The L-Fund—a group that, as its motto says, empowers lesbians through philanthropy—will hold its annual gala fundraiser on Saturday, March 9, at the Margaritaville Resort.
The event is a crowd-pleaser, drawing celebrants from across the Coachella Valley and beyond to gather and party for a worthy cause. This year’s gala, with the theme “Luck Be a Lady,” culminates a banner year for the women-led nonprofit.
The L-Fund has been expanding its reach since 2012, when the five founders, initially just gathering socially, would chip in $20 each without a set plan or recipient in mind. What they knew was they wanted to help other lesbians. The L-Fund has grown considerably since; the 501(c)(3) has hit funding peaks unimaginable a decade ago.
“Last year, we gave out almost $100,000 in grants to queer women in emergency financial crises,” said board co-chair Mei Ling Tom.
This year’s gala is going big, too, with dinner and dancing in a casino-style setting, and live entertainment featuring a pop and soul revue. A focal point of the evening will be The L-Fund’s annual awards, which honor local luminaries for outstanding service to the LGBTQ+ community.
Local comedian Mina Hartong has been tapped as emcee, and special guest Imani Rupert-Gordon, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, will present the night’s most prestigious honor—the Bobreta Franklin Community Service Award.
Judy Dlugacz, the co-founder of Olivia Records and Olivia Travel, is this year’s recipient. The vacation program charters entire cruise ships, resorts, riverboats and land tours exclusively for lesbian and LGBTQ+ women. It boasts a huge repeat customer base and will celebrate 35 years in business in 2025. Gala attendees will get to bid on an Olivia cruise for two during a live auction. Dinner for six at Alice B. restaurant is another live-auction item, and there will be several silent auction items as well.
Palm Springs City Councilmember Grace Garner will present The L-Fund Visionary Award to Shann Carr and Sweet Baby J’ai.
A local community stalwart, comedian Shann Carr has logged countless local volunteer hours. She is being honored for “lend(ing) a helping hand to so many organizations in Palm Springs, always with the goal of connecting people through positive experiences full of love,” Tom said in a text statement.
Sweet Baby J’ai is being honored for her commitment to elevating jazz and musicianship throughout the region. J’ai is an accomplished contemporary-jazz singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and playwright, known throughout the Coachella Valley for stellar entertainment events and a focus on philanthropy. She’s a co-founder of the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival, and executive director of production company Sweet Baby J’ai Presents.
Her expertise will be on full display at the gala: J’ai is curating the live show, with help from L-Fund co-chair Christine Hunter. The “Soulful Sirens” revue will feature The Voice contestant Marisa Corvo and an all-women’s sextet replete with brass and reeds. Spoken-word artist Be Steadwell rounds out the bill.
As co-directors of The L-Fund, Hunter and Tom said they take pride in the fact that their seven-member board of directors works on a fully volunteer-basis. No one gets a salary, although Tom said they may need to hire staff in the future.
The L-Fund has been able to fund new programs and expand the base of women it can help, with three new grant programs developed over the past six years. In addition to the original Lesbians in Need (LIN) grant, women can now submit applications for education needs, medical emergencies and artistic endeavors. Grants were once confined to Coachella Valley residents, but in recent years, queer women from Yucca Valley, Idyllwild and Hemet have been recipients.
Applications for all four grants are accepted on a rolling basis. After screening for eligibility criteria, they are considered on a case-by-case basis by the board.
After the gala, The L-Fund’s next event will be the Women’s Health and Wellness Expo, in partnership with Eisenhower Health. The health fair is a first for The L-Fund and will take place in May at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences on the Eisenhower campus in Rancho Mirage. (Eisenhower Health is also the gala’s lead sponsor.) The L-Fund also sponsors an annual golf tournament in November.
Tom said more sponsors are coming on all the time, and every donation or ticket sold helps the organization stay committed to its goal of helping women when an emergency knocks them off their feet.
“Something happens in your life, and now you need some help,” said Tom. “And once we help you, if it’s approved, then you’re back on your feet, living life.”
The L-Fund’s “Luck Be a Lady” Gala takes place from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, March 9, at the Margaritaville Resort, 1600 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets start at $225. For tickets or more information, visit l-fund.org.