Home for the Holidays raises money to send people living with AIDS home to be with their families during the holiday season and to provide emergency travel services. To our knowledge, there is nothing else like this program in Texas or elsewhere in the U.S.

Home for the Holidays was founded in the early 1990's by Razzle Dazzle Dallas board members Rodd Gray "Patti Le Plae Safe" and John Michael Gordon "Mr. Gay USA 1999." John and Rodd enlisted the help of the Round-up Saloon and created the Miss Charity America Contest to raise money for their dream. As the dream grew, Razzle Dazzle Dallas was asked, and gladly accepted, the administration duties for Home for the Holidays. Over the years, other bars in the community chipped in and hosted shows to help raise funds for the program.

After the Razzle Dazzle Dallas street party came to an end, Home for the Holidays Texas, Inc. took over the administration and fundraising for the program. With its 501(c)(3) status, most donations made to the program are tax exempt. From talent shows to female impersonators, varied talents are brought together to create fun and festive occasions through which people can donate to this very worthwhile cause. Additional fundraisers, including auctions and other events, have been added to the fundraising calendar.

This one of a kind organization was born out of a single fundraiser event in 1992 to send a man living with AIDS home to see the family he had not seen in 8 years. By the time we organized the event, he had passed away. Nevertheless, the event was so successful we were able to send 5 people home that year. Since then, we have sent hundreds of people home or brought families here if the person living with AIDS was too sick to travel. Many of our recipients make this final trip home to die. We have also provided transport for funerals, and we have recently had requests for grants to pay for cremations. We are a volunteer organization with no office and minimal expenses. We rely on donations from individuals and monies raised at various events, including the annual Mr. and Miss Charity America pageant. All board members are volunteers and give freely from their hearts so that we can send people living with AIDS home all year.