SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
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THE HARVEY MILK/NMR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Student Scholarship Program was founded in 1979 by Nicole Murray Ramirez to assist San Diego area students achieve goals in vocational, technical or professional careers. Many recipients of the Scholarship have gone on to become lawyers, teachers and prominent business leaders, all able to contribute to the San Diego lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in ways that they could not have done otherwise.
The Imperial Court de San Diego is the trustee of the Student Scholarship Program and raises the funds needed for scholarships. The Scholarship Program includes special scholarships, such as the Mandy Schultz Scholarship, the Herb King Memorial Scholarship (San Diego LGBT Veterans Chapter), the Tawny Tann Scholarship, the Harvey Milk/Tom Homann Scholarship and more. Since its inception, the program has given over $185,000.
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THE BENJAMIN F. DILLINGHAM, III COMMUNITY GRANT
Established in July 2000, the Benjamin F. Dillingham III Community Grant has awarded over $75,000 in financial assistance and made a difference for many in our community. The Grant has provided financial assistance for medical expenses and burial expenses, including a 12-year-old boy whose family had no money to bury their son, a lesbian with no medical coverage who was fiercely attacked by a pit bull, and a 70-year-old man whose apartment was completely destroyed by fire. The Benjamin F. Dillingham III Community Grant has also made financial contributions to the LGBT Youth Center, Community AIDS Partnership, Gay Youth Alliance, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the Community Coalition of North County.
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THE TIJUANA AIDS FUND
For over twenty years, the Imperial Court has been a strong and constant supporter of the HIV/AIDS community of Tijuana, Mexico, under the leadership of Nicole Murray Ramirez. In the early years of the AIDS crisis, Nicole founded the San Diego AIDS Assistance Fund and Food Bank. He became aware of the extreme hardship of people living with HIV/AIDS in Tijuana and organized fundraisers with the Imperial Court playing a great part. As a then-appointed member of the San Diego County Regional Task Force on AIDS, Nicole sought strong support through then-Mayor Maureen O’Connor and her chief of staff Benjamin F. Dillingham, III. They even arranged for “body bags” to be donated to Tijuana because many people who had died from AIDS in Mexico were accorded a proper burial.
When the International Court System learned of the continuing dire situation in Tijuana, Chapter Courts also began raising funds for the Tijuana HIV/AIDS Community. To date, over $100,000 has been raised through the hard work of local volunteers and Courts in the Canada and the United States. This Fund not only provides financial assistance to various AIDS agencies in Tijuana, it has also donated medicine, body bags and other essential items including a new oven, refrigerator and heaters for the Tijuana AIDS Hospice.
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THE S.G. REICHEN TRANS ASSISTANCE FUND
The latest initiative to be added to the Imperial Court de San Diego's continuing programs, the TransAssistance Fund is designed to provide emergency funding under certain conditions for trans individuals in supervised medical care. The Fund was conceived and spearheaded by (then Board Member) Prince Royale Kaiden "Blue" Montana who recognized a need in the San Diego community to assist trans people.
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CENTER-ADMINISTERED FUNDS
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THE QUEEN EDDIE YOUTH FUND
The Queen Eddie Youth Fund was established by City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, Imperial Court Board Member Nathan Garcia and the Imperial Court de San Diego in conjunction with the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center.
Named in honor of LGBT community leader, army veteran, columnist and entertainer “Queen” Eddie Conlon, the fund provides assistance to San Diego youth, ages 13-18, for education-related expenses, books, supplies and clothing. Queen Eddie was a fixture in San Diego’s LGBT community for more than 30 years. A beloved entertainer, his performances benefited nearly every charity organization in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities. Queen Eddie particularly valued the younger members of the LGBT community and adamantly believed in their capacity to bring about change. His belief in the power of knowledge and education is the basis for this scholarship fund.
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TONI ATKINS LESBIAN HEALTH FUND
The Fund, further proof of the ICSD’s commitment to lesbian health issues, was started as the Lesbian Health Project in the early 1990s by Toni Atkins, a former member of the San Diego City Council, San Diego’s Deputy Mayor and current State Assemblymember. The Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund was established and is jointly administered by the Imperial Court de San Diego and The Center to assist low-income and uninsured lesbians and bisexual women in accessing necessary health care resources.
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ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DRIVES
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COMMUNITY CHILDRENS' EASTER EGG HUNT
Founded in 2003 by City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez and Linda Childers, the Easter Egg Hunt is an annual event where children and parents of LGBT community and other families come together for a day of fun in the park. During the first year, over 125 children attended with their families. Since its inception, up to 600 children and their families have come to Trolley Barn Park for the event, each taking home an Easter Basket full of goodies, stuffed animals, toys and even bikes and wagons, all donated by businesses, friends and families of the LGBT community.
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SCOTT CARLSON THANKSGIVING DINNER
The Thanksgiving Community Dinner was started by HIV/AIDS activist Scott Carlson back in the early ‘80s to provide a communal gathering for people living with HIV/AIDS during Thanksgiving to share a meal and spend time with people who cared. When Carlson passed away, the community banded together and continued this tradition. Former Empress and City Commissioner Julia “Jhigs” Legaspi dedicated herself every year to make sure that the Court provided substantial financial and volunteer support to ensure that the dinner is always a festive and memorable affair. In 2004, the Imperial Court, along with the First Unitarian Universalist Church, took over the lead role of securing the continuation of this wonderful tradition and named the event as the Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Community Dinner in his Carlson’s honor.
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THE WINTER BLANKET DRIVE
The annual Winter Blanket Drive was started many years ago after a new report that many deaths among young children and elderly people in Tijuana were directly attributed to the cold winter months. Currently, the blanket drive also distributes donated blankets not only in Mexico but also to homeless and veteran shelters in the San Diego area.
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THE "TOYS FOR KIDS" DRIVE
The Imperial Court’s annual Toys for Kids drive, the oldest holiday toy drive of the LGBT community, was established in 1974 after the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation refused to accept donations from the homosexual community. From the time of its inception, the Toys for Kids program has brought holiday cheer to thousands of children throughout San Diego County and Mexico.
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