Board of Directors
Directors At Large
Judy Ames
Nancy Corporon
Jordan Francisco
Kathy Hennig
Harvey Zuckman
Doug Litwin has served as Secretary of the Jon Sims Endowment Fund Board from 2003 to 2023, when he assumed the role of President. He has also served for 20+ years on the Boards of the San Francisco Pride Band (including 3 years as President and currently as the Director of Marketing) and the Federation of Gay Games (as the Archivist after serving 20+ years as the Officer of Marketing).
Adding further to his legacy of supporting non-profit LGBTQ+ performing arts groups, in 2010, he stepped down after serving for 20 years on the Board of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (now Pride Bands Alliance), including 4 years as its President. Doug’s commitment to serving these performing arts groups through the JSEF is clear, backed by his financial acumen gleaned while earning business degrees from the University of Illinois (BA) and Northwestern University (MBA).
Bruce joined the JSEF board in October 2017. Born & raised in Michigan, he earned a B.S. in Nursing at Northern Michigan University and a M.S. in Anesthesia at Wayne State University. Bruce moved to the East Coast, settling in Washington, DC to pursue a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA). His lifelong passion for music led him to join D.C.’s Different Drummers (DCDD), the LGBT Music Ensembles for the Nation’s Capital & a founding member of LGBA, in 2006. He served as its Treasurer from 2008-2011, Vice-President from 2014-2015, President from 2015-2017, and Past-President from 2017-2019. He continues his membership with DCDD to this day, and sits on the Board of Directors of Dominion Stage, Inc. as Treasurer as well as Vice-President of the Nurse Anesthesiology Pride Foundation.
Bruce met his husband, Adam, in DCDD, and married in 2014. They reside within the District of Columbia, enjoy travel, the theatre, exploring the arts & culture of DC/Virginia/Maryland, and visiting wineries in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Joel has an extensive background in finance and banking, having been associated with the Federal Reserve System and the International Monetary Fund throughout his career. He still serves as a contractor for the IMF, serving as an advisor to central banks in emerging market countries in financial affairs on behalf of the Fund. He joined the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band in 2015 and served as the Band’s Treasurer from 2015 – 2019.
Joel was elected to the JSEF Board in 2020. He was a drummer in his high school’s marching band. Joel holds a BA in International Affairs from the University of Virginia and an MBA from George Washington University
Judy has been involved in LGBTQ+ arts since 1984, having performed with bands in Baltimore MD, Washington DC, and Rochester NY. She has held leadership positions in each band, working to help these organizations thrive. Ms. Ames also spent 8 years on the board of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (now Pride Bands Alliance), including 4 years as president. Judy continues her involvement with Pride Bands Alliance, attending conferences and working on committees as needed. She is proud to be a founding member of the Presidents’ Circle, a fundraising initiative for the organization.
Currently the president of the Flower City Pride Band in Rochester, NY, Judy has been focused on the growth and future of this 30-year organization. She wants to make sure that the band stays relevant, offering a safe space for members and performing at high-visibility venues to share their message of Music, Diversity, and Pride.
Judy recently retired from the University of Rochester, where she worked in the office of Medical Center Advancement.
Nancy Corporon was present at the very start of the gay music movement, when she was convinced by Jon Sims to start a band in New York. It all started when Nancy met Jon while she was still in college. They struck up a close personal and musical friendship and even lived a block from each other in Chicago. Nancy helped Jon load up a U-Haul for his move to San Francisco, where Jon became the “Pied Piper” of the L/G music movement. (See Who Is Jon Sims)
It was after Jon founded the first LGBTQ-identified marching band in San Francisco in 1978 that Nancy got the call encouraging her to start a band in New York. In 1979, Jon introduced Nancy to Bob Wolff, and together Nancy and Bob co-founded the New York Gay Community Marching Band (now known as The Queer Big Apple Corps), with Nancy as the Artistic Director. Nancy’s friendship with Jon continued until Jon’s death in 1984, when she spoke at his Grace Cathedral memorial service, praising him for his love of music and his charismatic leadership of the gay music movement.
In the 1970s and ‘80s, Nancy was a freelance French horn player, touring and recording with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and performing on Broadway and at Lincoln Center. She was also the Principal Horn of the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony (now The Florida Orchestra) in Tampa.
After earning an MBA from NYU in 1985, Nancy left the music business and worked for American Express. A transfer to San Francisco led to her being selected to serve as the 7th Artistic Director of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Freedom Band (now known as the San Francisco Pride Band), from 1990-1996.
While on the podium she developed the Community Concert Series, a free concert every second Tuesday of every second month, for which the band won the city’s highly regarded Cable Car Award. They won it again for her work as conductor of the LGBA massed band in 1992 at the 10th anniversary concert for both LGBA and Gay Games. That same year Nancy won the prestigious Jon Sims Award. Nancy also conducted the massed band in 1993 at the Bill Clinton Inaugural Parade. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown proclaimed Sunday, June 23, 1996 as “Nancy Corporon Day” in honor of her contributions to civic life through the band. And in October 2019, Nancy was honored to receive the Pillar of Pride award from LGBA (now Pride Bands Alliance). Nancy has continued her long affiliation with the band she co-founded, including marching with the Queer Big Apple Corps in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a major “first” for LGBTQ+ bands.
Nancy’s corporate career, in addition to American Express, included Wells Fargo Bank and Charles Schwab & Co. Having moved to the DC area due to family needs, Nancy was a RE/MAX Realtor before being recruited to the Tampa Bay area where she ultimately served as Director of Marketing for a Tampa-based retirement services firm.
Nancy resides in St. Petersburg, FL with her wife, Doreen DiBiagio, whom she met during a joint concert with the SF Band and the SF L/G Chorus (which Jon also founded—thank you, Jon!). She served as Principal Horn with the Tampa Bay Symphony from 2016 to 2025.
As Nancy states: “Jon started the band because he firmly believed that communicating through music was an important way our community could change hearts and minds. So I am thrilled to be a part of Jon’s legacy, to work to see his vision and dreams remain and grow, as real and important as the day he gave the first downbeat.”
Jordan is one of the Directors at Large and the webmaster as of summer 2024. He joined Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles in the Fall of 2021. Jordan later got involved in Pride Bands Alliance and is now on the JSEF board. Jordan has also served as Lakeside Pride’s marketing officer since 2022 and as the Pride Bands Alliance delegate starting in 2024.
Jordan plays the B flat soprano, bass, and contra-alto clarinet in Lakeside Pride’s Marching Band, Pops Ensemble, and Clarinet Choir. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Plant Biology from Ohio University in 2018, and is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a focus on non-profit and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication at his alma mater. He hopes that with an MPA, he can help bring Lakeside Pride and his other organizations to new heights.
Additional passion projects include advocating for the Deaf Community, advocating for sustainability in Chicago through groups like Wasted Food Action Alliance, and supporting other BIPOC organizations.
Kathy Hennig has built a life around music and community service. Her journey began in 1982 when she joined the Oaklawn Band of Dallas, and first became involved in Lesbian Gay Band Association (LGBA). Ms. Hennig was a Board Member during the early days of LGBA/Pride Band Association, serving as Executive VP, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. She held several leadership positions with the Oaklawn Band, and was a community organizer. Ms. Hennig joined the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band in 1989. Ms. Hennig served the band in a variety of leadership roles from 1990 to 2021, including President, Vice President, Drum Major, Assistant Conductor, Treasurer, Secretary, and Member-at-Large. During that time she was also active on the board of the Jon Sims Center for the Arts (fiscal sponsor of the SF band until 2003), serving as Board President, Vice President and Secretary. In 2015 Kathy added the Jon Sims Endowment Fund, holding several offices including Vice President, Secretary, and Director at Large. She has written several grants for musical groups and helped LGBA bands organize and secure non-profit status. In 2023, her extensive contributions to the growth and development of the national Pride band movement were honored with the Pillar of Pride Award.
A skilled musician, she studied conducting under Martha Stoddard, and vocal performance under Garry Hanna. She is currently a clarinetist and percussionist in multiple ensembles, including the Community Women’s Orchestra, Petaluma Community Band, San Francisco Pride Band (clarinet, back-up drum major), The Sax Pack Saxophone Quartet, and the New Horizons Band of Sonoma County, where she serves as Associate Conductor.
Beyond her musical pursuits, Ms. Hennig has a long history of professional and community engagement. Her early career in fashion buying and distribution provided skills she later applied to designing band and airline uniforms. She worked as a college administrator for several large colleges and was a candidate for county school board, which led to her service on the State of California textbook review committee for English/Language Arts, representing the Contra Costa County Office of Education. Holding multiple degrees, including a Masters of Public Administration, and Bachelors in Music, Marketing, and Psychology (with multiple Teaching Credentials), she now owns and operates Wild Women Wines in Northern California. She also serves on the board of the Windsor Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and volunteers for the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.
Her affiliations include the California Association of Public Purchasing Officers; National Association of Purchasing Management, the Institute for Supply Management; and Jon Sims Endowment Fund Board. Other memberships include Pi Alpha Alpha, Public Administration Honor Society; Mu Phi Epsilon, Professional Music Sorority; Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, and Wine Women.
Harvey retired from his family firm, one of the oldest independent Apple dealerships, after 35 years as CFO. He played an active role in supporting local businesses through as founder of a community business association and serving on the board and president of Metro Independent Business Association (Minneapolis).
As a founding member of the Minnesota Freedom Band, he has served as treasurer and has participated on various committees since its founding in 1982, including the planning for two national conferences. He currently also plays bass clarinet in Desert Winds Freedom Band in Palm Springs, CA, and he has served on the board of Six Points Theater, a professional performing theater arts organization, as Treasurer.
On the board of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (now Pride Bands Alliance), he has served as VP for Outreach, VP for Fundraising, and co-chaired the organization’s participation in the 1993 US Presidential Inaugural, the first time even any LGBT organization was invited to this quadrennial event.
Additional volunteer activities involve participation, recruitment and fundraising for the Minnesota Red Ribbon Ride (AIDS Ride), People for Parks (Minneapolis) as President, and has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the local Jewish community. He has served on a variety of Community Advisory Committees for the Minneapolis Park System.
Jerry has been on the JSEF board since 1998, serving once as President and as Treasurer and investment director, managing the health of our investments and reporting our investment results. He has been supporting gay performing arts organizations for many years, first assisting the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps with computerizing their mailing list in 1982, followed by extensive technical support for the Jon Sims Center.
Other organizations he has volunteered for include 42nd Street Moon, Joe Goode Performance Group, San Francisco Ballet, and Men’s Associated Exchange (MAX). Jerry is involved with the JSEF to try to make a positive contribution to the acceptance of the gay community into society, convinced that performing arts is an excellent avenue toward this goal.
Served until September 2024.The JSEF leadership is humbled by the decades of selfless service that Jerry Abrams has given to the organization. nobody believed more in the mission of the Jon Sims Endowment Fund than Jerry Abrams.
We mourn the sudden passing of Bruce Bill Sinor, who suffered a fatal heart attack in San Francisco on July 14, 2023. His life was celebrated at a memorial event on September 28, 2023.
Bruce was an active member of the Jon Sims Endowment Fund Board of Directors since 2006, having served most recently as Board President.
Bruce moved to San Francisco in 1994 and immediately joined the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB) since 1999. In 2002 Bruce was elected to the board of the Lesbian & Gay Band Association (LGBA) and in 2004 was appointed their VP of Fundraising. With this, Bruce brought the organization online for expansion in fundraising opportunities. His contributions to LGBA include: eBay’s charity program: “Mission Fish,” eBay’s “Affiliate” program, and the online shopping charity network “iGive.”
In 2008, Bruce teamed up with a small group of musicians to help create the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS). As one of BARS’ original board members he helped to shape this now highly successful music organization. Bruce is was also an active volunteer for AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) & Positive Resource Center (PRC), and the South of Market “Bare Chest Calendar” which provides major funding for people living with HIV and AIDS. In addition to performing with the SFLGFB, Bruce was also President of the Corte Madera Town Band in Marin County as well as the Capital Horn Choir and the American River College Concert Band in Sacramento.His
JSEF Board member Matthew’ David Novotny of Minneapolis passed away unexpectedly on August 7, 2022. A prayer service was held on August 12.
Matthew was 38 years old. He grew up in New Prague, MN where he graduated from high school in 2002. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force where he served three years. Matthew then moved to Kansas City, MO in 2004 and enrolled at Park University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He then started his career at MRI Global for 16 years and ended his career at ABDO as an Associate Accountant. In addition to his Board position at the Jon Sims Endowment Fund (he joined in 2013), Matthew also served on Board and as Executive Director of the Mid America Freedom Band in Kansas City, MO. He also was their Treasurer for five years. For six years between 2012 and 2020, Matthew served as Treasurer for the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (now Pride Bands Alliance).
Matthew played bass clarinet and was very passionate about Band. He understood the importance of providing lifelong music by and for members of the community at large.
Matthew is survived by his parents David and Jean Novotny, siblings Jennifer (Justin) Wollan, Julie Novotny, Nicholas (Sara) Novotny, nieces and nephews Nora and Marvin Novotny, and Taylen Wollan, all from Minnesota.
The entire Jon Sims Endowment Fund and Pride Bands Alliance families deeply mourn Matthew’s passing.