About Us
How We Began
The combined passions of Phyllis Dillinger and Rachel Higgs to help the aging gay women community resulted in the creation of Golden Gay Girls Villages, also known as 3GV. This venture has been a life fulfilling dream for Phyllis. She spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector as a Board Member and Executive of Washington DC-based organizations. She has helped to meet the needs of older people for many years and has led the charge in donating millions of dollars to successfully help implement programs and services for the aging population.
Rachel’s desire to bring the lesbian community together resulted in the creation of a Facebook group for gay women only. She realized that this community has unique needs, so she put to work her passion for outreach, creating social and networking events, marketing, and fundraising specifically to meet those needs. The Facebook group grew to 2600 plus members in just two years.
In 2023, Phyllis and Rachel secured 3GV’s approved incorporation in the State of Delaware as well as tax exempt status from the IRS. To further substantiate the needs for the aging lesbian community, Rachel used her Facebook group to survey what her members deemed important and/or missing. At the time, she was living in Florida. She and Phyllis then devised a list of programs and services to begin meeting those needs and others. That list continues to evolve.
Sadly, Rachel passed away suddenly in March of 2024. As a result, 3GV experienced a reset, and is being “reborn”. With the help from a number of women in Sussex Country, and particularly the Rehoboth Beach/Lewes area, Phyllis has continued on and is now the Chair of the new 3GV board.
3GV Leadership
Phyllis Dillinger
Board Chair, Co-Founder & Treasurer
Phyllis has more than 35 years of international and domestic experience in the C-Suite working with new venture start-ups, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and non-profits. Her recent role was Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer of a private foundation taking care of seniors in DC for the last seven years.
She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University.
Dr. Gail Atchison
Board Member
Dr. Gail Atchison is a therapist who has been in private practice in Arizona for over 13 years. She has been an Executive Director for behavioral health and primary care centers for over 15 years. Dr. Atchison is an Ordained Minister with Metropolitan Community Church and served as a hospital chaplain for 5 years. She has done Grief and Loss workshops nationally, as well as workshops in Dysfunctional Communication, and Spirituality of Addiction. In March of 2025, Dr. Atchison moved to Rehoboth Beach and is in private practice, where she specializes in Grief and Loss, Addictions, Family Therapy, and PTSD/Trauma.
Dr. Atchison has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and philosophy, from Wichita State University, a master’s in psychology, from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a master’s in divinity, from Earlham College School of Religion, PhD. in Human Behavior and Organizational Psychology, and a post-doctorate in trauma.
Dee Marlin
Board Member
A passionate member of 3GV and supporting LGBT organizations across the nation. Dee’s rich background includes a Bachelors degree in Information Systems Management and a Masters in Telecommunications. She also served in the US Navy transitioning to engineering support for several DOD contract support organizations over her career, specializing in aerospace and healthcare fields and eventually retiring from the 911 industry as a Program Manager. Dee relocated to the Sussex area in 2023 and spends her time hiking, biking, golfing and volunteering for several non-profits including 3GV and Meals-On-Wheels.
Rachel Higgs
Co-Founder, EMERITUS
Rachel capitalized on her sales, marketing, and entrepreneurial experience to form the largest Facebook group in South Florida for gay women only. The group brought the community together in a safe environment to network, discuss issues that directly affect the local community, raise funds, and extend community outreach. Through this group, she was able to measure the needs of the community through surveys and suggestions to bring gay women’s needs to the forefront. As the needs of the group expanded, she, and Phyllis Dillinger, her best friend of 28 years, blended passions to formulate The Golden Gay Girls Villages. That’s how it all began.
Unfortunately, Rachel suddenly passed away from a heart attack on March 17, 2024. Phyllis is carrying on her legacy in Sussex County, Delaware and particularly in the Rehoboth Beach/Lewes area.