Rainbow Flags of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade

Have you ever wondered who works behind the scenes to bring the impressive Rainbow flag display to the community Pride festivities every June? Is it the City of San Francisco? Is it the SF Pride Parade Committee?

The answer is Raising Colors!

Led by founder Clyde Wildes, along with a small group of committed volunteers, Raising Colors is responsible for decorating every one of the 320 Victorian "Path of Gold" light standards along Market Street, from The Embarcadero past the United Nations Plaza, all the way to Castro Street. And they have been doing this for 21 consecutive years! Raising Colors is responsible for the procurement, repair, replacement, and storage of the flags and receives funding totally from non-government private donations.

Rainbow flags saw the light of day during the 1978 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade, and have become gay pride symbols of the joy, diversity, and hope for the gay community world wide. In 1978 a group of Gay merchants took up a collection and funded the first display. A few years went by without a display, and in 1984 Raising Colors re-established the display with all new flags and has been responsible for this colorful community beautification project ever since.

For Tax Deductible Donations:

• To Donate Online
  Click Here For Online Donations
  
  
• To Donate By Check
  Please make your check payable to:
  San Francisco Pride Committee / Raising Colors*.
  Send your check to:
  Raising Colors
  P.O. Box 421249
  San Francisco, CA 94142-1249

*The SF Pride Committee is a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization.

To Volunteer for Raising Colors, or Request More Information:

Please use our Contact Form

Founding Donors:

The Estate of Richard Polak Jr.; Keith Henderson & Clark Husemann; Nordstrom; The R. Gwin Follis Foundation; William & Molly Person; Bears of San Francisco; The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc.; The Castro Lions Club Charities, Inc.; Body Positive; Gay Santa Barbara; Michael Ackerman; Josh Bottfeld; Hole In The Wall Saloon, Inc.; Steve Fletcher; Edward J. Petrillo & Eric R. Johnson; Mayor Gavin Newsom; Robert F. Eaton, MD & James McPherson; Scott R. Davis & Howard P. Perofsky; Officer Milanda Moore; Zephyr Real Estate; Anonymous.

Donors & Sponsors, Dec 2004 Fundraising Event

Private Sponsors:

• Pot of Gold($1000): Jay Clements; Carl Hack & Jeff Mauk
• Red ($600): Jack Bell & Rod Guthrie; Brad Crowell & Gary Koehler; Brad Chilcoat & Rich Walker
• Orange($500): Dan Healy; MUMC
• Yellow($400): Phillip A. James; Alan Linder, MD
• Green($300): Kevin Joyce & Tim Ortman; Richard Meyerson; Michael Ackerman
• Blue($200): Rod O'Neil; Chuck Forester & John Cadle in memory of Michael A. Schoch
• Violet($100): Bert Bloom & Gwynn Goodner Ken Calhoun; Richard T.Clinton; Steve Dardarian; Thom de Cant; Christopher Duncan; Morris Fung & Davie Jones; Jerome Goldstein in honor of Clyde Wildes; Roger Gross; in honor of Carl Hack & Jeff Mauk David Hollander; Matthew Hudson & Douglas Montgomery; Michael Kossman; Donald La Hann & Ron Malone In memory of Tony Hasna; Eric Poche In memory of Richard Ronan; Dale Rettinger; Richard Ryan in honor of Carl Hack & Jeff Mauk; Keith Ennenga; Robert Goldfarb; Lawrence Hall; Jane & Walter Kettler in honor of Hamburger Mary's; Scott Knapp & Misha Tsirulnikov In memory of Tod Anglin; Michael Salstein; Ronald Smith; Scott Smith-McCurdy; Peter Washburn;

Business Sponsors:

• Kitchens, Baths & Cabinets, Inc.
• Kevin Joyce Design
• Law Office of Roger S. Gross
• Zephyr Real Estate

Event Sponsors

• Anicete Designs
• Baurerware
• Catch
• Clyde Wildes, Founder, Raising Colors
• Delta Air Lines
• Frisco Webworks
• Golden Brands Distributing
• Greg Pennington
• Harvey's
• Hickory Street Playhouse
• Indigo V Florist
• Ixia
• Joseph Schmidt Confections
• Keith Henderson & Clark Husemann
• Korbel Champagne Cellars
• Mike Grenier Liquors
• Mr. S Leather
• Neiman Ranch
• Osmosis
• RMB Productions
• Rock Hard
• San Francisco Ballet
• San Francisco Ice
• San Francisco Pride Committee
• San Francisco Symphony
• Savor
• Stompers Boots
• Studebaker's Coffee Shop & Deli
• Tangerine
• Titan Media
• Werner Tillinger
• Wicked Scent
• Young's Market

Event Team

• Hosts: Carl Hack, Jeff Mauk
• Founder: Clyde Wildes
• Chairs: Michael Ackerman, Daniel Healy, Teddy Witherington
• Co-Chairs:Garry Hanna, Werner Tillinger
• Benefit Consultant: Stacia Layser
• Graphics Design: Robert Roberts
• Facilitators: Mark Welsh, David Lang, Kevin Kropp, Bob Brunson

Volunteers:

Michael Ackerman, Dan Alexander, Jack Boujaklian, Craig Breeggemann, Rod Brown, Mike Byrne, Joey Cain, Allen Carpenter, Bob Cervantes, Jane Cleland, David Delay, Bart Dority, Keith Ennenga, Mitch Evans, Earl Everett, Ted Fox, Jim Gong, Carl Hack, Stacia Hack, Gary Hanna, Dan Healy, Marily Heiss, Keith Henderson, Clark Husemann, Bryan Hrycko, Darryl Jannson, Brian Lee, Marsha Levine, Mac Masters, Jeff Mauk, Erika O'Connor, Mark Paladini, Jack Porter, Stefen Reilly, Robert Roberts, Joe Savoie, Jon Seizenger, Scott Smith-McCurdy, Mark Tully, Danny Walters, Peter Washburn, John Winter, Geoff Wood.
In Memorium: Robert Kirsch