DONOR PROFILE
LOCAL POLITICAL CONSULTANT INVESTS IN THE CENTER’S FUTURE
MAKING IT COUNT
VANGUARD | SPRING 2020
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• Center supporter and Circle of Life member Sue Burnside
rowing up as part of a Burnside’s consciousness when longtime youth and senior services in a unified setmiddle-class family in Palm Center board member LuAnn Boylan ting across nearly one full city block. “The Culinary Arts program on the Springs, Sue Burnside recalls that started inviting her to the Center’s Annithe only money which her family ever gave versary Gala Vanguard Awards and other Campus is just amazing,” she said. “It helps the Center feed everyone and gives youth events. away was at church. “At first, it didn’t move me at all. But and seniors a chance to train for a culinary “Other philanthropy wasn’t part of my the next year, LuAnn invited me again and career.” reality,” she said. A graduate of the University of SouthBurnside—a national political grass- then again the next year after that,” she roots consultant who has helped LGBT recalled. “I knew what an impact she had ern California, Burnside is president of candidates get elected to statewide and made on me when I found myself bidding Burnside & Associates, which worked on local office, including Los Angeles Coun- $6,000 for a Hollywood Bowl package successful congressional campaigns for Janice Hahn, Joe Baca, ty Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles that even included cusJane Harman, and Lois School Board Member Jackie Goldberg, tom-fitted sunglasses. Capps as well as the and former Los Angeles Board of Educa- I outbid everyone and I really want to make presidential campaigns tion member Jeff Horton—has come a long won!” of John Kerry and Al Burnside added: sure that the Center way in her attitude about giving. Several Gore, among others. years ago she decided to include the Los “Even though I didn’t In addition to being Angeles LGBT Center in her estate plan use the Center’s ser- will always be there a staunch supporter of vices, I realized what for people. through its Circle of Life program. the Center, Burnside is “You can’t take it with you, can you?” a valuable resource it co-chair of the Gay & she quipped. “But, you can leave money was and that it served Lesbian Victory Fund’s behind to make someone else’s life better so many people. The even if you aren’t here. It’s about leaving Center has been so incredible with its HIV Campaign Board and sits on the board of behind resources for people who have had and AIDS services—nearly every single Equality California. “The level of service the Center provides things go wrong or have no family in their gay kid in my high school class died from is really unbelievable from health care, selives other than their chosen family. They an AIDS-related complication.” Burnside has been especially impressed nior programs, and mental health to youth are looking for help, and the Center is there. I really want to make sure that the with the Center’s Anita May Rosenstein services and the culinary training program,” Campus, which opened last year. The she added. “There is not one segment of the Center will always be there for people.” Giving back gradually began entering Campus brings together a multitude of community that is missed.”
