Dear Supporters,

We are thrilled to invite you to be a part of The LIAM Foundation’s Fourth-Annual Gayla Fundraiser, a night dedicated to celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Illinois. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the stunning Union Event Space in Rockford, and we anticipate a turnout of over 200 guests from across our vibrant community.

Thanks to your support in past years, The LIAM Foundation has continued to grow, serve, and uplift LGBTQ+ individuals and families with care and intention. Your generosity has helped provide name change assistance, peer-led support groups, emergency housing aid, gender-affirming resources, and so much more. Together, we are creating a stronger, more inclusive Northern Illinois.

Our mission is to encourage, heal, and empower the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Illinois through Love, Integrity, Advocacy, and Mentorship. The Gayla is more than a fundraiser. It is a celebration of authenticity, resilience, and the transformative power of community care. This year’s theme, Celestial, invites us to reflect on the brilliance within each of us and how we shine even brighter together.

Guests will enjoy a delicious dinner, a lively Variety Show (audition link below), a silent auction, and a night of dancing and connection. It promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with purpose and joy.

We also invite you to consider becoming a sponsor for this year’s Gayla. Sponsorship packages offer unique opportunities to highlight your commitment to equity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ lives in our region. To learn more about sponsorship levels and benefits, please see the details below.

Thank you for your continued support. Your partnership helps us light the way forward for the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Illinois. We look forward to sharing this special night with you in October.

With gratitude,
Phyllis Gallisath
Executive Director
The LIAM Foundation

*Please complete this form to audition. Selected performers will be contacted with details about rehearsal and performance times. https://forms.gle/8Sbi7uzrJwJbkgwPA

LIAM Foundation Gayla Fundraiser 2025

A Night to Shine: Celebrating Queer Brilliance

Team Members