DC Rawhides is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Mitchell – Richards Family Fund, created to honor the memories of Corey Richards and Doug Mitchell, a component fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.  DC Rawhides is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting country western dancing in the LGBT community.  

The dances started in 2013 with 13 people gathering in the social hall of a Dupont Area church and then became part of programming at two of the District’s well known LGBTQ entertainment and dance venues:  Town and Secrets.  Apartments and condo now stand where those two clubs once were.  DC Rawhides danced through the pandemic via Zoom calls.  In 2021, DC Rawhides took up residency at Hook Hall. At each of these venues, the owners kindly provided DC Rawhides with use of their space and equipment at no charge. The hallmark of our dances is an atmosphere that is inclusive, affirming, and fun.  There is no other dance event in the District that draws crowds as diverse in age, race, gender-identity, and sexual orientation.

In the spring of 2022, DC Rawhides decided to take the dance solo, knowing this meant they would have to pay for space.  Our annual costs to hold the dance are not insubstantial.  To make sure there are no barriers to attending, we ask patrons for a minimum five dollar donation at the door.  The gift from the the Mitchell – Richards Family Fund, a component fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation will allow us to keep dancing and for that we are extremely grateful

For 50 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy, catalyzed community impact, and responded to critical needs. The Community Foundation partners with generous individuals, families, and businesses, making it easy and effective for donors to identify impactful nonprofits and support the greater good in the communities we call home. As the region’s largest local funder, The Community Foundation has invested more than $1.5 billion in building equitable, just, and thriving communities across DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. Learn more at TheCommunityFoundation.org