF Announces New Board President and Vice President Friday March 27, 2015 (New York, NY) --- The Jim Collins Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant available through the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund, for JCF grantees who are able to match each dollar received. The Jim Collins Foundation will continue offering gender-affirming surgery grants from its general fund, which covers 100% of medical fees. Applicants may only apply once per grant cycle and must choose to be considered for either the General Fund or the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund. The next JCF grant cycle … [Read more...]

A Growing Number of Trans Americans Are ‘Crowdfunding’ Their Gender Transitions

At 19 years old, Lexi Richardson came out as transgender to her father. A Navy SEAL with a penchant for being "very strict," she said, he reacted with a swift, all-too-familiar response: Richardson had to go. "He provided me with an ultimatum," she said. "I could live at home or I could dress like a woman. So I said, BYE!" Without a permanent home or the financial support of her parents, the salt in the wound, Richardson said, was the crushing reality that she may never be able to afford the gender-confirming surgery she longs for. In a last-ditch effort to change that, Richardson launched a … [Read more...]

Gender-Affirming Surgeries Are No Laughing Matter

Jim Collins Foundation Statement on Offensive "Sarah Silverman Closes the Gap" Video The Jim Collins Foundation is deeply offended and saddened by the video produced by National Women's Law Center (NWLC) and Sarah Silverman as part of the Equal Payback Project. As many people have noted in the controversy since the campaign launch, the video makes light of transgender people's lives, and it neglects to mention the sky-high rates of employment discrimination and poverty that transgender people face. We call upon NWLC to take down the video immediately. It was created at the expense of the … [Read more...]

JIM COLLINS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Jim Collins Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds gender-confirming surgeries for transgender people, today announced the election of five new members to its Board of Directors. JCF’s new board members, with backgrounds in psychology, medicine, and diversity training, have already worked for years with the transgender community through advocacy, direct service, and public speaking. “We are thrilled to have the addition of such talented and experienced people to the Jim Collins Foundation board,” said JCF Co-Founder Tony Ferraiolo. “The energy of the new board will push us forward … [Read more...]

$12,000 Raised For Jim Collins Foundation from NYC Screening of Just Gender 

The Jim Collins Foundation is pleased to announce that more than $12,000 was raised from a New York City screening of Just Gender. The educational documentary was produced and directed by George Zuber, narrated by Tony and Emmy award-winning actor Bebe Neuwirth, and includes interviews with many transgender leaders and community members, including JCF Vice President Dru Levasseur.George Zuber is an ally who took it upon himself to find out more about the trans community, made an educational documentary, and showed the film around the country to benefit different trans organizations. Zuber … [Read more...]

NYC Premier Benefitting JCF

A Special Screening Buddha Dog Productions and Kino Lorber EDU Present: Just Gender: Identity is more than meets the eye When: Monday, June 9th, 2014 7:00 PM Where: Chelsea Cinemas 260 West 23rd Street New York City, NY 10011 A 30 minute panel discussion will follow 100% of the proceeds will benefit Tickets:  www.our-fund.org/jimcollins … [Read more...]

Jim Collins Foundation Announces A Record Number of Grantees

Jim Collins Foundation Announces A Record Number of Grantees Calls For Donations, Opens New Grant Cycle April 1, 2014 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation is thrilled to announce a record number of grantees and is now accepting applications for the next grant cycle. Founded in 2008 by two transgender men, the Jim Collins Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-confirming surgeries. The number of grants awarded is dependent on funds raised throughout the year. Each year the Jim Collins Foundation receives hundreds of applications for a … [Read more...]

2014 JCF Grantee PoetHeather

As a 45-year-old, married, disabled veteran who is unable to work, I thought I had perhaps gone as far as I could in my transition until I won the lotto or managed to sell a book or something. I did what I could, helping with the Transgender American Veterans Association, as well as my local support group. I also went to a few conferences and talked about writing as well as TAVA. I tried to get involved. When my health started declining I began writing even more, putting more stories online on various websites for the trans community, as well as writing fan fiction. It kept me occupied and … [Read more...]

2014 Jim Collins Grantee Cassie LeGrave

Every day prior to my surgery was like a living nightmare.  Most of my earliest memories include asking my mother when I was going to be 'fixed' so I would be like the other girls.  She would always reply in the same way, "You're not a girl."  I couldn't have the things I really wanted, I could never wear the things I wanted to wear, and I thought I was never going to be the person I knew I was inside. As I got older, I went into acting and music to try and avoid how I really felt inside. I had one failed marriage, almost had a second failed marriage, and I gained so much weight that I topped … [Read more...]