Jay Allen Turned 65 and Invited Everyone to the Fun(d)!
Palm Springs philanthropist Jay Allen wanted to celebrate his 65th birthday by raising $65K for nonprofit organizations, including the LGBTQ Center of the Desert. He opened the Jay Allen 65th Birthday Fund with IECF and invited everyone to the party.
Jay retired from Charles Schwab in 2015 and moved to the desert in 2017. He says he fell in love with the desert because he feels retired, but the city never makes him feel old. Having fun with friends and family is important to him, but for his 65th birthday having a big party wasn't enough. He knew that he wanted to do something that would bring people together to have fun and would also have a positive impact.
Allen's birthday wish was to raise $65,000 to give to charity.
"Rather than being depressed about turning 65, I wanted to do something fun and useful," Allen said. "When my family gets together for reunions, we play family games. So, I thought, we'll just have a team competition."
On November 14, 2021 at the Saguaro Palm Springs Hotel, Allen hosted a party and team competition to support charities that are meaningful to him. For a donation of $1,500, teams of 5 to 8 people competed in various humorous competitions such as a water balloon toss and a dress-up relay. After 10 games with two heats, the winners picked which of Allen's chosen charities receive their winnings.
"Getting people together creates community and leverages your contributions so you can have a greater impact," Allen said. "By doing it this way, I was able to get people to contribute who might not otherwise."
Happily, the party raised well over $65,000 and supported four nonprofit organizations. The first is the LGBT Center of the Desert, which Allen chose because of their work to support the LGBT community in the Coachella Valley. This includes its community food bank and low-cost behavioral health clinic. The organization logs over 65,000 visits annually and serves people of all ages, connecting them to resources, helping to end isolation, and enriching the individual and community experience.
Allen's celebration also supported Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people who face persecution in their country based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The organization has helped over 1,600 individuals with emergency relocation and other forms of assistance.
Allen chose KIND (Kids In Need of Defense) to be a beneficiary for its work to address the needs of unaccompanied migrant children. The organization offers legal services and social services while working with policymakers to advocate for the needs of these children.
The fourth organization is Creativity Explored, a San Francisco studio-based collective that works with developmentally disabled artists. The organization works with over 130 artists providing opportunities to share, sell and exhibit their art.
"All four organizations are really spending a lot of their time helping people at the margins of society," Allen said. "These four charities are making a difference in people's lives who have no one else to turn to."
Working with the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), Allen created a fund for the event and seeded it with an initial gift.
"This was lots of fun and a way to meet new people while making a difference," Allen said. "We made new friends and had a great time with old ones. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make my 65th birthday a celebration to remember.”