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THE L-FUND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Since 2012, The L-Fund has provided emergency financial assistance to cis and trans lesbians in crisis across the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. Wanting to help beyond emergencies, our programs have expanded to include education assistance, health and wellness aid, and grants for lesbian artists. Founded by lesbians for lesbians and the only organization of its kind in the country, we work closely with the community at large to improve the lives of our sisters. Find out more about us.
Why The L-Fund believes the word “lesbian” matters:
We hold strongly that preserving the word lesbian is important. This term allows us to more specifically name and value woman-defined relationships and the history of these relationships as it exists across all cultures. Additionally, we also understand the term lesbian as an active form of resistance to the erasure that often happens to us and our communities when the more generalized term “gay” is used—a term that in its popular usage refers primarily to gay men. We at The L-Fund use the term lesbian and define it to be inclusive of all those under the LGBTQIA2S+ umbrella who self-identify as women who love women.
L-Fund Women’s Golf Tournament
at the NEW San Gorgonio Course in Sun City
November 6, 2021
“Thanks to the wonderful supporters of The L-Fund, we are in the process of working with “Jackie,” the Jamaican lesbian in crisis who’s story we shared with you recently, to assist her in getting a student visa to attend College of the Desert. Updates to come soon as we continue our efforts to help this single mother and her child escape their dangerous situation safely.”
Afternoon of Art Recap
Celebrating The L-Fund, art and the creative works of our gracious hostess, Nancy Worthington, was the goal for a sold-out gathering at the private Worthington-Fein museum in Palm Springs on October 10, 2021. Check out the photos and a recap here.
MEET SOME OF OUR RECENT GRANT RECIPIENTS!
Briana Nieves
Growing up in Compton, CA., Briana feels privileged to attend Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. Her mother was a nurse who loved her job and loved helping others. Losing her mother, Briana realized that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse. Briana is a sophomore and has been using the laptops at the campus library to do all of her class assignments and has managed to have a 3.8 GPA while also playing on the basketball team. The L-Fund Education Assistance Program (LEAP) provided Briana with a new laptop and headphones.
Comedian Shann Carr is a 22 year resident of Palm Springs who co-hosts a podcast called I Love Gay Palm Springs. She is also a Realtor, Entertainment Producer, Radio Host, and Community Organizer and wears countless other hats that include hosting and emceeing film festivals, cruises and comedy shows. When the pandemic hit our local community in early 2020, Shann found that many of her real estate transactions stalled and gigs dried up. To add insult to injury, her health insurance quadrupled. Shann, a volunteer and big supporter of The L-Fund since its inception, all of a sudden found herself as the one in need. She never imagined she would be a Health and Wellness recipient and was hesitant to ask for help but former Executive Director/CEO, Barbara Carpenter, insisted that she apply. Barbara told her, “If you don’t apply for help, I’m going to tuck money under your doormat from my own bank account!”.
Shann is grateful for The L-Fund and that the organization was there when she needed it the most. Financial assistance from the Health and Wellness programs helped her get quickly back on her feet. The L-Fund appreciates Shann and all of the hours she has donated to the organization so it was only fitting that The L-Fund was there for her.
Desiree Gutierrez
Lesbian in Need (LIN) recipient Desiree Gutierrez was facing eviction for her and her teenage son after moving to Palm Springs in search of a safer and open community. Upon applying to LIN, she was approved within 3 days for emergency rent assistance. Watch this short video to hear this single mother share how The L-Fund has helped her family. In her own words, “I can breathe now.”
OUR PROGRAMS
- Lesbians in Need (LIN): LIN offers financial assistance to cis and trans lesbians in crisis. Circumstances may include potential eviction, homelessness, loss of transportation, unhealthy or unsafe living conditions, food insecurity, and other high-risk mental, physical and emotional circumstances.
- L-Fund Education Assistance Program (LEAP): LEAP provides education grants of up to $2,500 per year for cis and trans lesbians in need to attend continuing education, certification classes, trade or vocational schools, community colleges and universities.
- Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts: The Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts supports cis and trans lesbian artists working in any medium or genre, including visual artists, sculptors, musicians, writers, filmmakers, playwrights, performance artists, designers, and others.
- Health & Wellness Fund: The Health and Wellness Fund provides financial support for a variety of medical services and needs, including but not limited to: medical supplies, hearing aids, eye glasses, dental procedures, walking aids, mental health services, health insurance and out-of-pocket expenses for insured, uninsured, and underinsured lesbians.
Eisenhower Health is a not-for-profit, comprehensive health care institution that includes the 463-bed Eisenhower Hospital, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower and the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower. Situated on 130 acres in Rancho Mirage, and with outpatient clinics across the valley, Eisenhower Health has provided a full range of quality medical and educational services for 50 years for residents and visitors to the greater Coachella Valley. Eisenhower recently earned the LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer Designation in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index and is a proud supporter of The L-Fund.
Eisenhower Health Events CalendarMission Statement
The mission of The L-Fund is to empower cis and trans lesbians through financial crisis assistance, grants for education, the arts, and health and wellness programs.
Vision Statement
The L-Fund envisions a future of an inclusive and diverse community in which lesbians are provided a reliable resource for financial assistance, social engagement, and programs that enrich the lives of lesbians.
The L-Fund exists only with the support of our generous donors.
Help us continue this important work.