By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/2/24 – The L-Fund has announced the recipients of its 2024 awards, set to be celebrated at it annual gala event, “Luck Be A Lady,” which will be held at the Margaritaville Resort in Palm Spring on March 9, 2024.
The evening will feature special guest Imani Rupert-Gordon, the Executive Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and a drawing for an Olivia cruise.
Three remarkable women will be honored at the annual affair. Judy Dlugacz will receive Bobreta Franklin Community Service Award, and Shann Carr and Sweet Babu J’ai will each be honored with the L-Fund Visionaries award.
Over the past 40 years, Dlugacz has helped achieve groundbreaking victories for the LGBTQ+ community that have enabled lesbians and LGBTQ+ women throughout the world to live in freedom. She is one of the founders of women’s music company Olivia Records, which grew to become one of the industry’s leading independent labels.
Olivia produced 40 albums and sold more than one million records by artists such as Cris Williamson, Meg Christian, Teresa Trull and Linda Tillery, and Dlugacz produced hundreds of women’s music concerts and events, including four sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall.
In 1990, she combined two of her passions – music and travel – and co-founded Olivia Travel. Over the past 33 years, Olivia has taken 350,000 women on more than 350 vacations, entertaining them with legends and new talent from within the community – creating visibility, connections, and safe spaces for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women throughout the world
Carr has performed exclusively queer comedy headlining on over 100 gay cruises and thousands of queer conventions, programs and celebrations around the world for 40 years. Shann has written for multiple publications, produces films, live events, festivals, and home tours for Modernism Week PS, all while being voted CV Independent’s Best Realtor 2020-23.
In all these endeavors Shann keeps the queer community front and center. Shann is an engaging community activist and uses her humor with intention to connect people. She has worked with Cinema Diverse Film Festival for over 15 years and has done service with virtually every nonprofit LGBTQ organization in the valley. In addition to having her hands in every queer charitable endeavor, you will leave her comedy show really laughing and liking her.
The L-Fund has benefited from Shann’s many talents over the years. She currently helps with The Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts and assists in vetting applicants.
For over three decades, Sweet Baby J’ai has made a profound impact on the LGBTQ+ community through music and education. Co-founding and directing esteemed festivals like the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival and Sunset Music Fest, she now spearheads Sweet Baby J’ai Presents Music & Comedy Fest.
Her dedication to empowering women is evident through the Women in Jazz All-Stars lineup, honoring their contributions. “It’s important for the world to see a women-of-color-lesbian-run company as one of the premiere festivals,” she emphasizes. Beyond event production, Sweet Baby J’ai is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, actress, and US Jazz Ambassador, vital in spreading jazz traditions globally.
Honored with the Living Jazz Legend Award, induction into the California Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame, and prestigious awards like the HRC and BOD Legacy awards, J’ai has made a lasting impact.
The evening also will feature an incredible entertainment lineup, casino gaming, where you can win free raffle tickets for prizes, a silent auction, and a delicious dinner with complimentary wine.
Tickets for the evening are available on The L-Fund website or at this special link: https://one.bidpal.net/lfundgala2024/. The same link also provides information on Gala sponsorship and Gala screen ad opportunities