PALS - Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors
We are accepting sponsorships totaling $3750 ($75 per person for 50 participants) for a day's bus outing to Los Angeles on May 20 to visit the interactive video exhibit "Not Another Second" at the Watermark Retirement Community Westwood. The exhibit features LGBT seniors sharing their powerful stories that encourage individuals to live authentically now. We are inviting a diverse intergenerational group for meet, greet, and sharing; it will be a SAGE Table on wheels. For more information about the trip, please click the links above.— Thank you for being a Pal!
(*Note: contributions are not tax-deductible at this time because PALS is currently classified by the IRS as an "Unincorporated Association." PALS will report all expenditures on an annual basis and/or by request.)
For a closer look at PALS, read more:
Planning Ahead for LGBTQ+ Seniors (PALS) is a volunteer-led community initiative, based in greater Palm Springs, CA, to help LGBTQ+ adults and friends plan ahead before a health issue or other life-altering situation arises. By providing an array of no-cost seminars, workshops, special events and social activities each year since 2013, PALS has evolved into so much more than presenting useful information about financial, health, legal and end-of-life planning — PALS is where friendships blossom and difficult conversations about aging, care and loss happen without stigma and judgment.
PALS is also where we gather the community together to address the most difficult aspects of aging for LGBTQ+ seniors (and soon-to-be seniors) — many of whom are estranged from family, have no children, have lost a spouse, or are single and living alone. That is, the feelings of fear, isolation, and loneliness which became so much more palpable after Covid shut down the entire world in March 2020.
But even during a global pandemic, PALS didn’t stop or miss a beat in creating a community of people who look out for each other:
• We quickly pivoted from in-person programming to an all-virtual format by revamping PALS seminars, workshops and special events for Zoom.
• We did the same with the Death Café, so that members could continue having candid conversations aimed at demystifying death and dying while also making the most of their lives now.
• We created and launched a weekly PALS CAFÉ as a friendly place for LGBTQ Seniors (and future seniors) to meet every Wednesday and share life stories, talk about topics of mutual interest and support each other during this period of unchartered uncertainty.
Now, as we think about how PALS will continue doing all of what it does (and more) during next season and beyond, we realize we need to raise $2,000 annually to keep everything going. That’s why we’ve launched this first-ever GoFundMe campaign so that PALS will have enough funds to cover all the “behind the scenes” expenses, such as hosting and managing the PALS website, Zoom, MailChimp and social media platforms, hiring ASL interpreters when requested, and for print materials and related office supplies.
So be a PAL and contribute* what you can, knowing that all funds raised will help us continue creating a community that looks out for each other!
For information about PALS programs, upcoming calendar and more, visit http://palsinthedesert.com/.
