Short Summary
The 7000 People Project is a Philadelphia-based ongoing fundraiser that seeks to mash up art, performance, and exploration of self to create connectedness of community and promote identity exploration and discussion. The ENTIRE amount of funds raised online and from East Coast-based events are donated to one transgender person’s gender-confirming surgery fund. Most transgender people – often living below the poverty line – must pay for gender-confirming surgeries out of pocket. With surgeries costing thousands of dollars, huge financial roadblock sits squarely in the middle of most transgender people’s vision of their true selves.
Rae Drew is the founder of The 7000 People Project and currently the recipient of the funds to help him afford the $7000 chest surgery (breast removal and chest masculinzation). Rae is a 26-year-old transman. He (formerly she) is a graduate of The University of the Arts and a full time barista by day and artist/writer/LGBTQ activist by night. He is hardworking, but simply cannot afford the chest surgery that would finally bring a peaceful union of his mental identity with his physical self.
Rae’s goal is to raise enough money to have his surgery, then to continue raising money throughout his life to help other transgender people reach their surgery goals and be the person they see themselves truly as.
What is of need and what you receive in return
The 7000 People Project is seeking to raise roughly $3,700 to fulfill Rae’s financial need for surgery.
The 7KP is asking you to donate as little as $1. Every single bit makes a difference.
Please donate whatever you can afford, and a $1 donation will be as equally in need and as appreciated as $1,000 donation. Every single little bit is $1 closer to Rae reaching his dream of finally being the same person on the outside as on the inside.
Perks! The 7KP has added new perks! Everyone who donates will get something art-related. Prints, songs written about you, check it out!
The Impact
From Rae: If you donate to my project, you will change my life forever. Chest surgery for me means absolute freedom. Freedom from anxiety over my body image, freedom to exist in the world as the person I see myself as in my mind, freedom to exert my wasted energy on things that matter, freedom from the back pain and skin sensitivity that is caused by the restrictive binding tank top that I wear underneath my clothes. The freedom to exist in my own skin, happy and carelessly. I cannot do this alone. I know some folks are stubborn when it comes to asking for help, but I believe it takes a village to raise a person, and I am relying on the village of humanity - as far as I can reach - to help raise me into the beautiful person I so long to physically become.
In turn, you will also be supporting the other transfolk’s surgery needs down the line, because The 7000 People Project isn’t stopping here! You will also be supporting the flourishing Philadelphia/East Coast art scene, and art that is created largely by transgender individuals.
Ways to Learn More
The Project: http://7000peopleproject.org
Read about Rae’s transition on his blog: http://soimmadudenow.wordpress.com
Other Ways You Can Help
Spread the word! Send an email, encourage folks to check out our website and find us on Facebook, share us on your favorite social media sites. Please just spread the word any way you can!
Fine Printy Kinda Stuff
Please note about Paypal! I have not legally changed my name yet as part of my transition, and my Paypal account is under my legal birth name, Raeann. If you have questions you can email me at 7000pplproject [at] gmail [dot] com. You can also find my contact information and FAQ about my fundraiser on my website, 7000PeopleProject.org
