MISSION 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.
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January 2022
Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 1
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In this issue:
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Recipient Stories:
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Check out an exciting update to "Jackie's" story - she's here!
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Hear from a recent Lesbians in Need grant recipient who shared some words of gratitude.
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Discover four amazing artists who received grants from the Debra I. Moore Grants for the Arts program.
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We recap The L-Fund festivities from the past few months, including the Golf Tournament, Palm Springs Pride and more.
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Learn more about exciting upcoming events on our calendar!
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What’s happening at The L-Fund: New developments include a partnership with Kim Kieler, new board members, community outreach efforts and an article in The Desert Sun.
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Big shout out to our new media sponsor, KGAY!
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Special thanks to our departing board member and co-founder, Dr. Sharon Siegel.
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Get to know one of our board members in Meet the Board.
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Escaping A Dangerous Life in Jamaica
Meet SueAnn & Donta
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Single mom SueAnn (who we previously referred to by the pseudonym "Jackie") and her 14-year-old son Donta landed in Palm Springs this month after escaping an unsafe life in their home country of Jamaica. And they only made it here to safety through the generous support of The L-Fund and donors like you!
Facing regular violence and homophobia in their hometown after she was outed as a lesbian, The L-Fund began efforts to help SueAnn get a student visa last year. After months of fundraising and coordination efforts, the family's arrival was met with joy and excitement as members of The L-Fund board welcomed them!
The L-Fund helped coordinate housing and other accommodations. SueAnn begins classes at College of the Desert this month and Donta will be enrolled in a local high school immediately.
We want to acknowledge The L-Fund's own Dr. Jan Alden for her tireless dedication to bringing SueAnn and Donta to the U.S. We are all so proud to have helped changed the life of this wonderful family - and we couldn't have done it without all of you!
If you would like to contribute to The L-Fund's life-altering efforts, click here to donate.
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Helping A Single Mom Avoid Eviction
Hear From One Recent Lesbians in Need Recipient
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One recent recipient is exactly the type of woman our Lesbians in Need (LIN) financial assistance program is designed to help.
As we have emphasized in the past, many of our recipients are proud women who wish to remain anonymous. We honor that and respect their confidentiality.
This recipient, who we will call G, received financial support from us previously for her October/November 2021 rent and utilities, which helped her start getting back on her own feet.
G reached out to us again in early December for additional assistance but was relieved to let us know that she didn’t need as much financial assistance this time around. Our initial help was the stepping stone she needed to become more self-sufficient. We only needed to help her with a portion of her December rental fees.
In G's own words, “The L-Fund has literally saved me from homelessness and I am deeply grateful. With my child's very complex mental health struggles, my physical, spiritual and emotional health have suffered. The L-Fund has been a source of light to guide me over the bridge towards healing and finding my footing again. Thank you from my heart."
We have your back, G! This is why we do what we do. Giving our fellow lesbian sisters a hand up. You are more than welcome.
If you know any lesbians in crisis who could use financial assistance, click here for more info about the Lesbians in Need (LIN) program.
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Supporting Lesbian Artists
Meet Recent Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts Recipients
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Our Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts has been very busy since our last newsletter! We provided grants to four recipients: |
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Georgia Tournai was given $1,000.00 to help with new signage for her new hair salon. The G. Tournai Hair + Creative Studio is located at the 500 Building in Palm Springs (500 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 104).
Mina Hartong was given $1,300.00 for a Spoken Word/Storytelling event scheduled for March 9, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Mizell Center. It will be centered around International Women’s Day with four storytellers from the LBT Lesbian/Women’s Community sharing personal stories. Mina hopes to produce other similar events during the year.
Desert Movement Arts was given $550.00 for an Afternoon of Movement and Musical Improvisation which was held on December 12th.
Shelley Rae Speck was given $1,200.00 for musical equipment and copyright fees. She shared that because of our grant, she was able to record her vocals at her home then had the song, “The Bottle's on my Side” produced by a Grammy winning producer!
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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.
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The L-Fund Celebrated Community in 2021 |
The L-Fund had an exciting last quarter of 2021! We sponsored and participated in a variety of events. |
In October, The L-Fund sponsored the Afternoon of Art at the Nancy Worthington-Fein private museum. It was a sold out event. We raised monies, ate good food, listened to poetry from our own Board member Doris Reed and just had an overall FAB time. A huge THANK YOU to Nancy Worthington for opening her home and private museum to us.
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The L-Fund was very busy with Palm Springs Pride weekend in November. Board members and supporters marched in the parade, surrounded by crowds cheering for The L-Fund. We also had a booth at the festival, where we got the chance to say hello to old friends and tell others about the organization. It was a lovely time spent in community!! |
On Pride weekend, we also held our annual golf tournament at Sun City Palm Desert where over 100 people came out to share in top quality golf, laughter and gorgeous weather. Big thanks to all of the participants, volunteers, hole sponsors and raffle donors! We couldn't have done it without you! |
But November was also reserved for somber reflection. We participated in the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance held at Palm Springs City Hall. We heard too many names of those murdered or who committed suicide in the last year. We stand with our trans brothers and sisters. |
December brought another art event at the Nancy Worthington-Fein private museum for the Desert Movement Arts, proudly sponsored by The L-Fund. It was an afternoon of beautiful movement and music improvisation. Delicious food was provided by chef Betty Berrysmith, one of the founders of The L-Fund. |
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We are kicking off the year with laughter and starlight! We hope you can join us for one of our fun upcoming festivities. Please note that proof of vaccination is required at all The L-Fund events.
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We are looking forward to this sure to be FUN Lez Out Loud event on February 9th at the Runway in Cathedral City! It’s a Valentine’s edition so bring your sweetheart or come find one if you’re single! A portion of the door proceeds and bar proceeds will benefit The L-Fund.
Tickets are on sale now, available at Eventbrite here or on the Runway website. Those not dining can mingle on the patio from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Reserved Dinner Seating is at 5:30 p.m. and General Admission is at 6:00 p.m. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. You can purchase tickets at the door (if any are available) but there is no guarantee that you will get in so we highly suggest you get your tickets now.
Proof of vaccination is required and will be checked at the door. Please wear your mask when not eating and drinking. Let’s keep each other safe!
Drink! Eat! Laugh! Support The L-Fund! A BIG THANK YOU to Mina, Lin and Shelley.
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We're excited to invite you to join our Starlight Soiree, which replaces our annual Gala this year in an effort to create a more COVID-friendly smaller event limited to 100 tickets. Don't miss out...purchase your tickets here!
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Mary Ann Tripodi to Receive the Bobreta Franklin Community Service Award
Bobreta Franklin (deceased 2013) was an African-American Lesbian Feminist who in April 2012 became one of the co-founders of The L-Fund. She spent her life in love and service to her communities. The L-Fund proudly honors her memory by offering this award to lesbians whose lives and work have been similarly dedicated to the lesbian community.
We believe that Mary Ann Tripodi embodies the spirit of Bobreta. Here is a little bit about her. She is an Ohio native and a graduate of Kent State University where she received her Bachelor of Science, Master of Education, and finished all the course and seminar work for her Ph.D. Mary Ann taught and coached at the high school level and college level before being hired at the University of Akron where she started the Women's Athletic Program. There she coached women's volleyball and basketball and was an Assistant Professor of Physical Education. She then became Assistant Athletics Director before being hired as Director of Athletic Operations and NCAA compliance officer at California State University, Fullerton. In 1994, she became the first full-time Director of NCAA compliance at Long Beach State University and eventually Associate Athletics Director for compliance. Mary Ann retired in July 2010 and moved to the desert in 2012 where she is currently a bartender-server at Monterey Country Club.
In 2013, Mary Ann learned about The L-Fund from her late partner Maria Andrade, who served on The L-Fund Board of Directors. Mary Ann has since become an active member of The L-Fund herself.
Mary Ann is also a member of The Women’s Company and a much-beloved leader in our community. You will see Mary Ann everywhere – whether she is helping put on an event, attending an event or volunteering at an event – she is there!
In 2013, she initially started an email list with just 15 names on it designed to connect lesbians with local events happening in the desert. This newsletter now connects over 450 people and is an important resource for our community!
The L-Fund is excited to recognize all that she has accomplished throughout her career and is proud to announce that she will be the recipient of the 2022 Bobreta Franklin Community Service Award at our Starlight Soiree event on March 26, 2022. Buy tickets here.
Thank you, dear Mary Ann!!
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The L-Fund is thrilled to announce a special working relationship with community leader Kim Kieler — who many of you will know from her local group hikes, recent cookie exchanges, and her beautiful newsletter!
Here a special message from Kim:
"2021 has been a road with many twists and turns, but I am delighted the road at year-end brings me to working together with The L-Fund, an organization that I greatly admire and respect. My focus will be on organizing small gatherings and outings. These include hikes, walks, zoom chats, and various meetups and outings as COVID allows. I also send a weekly newsletter with updates of our gatherings and other happenings in the Coachella Valley. I encourage women to get involved in organizing activities for lesbians; I welcome ideas and help. We know our needs and our strengths as individuals and that community is tied to our connections with one another. Let’s have fun, challenge ourselves and enrich the strands between us. We are at our best when we care for each other and have each other’s backs.”
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The L-Fund welcomes four new Board members to our family of strong women leaders: Sol Accinelli, Christine (Chris) Hunter, Barbara Ortega, and Marnie Tenden.
Why were they moved to apply for the Board?
- Sol states, “I believe the work you do of providing financial support, particularly in this time of crisis, is of great importance and I’d be proud to get involved to help you fulfill your mission in whichever way I can.”
- Chris writes, “I wish to help our community in activities that bring us together for friendship and purpose; and believe The L-Fund to be a wonderful vehicle to accomplish this.”
- Barbara says, “I am retired so at this juncture in life I enjoy living a philanthropic life.”
- Marnie told us, “I love to be elbow to elbow with brilliant people working to come up with winning and successful solutions. This board seems to excel at that”.
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The L-Fund board has recently focused on doing outreach to local cities and other organizations to ensure that we are listed as a resource for local lesbians.
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The L-Fund became a member of the Desert Interfaith Council. Their core values and our core values are intertwined: recognizing the sanctity and inherent dignity of humans and giving of oneself generously to others in order to provide them a decent standard of living. |
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We have also reached out to the cities that make up the Coachella Valley so that they are aware of what The L-Fund has to offer and to get added to any resource list on each individual city’s website. |
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In addition, we are reaching out to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Coachella Valley to also ensure they are aware of our services and how we can be a resource to Hispanic lesbians in our desert. |
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And Dr. Jan Alden, Board Member and Treasurer of The L-Fund, was recently interviewed by The Desert Sun to discuss our non-profit organization. It is a terrific article and you can read it here!
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All Gay, All the Time: New Media Sponsorship |
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The L-Fund is proud to announce KGAY as our official media sponsor!
This sponsorship is the result of our collaboration with Brad Fuhr, the Owner and CEO of KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs and the Publisher/CEO of the Gay Desert Guide. As of December 31, 2021, KGAY is now LGBTQ+ owned and operated and was voted the best radio station in the Coachella Valley.
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Co-Founder Sharon Siegel Steps Down
from The L-Fund Board of Directors
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Dr. Sharon Siegel and three close friends recalled together, periods of time when they had no money and no family support. That suffering created powerful memories. These women became co-founders of The L-Fund in order to “be there” for lesbian sisters facing crises. They each put $20 in a basket at monthly meetings. When they had $120 in the kitty, they had a request for $120 to purchase life-saving medicine. It was then they knew they had to offer more.
Sharon felt honored to co-create all of The L-Fund events from 2012 through 2021, starting with a Gumbo Gala that morphed into truly professional galas.
She served as a chair, co-chair and a member of numerous committees. Sharon also created and designed The L-Fund Legacy Circle for posthumous giving, helped to create the original Mission Statement, and wrote the second edition of the Policies and Procedures Manual.
On the personal side, Siegel is a feminist psychotherapist with a private practice in Palm Springs. Fluently bilingual and biliteral in Spanish, she worked in South Central Los Angeles for nineteen years. She simultaneously had a West Hollywood psychotherapy practice for over thirty years.
Siegel is also proud of her life’s work, which includes being a founder or cofounder of numerous activist programs, including non-violent direct actions and establishing a (home) stop on the Underground Railroad for Vietnam War AWOLs.
The L-Fund cannot thank Sharon enough for her dedication, passion and commitment of over 10 years. She may no longer be on the Board but we know she will continue to support the life saving and life affirming work The L-Fund does.
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Gwen Kibbe, an Active Community Volunteer
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Gwen joined The L-Fund in November of 2020 serving as the Board’s Secretary.
Gwen was born in New York before moving with her family to Southern California at age 7. She grew up in Southern California before moving to the Bay Area where she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.
After graduating, she went on to work in operations for major corporations. Her jobs took her to Wisconsin and then Indiana for 15 years.
In her free time in the Midwest, she served on LGBTQ+ boards and volunteered for several organizations. After 15 years of snowy states, Gwen moved back to sunny southern California. She then retired and moved to Palm Springs in 2018 with her two cats.
Since arriving in Palm Springs, Gwen has immersed herself into our community donating her time and talents. She volunteers at a local botanical garden, the CV Repertory and at numerous local events. She loves hiking, walking, travel, playing pickle ball and reading.
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Be safe. Be well.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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