Liberty Hill Foundation’s annual Upton Sinclair Dinner

Liberty Hill Foundation’s annual Upton Sinclair Dinner celebrates and honors community leaders at the frontlines of change in Los Angeles.

This year’s fundraising gala, taking place on May 11, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton will be no exception.  Liberty Hill expects more than 600 friends, supporters, and allies to join in celebration of their 2011 honorees. All proceeds will support Liberty Hill’s mission of change, not charity.

The recipient of the Founders Award, given for unwavering philanthropic support of social justice issues, will be Gary Stewart, a donor activist whose influence on organizations, businesses and individuals has sparked many towards a lens of social justice activism.  Gary has become a much-beloved organizer of resources for the movement.  Social change wins such as living wages, renters’ rights, immigrants’ rights and the expansion of college prerequisite courses in low-income neighborhood high schools have all been made possible by Gary’s willingness to roll up his sleeves and provide leadership, money and his own networks to help make it happen. On the business side Gary is one of the most respected and loved music industry executives in Los Angeles. For many years Gary was the Senior Vice President of A&R for pioneering collectors label Rhino Records where he oversaw development of many groundbreaking and award winning compilation albums and box sets while changing the face of reissues marketing. He is currently a respected member of the catalog development team at iTunes, making him one of the most influential people in the modern music business.

Margarita Ramirez will receive the Wally Marks Changemaker Award. Margarita’s 30 years of service with Liberty Hill have made a significant mark on Los Angeles thanks to her support and advocacy for some of the strongest and sharpest organizing sectors in the country.  First affiliated with Liberty Hill in 1980 as a member of Liberty Hill’s Community Funding Board, and then joining the staff in 1981, Margarita’s exceptional leadership has helped shepherd social change across Los Angeles County.  

The Upton Sinclair award is given annually to a person whose life-long crusade for equality and justice inspires us even today. This year’s recipient Tim Gill is honored for his vision, passion and leadership in helping to create and continuing to inspire the modern day LGBT donor movement.  Through his personal philanthropy, the founding of the Gill Foundation and grant-making programs like The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado and OutGiving, as well as the creation of Gill Action and Political OutGiving, Tim has mobilized thousands of individuals giving millions of charitable and political dollars that have increased the legal protections for millions across the country and improved the lives of Coloradans.

For information on sponsorship and tickets please visit www.libertyhill.org/dinner or call Kristin Aldana-Taday at 310-453-3611.  

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About Liberty Hill

Liberty Hill is first to identify community leaders at the frontlines of change. We invest in changemakers and equip them with the skills and relationships they need to build power and advance social justice.  After more than 30 years, Liberty Hill is uniquely positioned to bring together forces for change and forge a common agenda for equality and opportunity in Los Angeles. Liberty Hill:  Change. Not charity.