***

Even though she had a busy schedule Bette made time to volunteer several hours in the evenings and on weekends to help with the fund-raising event for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center that took place in early November. She and Alice worked their charm to get a popular TV personality to volunteer his time to be the MC at the event for 4 of the 12 hours. Bette had told him that she was asking for his presence at the event as an act of kindness towards her partner and to show Tina her support.

His surprise appearance drew a larger crowd and he encouraged people to be more generous in their giving which helped Tina and Jamie to exceed their fund-raising goal. When his time was up he asked Tina to come up on stage and he handed her an envelope. It contained a check to match the donations made within those four hours and in the memo he had written Act VIII. The fund-raiser became an annual event at the Planet and the TV Personality donated time and money each year to the cause.

***

Bette contacted 50 people and asked if they would make a donation to one of Tina’s favorite children’s charities on her behalf. She told them they would be participating in a random act of kindness while their money was going to a very worthwhile cause. They each received a stamped self-addressed white postcard with the words Act IX embossed on the front right hand corner. On the back was the name of the charity and a space for the donor to fill in the amount.

They were instructed to mail the card to Tina once the donation was made. Tina received the original 50 cards and 150 more random cards and notes with postmarks from all over the United States and Canada. The original 50 people took it upon themselves to ask others to participate. This caught on and after a while one of the donors created a secure website called Act IX and even more funds were raised online in Tina’s name for her favorite children’s charity.

***

Several times during the summer months when the temperatures were especially high, the WeHo Youth and Family Center would receive a random delivery of ice cream cups for the kids. When Tina would question who the delivery was from she would get the same answer: Act X.