More than 200 people are expected Sunday for Spring Fling, an annual fundraiser that benefits the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative and Fourth Tuesday.
And green seems to the theme, from the setting — the gardens of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center — to the bio-degradable cups and plates. The evening includes live music, dancing, dining, casino games and fortune telling.
In a tough economy, the funds raised at the event — organizers hope to reach $5,000 — are even more critical to the operations of ALHI and Fourth Tuesday, according to Linda Ellis (photo left), ALHI’s executive director.
“Our goal is to help women live better and healthier lives in the communities in which they live,” Ellis says. “[Spring Fling offers] a gorgeous setting, good food and drink, great music and some fun at the gambling tables.”
Fourth Tuesday created Spring Fling to support community organizations. But since the two groups recently merged — this is the first Spring Fling since the collaboration — proceeds will benefit the development of Fourth Tuesday chapters as well as ALHI’s Lesbian Health Fund, Ellis says. Fourth Tuesday has nine chapter across Georgia while the 18-month old health fund is experiencing a 500 percent boost in calls for assistance.
“We’re currently averaging 10 calls a month and the needs associated with those calls are growing in intensity. We in the LGBT community are experiencing the effects of the current economic struggles, just like everyone else – and the calls to the health fund reflect that. The callers are out of work, some are homeless and facing a variety of health challenges in the midst of it all,” Ellis says.
As Fourth Tuesday chapters grow, Ellis says that will impact the health fund.
“This all comes around full circle for us, as the Fourth Tuesday chapters will help us get the word of the Health Fund out further into the community – and hopefully help us identify potential partnering clinics willing to make the commitment to lesbian supportive care,” she says.
View the full event listing on the new, interactive Project Q Atlanta community calendar. You can download events to your calendar, set up email and text reminders and be notified of any changes to event details. You can also submit your group’s event to be included in the calendar.
