San Diego Kings and Queens will host a tournament-style poker fundraiser at Bamboo Lounge on April 13, at 6:30 p.m. The group will contribute a 100 percent of donations (above the state’s registration fee) to local nonprofit organizations. The April event will benefit Camp Laurel Foundation. The Bamboo Lounge is located at 1475 University Ave. in Hillcrest. For more information, e-mail sdpokerkingsqueens@gmail.com.

San Diego LGBT Pride will conduct several parade workshops at the LGBT Community Center that address everything from creative planning and float-building to parade placement, parking issues and a new staging system designed to prevent gaps in the mile-long procession. This year’s 36th annual Pride parade kicks off at 11 a.m., July 17, from University Avenue at Normal Street.

The series begins with two general-information brainstorming sessions, from 11 a.m. to noon, April 17; and from 6 to 7 p.m., April 27. It continues in May with separate float-building workshops that will provide parade participants with resourceful information on obtaining affordable design materials and motorized options. Those are scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m., May 15; and from 6 to 7 p.m., June 17.

About a month prior to the parade, participants will be required to attend one of two briefing sessions that will focus on parking issues, contingent lineups and other staging area logistics. The briefings will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, June 19; and from 6 to 7 p.m., June 29.

“The June briefings will ensure that participants are given easy access to their staging areas and that the parade runs smoothly without any gaps, confusion or malfunctions,” says Pride Events Coordinator Jennifer Turner Minotti.

The parade is expected to draw more than 160,000 spectators and participants. It will be immediately followed by a two-day festival at Marston Point in Balboa Park, July 17 and 18.

Volunteer opportunities are available in a number of different areas, including medical and safety, ticket sales, setup and breakdown, beer gardens and more. Signups can be made on the Pride web site: www.SanDiegoPride.org.

For additional information, call the Pride office at 619-297-7683 or visit the Web site.

Less than a month after announcing his candidacy for San Diego County Supervisor, Stephen Whitburn today announced endorsements from the San Diego Democratic Club, the Stonewall Young Democrats, and California State Senator Mark Leno. These prominent LGBT endorsements come in addition to prior support from State Senator Christine Kehoe and former City Councilmember and Acting Mayor Toni Atkins.

“As a gay man, I am honored to know that the LGBT community is supporting my campaign,” said Whitburn. “I look forward to ensuring that County government treats all San Diegans equally.”

The San Diego Democratic Club and Stonewall Young Democrats are chapters of the National Stonewall Democrats, the “National Voice of LGBT Democrats.” They are committed to equal human rights for the GLBT community. Whitburn was president of the San Diego Democratic Club from 2004-2007 and helped to start Stonewall Young Democrats during that time.

State Senator Leno is a long time legislator with strong ties to the GLBT community. He was a sponsor of the legislation establishing Harvey Milk Day in California, and cosponsored legislative attempts to allow same-sex marriage in California prior to Proposition 8.

“Senator Leno’s interest and support demonstrates that the need for more diversity in San Diego government is understood throughout California,” said Whitburn.

If elected, Whitburn will be the first San Diego County Supervisor from the GLBT community.

“Our county government has the major responsibility for funding HIV/AIDS programs and other health and social services,” said Whitburn. “I look forward to being a strong voice for increasing the county’s attention to these areas.”

The announcement of the latest GLBT endorsements comes after Whitburn’s successful campaign kick-off last weekend.

“Our campaign is already getting into high gear, and I am looking forward to listening to the concerns of San Diego voters,” said Whitburn.

Whitburn, a Democrat, is challenging Republican Ron Roberts in a district that has a 2-to-1 Democratic registration advantage. Roberts and the four other incumbent supervisors are all Republicans and have all held their seats for more than 15 years.

First United Methodist Church of San Diego will host Strategies for Successful Aging at On Saturday April 10 at 9:15 a.m. Learn to navigate life transitions during workshop. Topics include managing care, preventing fall-related injuries, aging-in-place home modifications, more. Admission is free but reservation is required. To reverse a seat, call 619-297-4366. First United Methodist Church of San Diego is located at 2111 Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley. For more information, visit www.fumcsd.org.

The Greater San Diego Business Association is asking people to help recognize and honor business and community leaders by nominating those who best exemplify the values and business success for which GSDBA stands.

Categories include:

• GSDBA Business of the Year

• GSDBA Emerging Business of the Year

• Nonprofit Organization of the Year

• Corporate Partner of the Year

• Community Leader of the Year

• Corporate Diversity Leader of the Year (new category)

To nominate your favorite businesses and community leaders, visit http://alturl.com/3puk.

These awards will be presented at the GSDBA’s Annual Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Friday, June 25, 2010.

In addition to being honored at the June event the winning businesses and individuals will be spotlighted in print and online. They will also be pictured in a special section in the front of the 2011 GSDBA Directory. Tickets start at $75 and will be available online soon.

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is located at 1380 Harbor Island Dr. in San Diego. For more information, visit http://www.gsdba.org/.

Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has won a national online competition sponsored by natural toothpaste company Tom’s of Maine. The $20,000 prize will be used to assist low income and uninsured people receive dental care at one of FHCSD’s clinics.

Tom’s of Maine invited community dental clinics to submit proposals for how they could use $20,000 to help their patients access dental care. Twenty finalists were chosen from among the applicants. Each of the twenty created a video about their program which was posted on the Tom’s of Maine Web site. The public was invited to vote for who should receive the prize. The FHCSD’s video can be viewed at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/video-catalog/video-detail.aspx?id=27.

Sixty percent of the patients who come to one of FHCSD’s dental clinics have no insurance, said Director of FHCSD Dental Programs Ibrahim Sawaya. “Even with our sliding scale fee system and payment plans to make dental care as affordable as possible, a small fee is sometimes out of reach for our patients. The $20,000 prize from Tom’s of Maine will put a smile back on the faces of many of our patients.”

The elimination of adult dental care from the state-funded Medi-Cal program in 2009 made it even more difficult for low income patients to pay for dental care. More than 70 percent of FHCSD’s patients live at or below the federal poverty level – less than $22,000 per year for a family of four.

Last year, FHCSD dental clinics performed 35,237 cleanings and procedures. FHCSD dental clinics are located in Spring Valley, Barrio Logan and North Park. Those needing dental care can call 619-515-2300 for more information or an appointment.

Family Health Centers of San Diego is a non profit family of community clinics that provides quality, affordable medical, dental, and mental health care to all, with a particular focus on low income and uninsured patients.