Newsletter

June 2025 Newsletter - coming soon

December 2023 Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 3

In this issue

            • A 2024 Luck Be a Lady Gala Update
            • November Recap
            • Meet a Recent Recipient
            • Board Member Spotlight: Chris Hunter
            • A Special Thank You to 3rd Party Fundraisers
            • Remember Us With  Year End Contribution

We Are So Excited About Our 2024 Gala!

Tickets, tables and sponsorships are already being sold! So many people had a blast last year that they don’t want to miss out. You should not either!

 

Go to our website, scan the QR code or use this link to: get tickets, purchase a table, become a sponsor or pay for a gala screen ad!

 

https://one.bidpal.net/lfundgala2024/

The fabulous and funny Mina Hartong will again be our 2024 LUCK BE A LADY GALA Emcee!!

November Recap! A Month to Remember

We participated in PRIDE festivities and the parade. We also submitted a panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt sponsored by the Mizell Center. We also had a blast at our annual Golf Tournament held again at Woodhaven.

Meet a Recent Recipient! LEAP Recipient Esther

Esther is a registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist. Last fall, she finished her Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy and will be fully licensed by this time next year. One of her goals is to be fully fluent in Spanish so she can become a competent LGBTQ+ affirming bilingual therapist and be able to help more people. The L-Fund is paying for her to go through an intense 12 month fluency program through Learncraft Spanish which will help her achieve her goals.

Board Member Spotlight: Chris Hunter, Co-Chair and Events & Fundraising Chair

Chris Hunter is a West Coast woman, having lived in Oregon, Washington and California. Her adult working life was spent in Seattle, WA. Over the years, she has worn many hats with a strong emphasis on event planning and management. She has organized and managed social and athletic events for children and adults with physical disabilities. She was a Women’s Music Distributor and Concert Promoter. She also worked for many years in Event Management at Seattle Center, a 74 acre urban park that includes a host of venues for sports, concerts and conventions.

FROM CHRIS:

My wife and I have a travel trailer and love to spend our summers exploring new places and revisiting favorite places. We take our small whitewater crafts with us and enjoy going down river whenever we can.

We vacation in Maui almost every year. We love snorkeling and swimming with the turtles. We miss our beloved Lahaina. 

Deb and I participated in an amazing bike to barge tour of Belgium in September. We hope to do it again!

A Special Thank You To Lip Gloss, REAF, Palm Springs Crave & Club Skirts - THE DINAH

The L-Fund has two major fundraisers a year: its annual golf tournament and its annual gala. As a small charitable non-profit, it is difficult to fund more than those two events. Therefore, we rely on the kindness of donors and supporters like you but we also rely on the generosity of 3rd parties who put on fundraisers for us.

 

In September, Lip Gloss held a drag event at Oscar’s. So much fun!! Thank you Steven Betts and Dani Blue! In October, Palm Springs Crave had a fun Halloween dance at Impala. Thank you Beverly Sweigart. In November, REAF had a fabulous PRIDE party at a swanky Palm Springs home. Thank you Ken Henderson & Joe Sellers. Also in November, Club Skirts – THE DINAH raised monies for us through a JELLO shot special at one of its pool parties. Thank you Mariah Hanson.

Through these events we were awarded close to $12,000!!

With Gratitude,

The L-Fund Board of Directors

A HEARTFELT PLEA

 

Many of our applicants live paycheck to paycheck and with increasing costs in food, gas, housing, utilities and health care, sometimes they need a helping hand. Many are not equipped to finance an emergency. Few ever think they would need to access a food bank or ask a charity for help.

We provide our applicants a list of resources they can reach out to but often times a car needs to get fixed asap or glasses and hearing aids need to be replaced immediately.

Some of our education applicants don’t fully realize the true cost of furthering their education. Grants and scholarships are available in many cases but there are always other costs: textbooks, housing, food, a decent laptop, etc.

We are proud to share that so far in 2023, we helped numerous people and provided almost $60,000 in assistance.

We work hard to raise money. It is a constant effort to bring in donations so that we can continue to help our community.

It is easy to overlook the needy with the hustle and bustle of the holidays but we ask those who can to please consider The L-Fund in your holiday gift giving or your year-end charitable donation.

We always remind you that it does take a village. We cannot do what we do without our generous donors and supporters.

The L-Fund Board of Directors wishes You and Yours a wonderful holiday filled with love, peace & prosperity.

 

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MAY 2023 Newletter Volume 4, Issue 1


Our mission is to empower cis, trans, and queer identifying lesbians through financial crisis assistance as well as grants in the areas of health and wellness, the arts and education.
FOUNDED BY LESBIANS FOR LESBIANS

The L-Fund envisions an enriched future for the lives of our fellow cis, trans, and queer identifying lesbians.

In this issue:

An update from Robbin Burr, a retired corporate leader & pro-bono consultant to The L-Fund
Amount of Money Given in 2022
Our 2023 Gala Recap
Programs Updates Including LIN and Other Grants
New Board Member Spotlight
A Special Thank You to Our Community
Save The Dates – Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

A Quote From Robbin Burr
Pro-Bono Consultant


“I’m enormously proud of The L-Fund’s Board of Directors and the hard work they have been doing! They recently completed a new Strategic Plan and have now equipped themselves with a road map to grow their programs and staff the board with the skill sets needed to help propel the organization successfully into the coming years!”

Special thanks to Robbin, a retired non-profit and corporate leader, for being an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise to The L-Fund!

In 2022, The L-Fund gave out almost
$95,000.00
to Grant recipients!


From the $95,000 given,

$52,000 went to Lesbians in Need,
our most important and critical program, which also includes our Health & Wellness program.

Additionally, $28,000 went to Education recipients and $15,000 went to Art recipients.

We couldn’t do it without our generous supporters, so thank you!

If you would like to contribute to The L-Fund’s life-altering efforts, click here to donate.


Luck Be A Lady
2023 Gala Racap!


On February 25, The L-Fund held its Luck Be A Lady gala. It was our annual fundraiser and we were honored to have been sponsored by Eisenhower Health, Brothers of the Desert, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, The Hollywood Times and DAP Health. We raised $65,000!

We were also elated to have received many in-kind donations including The UPS Store (downtown Palm Springs), Fetch Girl Lighting Design, Bright Event Rentals, and In Sync Social Media.

We were grateful for our many silent auction donors and gift certificates from Over the Rainbow bakery and Chef Tanya’s Kitchen.

We could not have pulled off this event without our entertainment, Elaine Gibbs & Band, emcee Mina Hartong and without Nicholas Snow/PromoHomo TV. A big thanks also to all of our wonderful volunteers.

Our attendees learned a lot about our award recipients – Dr. Jill Hingston, Rhonda Ceccato, and Kim Kieler – as well as heard heartwarming stories from some grant recipients.

It was an amazing night of dancing, casino gaming, eating and enjoying libations while also being reminded of what an amazing community we have in the desert.

We hope you join us again in 2024!

To see photos from the 2023 Gala, click here!

Grant Recipient Updates
How The L-Fund’s Programs Have Helped So Far In 2023

Lesbians In Need (LIN)


We are committed to providing assistance to numerous Lesbians In Need, our very first grant program that started it all.

So far in 2023, we’ve helped LIN recipients with $5,883.00. The monies went to help pay rent and a security deposit, help with clothes for a new job, and help with much needed house repairs.

Our recipients are always so incredibly grateful for the help that The L-Fund provides. And often times it is paid forward!

If you know any lesbians in crisis who could use financial assistance, click here for more info about the Lesbians in Need (LIN) program.

L-Fund Education Assistance Program (LEAP)
We recognize education as an important stepping stone in improving lives and individual autonomy.


To date in 2023, we have given $3,185.00 to pay for a laptop (and accessories) and to pay for an applicant’s outstanding tuition so she could graduate with her class.
If you know any lesbians in need of educational assistance, click here for more info about the LEAP program.

Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts
The L-Fund envisions a future in which lesbians, in all of their diversity, are free to express the full range of their talents and potential. The arts is a powerful segue to self-discovery and healing and we’re proud to help recipients realize their goals.


Artwork by Wendy Wonder


So far this year, we’ve given $2,858.00 towards: an applicant’s community newsletter and putting on events in the Coachella Valley (movie club, book club, hiking, etc.), an applicant who needed frames and shadow boxes for an upcoming art show, and another applicant’s construction of a 10 piece sculpture.
If you know any lesbian artists in need of a grant, click here for more info about the Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts.

Health & Wellness
Established in 2020 to provide financial support in the areas of health and wellness.
So far this year, we’ve helped by paying $3,065.00 to cover 3 months of dementia day care and to pay off a surgery invoice to avoid collection efforts.
If you know any lesbians in need of a grant, click here for more info about the Health & Wellness grant.


Meet Our Newest Board Member: Jen Hughes



3 Fun Facts!

I’m on the show ‘911 Rescue’
I played many tournaments on a wheelchair tennis team
Spending time with and training my doggies fills my heart


Jen graduated from Cal State San Bernardino in Social Work and National Paralegal College in Paralegal Studies with her Bachelor’s in Legal Studies. She owns California Legal Docs, with the main office located in Palm Desert, but serving all of California remotely.

Her love for the community and law has given her the drive to work hard and provide peace of mind to those dealing with the legal system. Growing up in a diverse community and her life experiences, have propelled her mission to give back. She is excited and feels honored to work with The L-Fund and provide assistance in the community that is so close to her heart.

A Very Special Thank You To You


The L-Fund would like to thank you, the community, for opening your hearts and wallets to those in need. Your generosity has been felt in so many different ways, and it’s because of you that our recipients feel cared for, heard and valued.

There have been many times where we were told how our help impacted our recipients and the opportunities we helped provide. We are truly humbled that they feel the embrace and love by the community. It’s because of you that our recipients are able to thrive, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The work we do cannot be done without the willingness and support of the community to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. You are the manifestation of the phrase, “It takes a village.”


We are humbled by your efforts and truly grateful for all you have done and continue to do.

With Gratitude,

The L-Fund Board of Directors


If you would like to contribute to The L-Fund’s life-altering efforts, click here to donate.

THE L-FUND SAVE THE DATES

GOLF TOURNAMENT

11/19/23 – Woodhaven Country Club, Palm Desert


GALA

03/09/24 – Margaritaville Resort, Palm Springs


More information as available on our website, click here for Upcoming Events.


The L-Fund grieves with the local community in the shocking loss of Gail Christian.

Our hearts go out to Lucy and to all who love her and will miss her.


The L-Fund exists only with the support of our generous donors.
Help us continue this important work.
CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE L-FUND
The L-Fund
P.O. Box 362
Palm Springs, CA 92263
(760) 304-8487
L-Fund.org
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L-Fund.org | P.O. Box 362, Palm Springs, CA 92263