This Sunday, JQ International transformed Sinai Temple’s Barad Hall into a fabulous, joyous, and proud Sunday brunch, filled with friends and memories from across JQ’s history.
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath set the stage, bringing us back to 2004 – the year JQ was founded – through the organization’s many years of growth in West Hollywood, including when she served as the city’s mayor, through to today’s JQ – a robust direct-service agency with three core pillars of impact: community building, education & inclusion, and support & wellness.
“For two decades, JQ International has created an inclusive network of support for our LGBTQ+ Jewish community and allies. Their work is essential, particularly as LGBTQ+ young people navigate life’s stages,” said LA County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “Even the most supportive of parents can’t always have all the answers. Organizations like JQ International are essential in bridging the gap with support and care.”
Supervisor Horvath announced JQ’s selection to be included in a cohort of agencies all partaking in the LA vs Hate initiative this year. LA vs Hate is a community-centered system designed to support all residents and communities targeted by hate acts of all kinds in Los Angeles County.
Led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, LA vs Hate partners with community agencies from all five of the Board of Supervisors’ Districts, representing a diverse coalition of voices committed to both preventing and responding swiftly to incidents of hate.
If you witness a hate incident or hate crime, you should report it on LAvsHate.org or by calling 2-1-1. JQ is here, too – if you are in need of support, the JQ Helpline (888.574.4577) and our support groups are open to all regardless of religious practice, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or political affiliation.
Neil Spears, JQ’s Board Chair, presented our three awards to this year’s honorees. Allison Rosenthal received the JQ Allyship Award, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur received the JQ Leadership Award, and our very own Asher Gellis, founder and CEO, received the JQ Trailblazer Award.
With a standing ovation following each of their speeches, all three honorees were celebrated for their years of dedication to our community. We are also thrilled to share these tribute videos, which accompanied their speeches during the Impact Awards event:
We were honored to hear from JQSA Teen Advisory Board member and teen leader LJ Small. LJ shared his personal experience with JQ, how deeply it impacted his coming out process, his commitment to Judaism, and his opportunity to become a leader through JQ’s unique and queer-affirming teen programming.
Finally, JQ Board Chair Neil Spears shared a philanthropic matching opportunity which will allow JQ to grow into the next chapter: a capacity-scaling opportunity for operational development that will set a vision for JQ’s strategic growth for the coming years and greatly enhance JQ’s impact!
The matching opportunity, which started in September and runs for two years, allows JQ to magnify new or increased major gifts. Thanks to this challenge grant and our generous donors and sponsors, we have raised over $350,000 for the 2024 JQ Impact Awards!
If you would like to help propel JQ into the next phase of growth, it is not too late to add your name to the list above! Now is your last opportunity to contribute in honor of JQ’s 20th anniversary and our honorees – Allison Rosenthal, Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and Asher Gellis.
We are deeply grateful for a gift of any size from everyone in our community – please consider a gift that is personally meaningful for you, whether it’s $54, $180, $360 or $613,000 – your gift has the potential to be matched by our generous funder, magnifying your potential impact!
Once again, thank you to everyone for participating in our 20th anniversary celebration at the 2024 JQ Impact Awards!
