Charity Partners
Striving to build a safer, more inclusive, and equitable world.
Oar the Rainbow is registered 501(c)3, founded with the belief that we all have the power and responsibility to build a safer, more inclusive, and equitable world. Together our team envisions a world of diverse, flourishing communities, where each individual is valued, included, and empowered to thrive as their authentic selves. We believe the work our charities do support that vision.
As part of our journey to row the Pacific, we are proud to be raising funds and awareness for Athlete Ally and Doctors Without Borders; two non-profits working relentlessly to ensure the health, safety, and rights of all individuals across the globe. In addition to fundraising for our charities in the time leading up to our crossing, we will be donating the value of all residual resources of our nonprofit at the end of our journey.
Athlete Ally is a national nonprofit dedicated to activating athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sport. Athlete Ally believes sport will change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people, and we do too. Each member of Oar the Rainbow is here because we had the opportunity to experience the transformative power of sport, and together we believe that people of all ages should have equal access, opportunity, and experience in sport— regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Through education, policy change, athlete activism, and research, Athlete Ally works to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes, and endangers LGBTQI+ people in sports. In partnership with professional and amateur athletes, teams, leagues, and sport governing bodies, they work to challenge harmful stereotypes, support researched and inclusive policy development and best practices, and empower athletes to advance LGBTQI+ equality in and through sports.
Athlete Ally holds dozens of LGBTQI+ respect and inclusion trainings each year and supports a growing network of college chapters and professional and elite Athlete Ambassadors, whose work and advocacy promote equality and positive change at all levels of sport. They also maintain the first-of-its-kind Athlete Equality Index, a metric developed by Athlete Ally to provide comprehensive, ongoing assessments of the LGBTQI+ policies and practices that impact millions of athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and fans in NCAA college athletic departments.
Through their work, Athlete Ally continues to make significant strides toward a more inclusive future where LGBTQI+ athletes have the right to play and compete alongside us all. We encourage our supporters to learn more about this issue by checking out Athlete Ally’s research and resources, and by learning more about current anti-trans legislation in their state.
Doctors Without Borders, known globally as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is a nonprofit, self-governed organization that provides medical humanitarian assistance to people suffering the consequences of conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, or exclusion from healthcare services.
Founded in 1971, MSF’s work is guided by the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality. They provide both immediate response and long-term humanitarian assistance in over 70 countries worldwide, including Greece, where team member Courtney lived and saw first-hand the critical medical care and support MSF provided to refugees fleeing to Greece.
Prepared with all the medical kits, instruments, vaccinations, and gear they need, MSF logisticians direct doctors and crucial support staff to where they are most needed. When time is of the essence after natural disasters, MSF is often the first to arrive with prepackaged supply kits staged for rapid response. MSF might vaccinate entire populations to curb a measles outbreak, provide the education and resources to help eliminate cholera in an area, care for those who are malnourished, or provide medical care and counseling to LGBTQI+ people in countries where being queer is criminalized. Almost one quarter of MSF’s projects are directed toward conflict zones, such as Ukraine and Gaza, where MSF provides critical, impartial humanitarian aid to those injured or displaced, victims of sexual violence, and anyone else who needs their help.
In 2021, over 97% of monies raised by MSF came from donations by individual donors and private institutions. Of the 1.94 billion euros raised in 2021, 80.5% was utilized for supporting their mission, 15.1% went to fundraising efforts, and only 4.4 was for administrative purposes. MSF does not accept donations from companies or groups whose activities they feel may conflict with or limit their ability to provide the assistance needed in an area. With less than 2% of funding coming from government funds, MSF works independently to assess who needs help. And they help them. Period.
