Marlee Matlin headlines Junior League of Sarasota's 22nd annual Legacy Luncheon fundraiser

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Marlee Matlin offers a sign at the 96th Academy Awards in March. The Oscar-winning actress and advocate for people with disabilities will headline the Junior League of Sarasota's 22nd annual Legacy Luncheon in February.
Marlee Matlin offers a sign at the 96th Academy Awards in March. The Oscar-winning actress and advocate for people with disabilities will headline the Junior League of Sarasota's 22nd annual Legacy Luncheon in February.

Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actor and longtime advocate for people with disabilities, will be the guest of honor for the Junior League of Sarasota's 22nd annual Legacy Luncheon in February.

The Junior League's signature fundraiser is set for Feb. 26 at Michael’s On East. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now.

“We are thrilled to have Marlee Matlin headlining the 22nd annual JLS Legacy Luncheon. Marlee has shattered stereotypes and shown the world what it truly means to be deaf or hard of hearing," said Jessica Rogers, JLS Legacy Luncheon Chair. "Her journey is a powerful reminder that determination can overcome any obstacle."

Matlin made her acting debut as Sarah Norman in "Children of a Lesser God" (1986), earning the Academy Award for Best Actress at age 21. Her career spans both film and television, with notable roles in "CODA," which won Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards, and on popular TV shows such as "Seinfeld," "The West Wing," and "Law and Order: SVU."

Matlin, deaf since she was 18 months old, was the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award as well as the youngest winner in the Best Actress category. Her career includes a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.

Beyond her film career, Maitlin has tirelessly advocated for people with disabilities. In 1994 she was appointed by President Clinton to the Corporation for National Service, and in 2010 she joined the White House in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her work includes launching the app Marlee Signs, which teaches American Sign Language, and a New York Times best-selling autobiography, "I’ll Scream Later."

Supporting the community

The Legacy Luncheon supports the Junior League’s mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. The Endowment Fund awards thousands of dollars yearly to local nonprofits, addressing critical human needs across Sarasota County.

The Junior League's signature fundraiser is set for Feb. 26 at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.
The Junior League's signature fundraiser is set for Feb. 26 at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.

Recent grant recipients include The Twig Cares; Sisters Sowing Seeds; Easterseals Southwest Florida; Embracing Our Differences; Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County; Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County; Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County; Heart Gallery of Sarasota; Mother’s Helping Mothers; Safe Children’s Coalition; and Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC).

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Endowment Fund. For more information and to register for tickets and sponsorships, visit sarasota.jl.org/events/register-legacy-luncheon-sponsorships or contact the Legacy Luncheon Committee at [email protected]. For more about the Junior League, visit sarasota.jl.org.

Submitted by Elise Ramer

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin to headline Sarasota fundraiser

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