Mark your calendars now! The 2024 USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Scholarship Benefit will be held Saturday, April 6, at The Maybourne Beverly Hills beginning at 2:00pm. Join us to celebrate our legacy at USC and recognize the achievements and service of extraordinary LGBTQ+ Trojans.
The event will feature a live jazz ensemble and a special gourmet meal prepared by executive chef Shaun Anthony. As for this year’s dress code… “Chic Garden Attire with a Flair”!
2024 Honorees
Congratulations to this year’s honorees!
2024 Trailblazer Award Honoree
David C. Bohnett ’78
(he/him/his)
Member, USC Board of Trustees
Chair, David Bohnett Foundation
Social Activist and Philanthropist
2024 Outstanding Scholar
Carla Ibarra
(she/her/they)
MPH, Keck School of Medicine of USC
2024 Community Ally Award
USC LGBTQ+ Student Center
Sponsorship Opportunities, Tickets and Ads
Presenting Sponsor – $25,000 (1 available)
- Sponsor listed as “Presenting or Presented by…” on all event collateral, including, but not limited to, digital invitations, digital program book, website, etc.
- Premier seating for up to twenty (20) guests
- Tableside champagne toast to you and your guests
- One (1) complimentary hotel room the night of the event
- One (1) valet parking space
- Podium recognition
- Featured story in USC Lambda e-newsletter
- Promotion on USC Lambda social media platforms, including company logo, before and after the event
- Linked logo on USC Lambda website
- Four (4) VIP tickets to USC Lambda Pride+ Equity Summit and Reception in June 2024
- Full-color spread (2-pages) in digital program book
- Recognition in digital presentation during the event
- Product placement opportunity
- Four (4) sponsored USC Lambda Scholar student tickets to event
Platinum Sponsor – $20,000 (3 available)
- Premier seating for up to fifteen (15) guests
- Tableside champagne toast to you and your guests
- One (1) valet parking space
- Podium recognition
- Story inclusion in USC Lambda e-newsletter
- Linked logo on USC Lambda website
- Full-color spread (2-pages) in digital program book
- Recognition in digital presentation during the event
- Premier recognition on select event collateral including, but not limited to, digital program book, website, etc.
- Three (3) VIP tickets to USC Lambda Pride+ Equity Summit and Reception in June 2024
- Two (2) sponsored USC Lambda Scholar student tickets to event
Gold Sponsor – $15,000
- Premier seating for up to ten (10) guests
- One (1) valet parking space
- Podium recognition
- One (1) full-page color ad in the digital program book, premier placement
- Recognition in digital presentation during the event
- Recognition on select event collateral including, but not limited to, digital program book, website, etc.
- Linked logo on USC Lambda website
- Two (2) VIP tickets to USC Lambda Pride+ Equity Summit and Reception in June 2024
- One (1) sponsored USC Lambda Scholar student ticket to event
Trojan Sponsor – $10,000
- Preferred seating for up to eight (8) guests
- One (1) valet parking space
- Podium recognition
- One (1) full-page color ad in the digital program book
- Recognition in digital presentation during the event
- Recognition on select event collateral including, but not limited to, program book, website, etc.
- Linked logo on USC Lambda website
Pride Sponsor – $7,500
- Seating for six (6) guests
- One (1) valet parking space
- One (1) full-page color ad in the digital program book
- Recognition in digital presentation during the event
- Recognition on select event collateral including, but not limited to, program book, website, etc.
- Linked logo on USC Lambda website
Other Sponsorship and Underwriting Opportunities
- AV: $21,000
- Bar: (1) $30,000 sponsor OR (2) $15,000 sponsors
- Entertainment: $3,000
- Florals: $7,500
- Photographer: $1,200
- Step-and-Repeat: $3,500
- Valet: $4,000
Sponsorship deadline: Thursday, March 28, 2024.
(Please note that any sponsorships purchased after Monday, March 25 will not include digital program book ads.)
Tickets
Individual Tickets: $300
$350 after March 5
Pair of Tickets: $550
$650 after March 5
Ticket purchase deadline: Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Commemorative Digital Program Book Tribute Ads
Full-Page Color Ad: $1,500
Half-Page Color Ad: $1,000
Digital ad submission deadline: Friday, March 22, 2024.
About
Since 2000, the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association has honored members or advocates of the LGBTQ+ community for their service in advancing USC Lambda’s mission, serving as role models, and heightening the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community at large.
Our 31st annual Scholarship Benefit Garden Affair will raise funds for scholarships to deserving USC students who demonstrate a commitment to Lambda’s mission of strengthening the LGBTQ+ community. At the benefit, we will also recognize distinguished alumni and an exceptional scholar for their outstanding merit, service, academic achievement and/or scholarly work.
Scholarship Benefit Co-Chairs
Peter Barth ’07
Chief of Staff and Strategy, Blue Shield of California Foundation
Kristen Kavanaugh MSW ’12
Founder, The Agency Initiative
Past Honorees
2023 Honorees
Legacy Award
Donald Gabard MS ’78, MPA ’88, PhD ’90 (he/him/his)
Founder and Former President, USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association
Trailblazer Award
Alexandra Billings (she/her/hers)
Actress, Singer, Author, Activist and Assistant Professor of Acting, USC School of Dramatic Arts
Community Ally Award
Danielle E. Harvey ’00, ML ’19 (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations
Outstanding Scholar Award
Lucille Warren ’22 (she/her/hers)
Student, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
2022 Honorees
We proudly salute the 2022 honorees of the USC Lambda Alumni Association Recognition Awards (LAARA).
LAARA for Merit
Kristen Kavanaugh MSW ’12
Founder, The Agency Initiative
LAARA for Service
Bridgette Austin MBV ’19
CEO of B. Austin Consulting, LLC
LAARA for Staff
Lindsey Morrison MHA ’16
Process Architect for Keck Medicine of USC
LAARA for Outstanding Scholar
Justin Kawaguchi ’21
Graduate Student, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Previous LAARA Recipients:
- Sheila Kuehl
- Thomas Becktold ’87
- David C. Bohnett ’78
- John Heilman MPA ’07, JD ’82, MRED ’09
- Tina Mabry MFA ’05
- Carole Migden
- David Mixner
- Stephen Soucy MPW ’00
- Lily Tomlin
- Nancy Warner