Press Release
August 19, 2011
ACTRESS AND AUTHOR JENNIFER BEALS TO ACCEPT MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION’S “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” AWARD FOR HER COMMITMENT TO ERASING HATE AT THE 10th ANNUAL “BEAR TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE”GALA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2011
“Jennifer has distinguished herself as a tremendous ally to the LGBT community with her highly visible support for equality,” said Judy Shepard, Co-Founder and President of the Board of Directors of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
DENVER – The Matthew Shepard Foundation this fall will honor a highly visible ally in the fight for equal rights, for her longstanding commitment to the equality and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons.
Actress Jennifer Beals, best known for her starring roles in Showtime’s “The L Word,” Fox TV’s “The Chicago Code,” and a Golden Globe-nominated turn in 1983’s hit film “Flashdance,” will receive the Foundation’s “Making a Difference” Award. She has been vocal in support of LGBT rights and was a Celebrity Grand Marshal at the 2006 San Francisco Pride Parade.
Jennifer Beals at GLAAD Awards ©L-Word.com
“I think after playing Bette Porter on the L Word for six years I felt like an honorary member of the community,” Beals said in remarks to a Chicago-area LGBT publication earlier this year.
In addition to the award presentation to Beals, the gala will also feature a keynote address by John Berry, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, who oversees the federal government’s civil service workforce and who is the highest ranking gay person in the present administration. Berry will discuss the current state of LGBT issues in the federal workforce and ongoing policy issues of concern to the community.
The award and speech are the centerpieces of the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s annual “Bear to Make a Difference” gala dinner and celebrity teddy-bear auction. The dinner, now in its 10th year, includes a 5:00 P.M. cocktail reception and a concurrent silent auction.
An after-dinner live auction of personalized and autographed celebrity teddy bears provides a critical fundraising component, which supports the foundation’s pro-diversity educational outreach to schools, colleges and corporations. This year’s offerings were contributed by Lady Gaga, Sharon Osbourne, Josh Groban, Bette Midler, Nicole Kidman, Celine Dion, the cast of ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey,’ Tim Gunn, and many other notable personalities.
Hosted by ABC7News Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson, the dinner also features a special welcome and remarks from Judy Shepard, co-founder and board president of the Foundation.
Tickets and more information are available online at www.MatthewShepard.org or via the foundation office, (303) 830-7400 xt.16
Advance-purchase prices are $150 per person through September 2nd and $175 per person thereafter.
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