EVENTS

Champions of Equality

On May 20th SAVE Dade hosted its largest fundraisers of the year, Champions of Equality. The event was a huge success with an overwhelming response from our political, business, and community leaders. Over 250 tickets were sold and over $25,000 were raised to support SAVE Dade’s important advocacy work. For the first time in our history, the silent auction raised over $10,000 and every single item was sold.

Champions of Equality is more than a fund raising event;, it is SAVE’s opportunity to bring together some of our community’s most important decision makers. People from all walks of life joined us to recognize the many people who have made great strides towards LGBT equality in Miami. This year our honorees included UM for Equality, Heddy Pena, and the Miami-Dade County Commissioners who voted for the County’s Domestic Partnership Ordinance in 2008.

The event was successful due in large part to the several months of behind the scenes work by our superstar volunteers. Orlando Gonzales, SAVE Dade Board Chair and Special Events Committee Chair, led the way with a strong team of volunteer committee members: Bill Kress, Jay Windsor, Joel Rodriguez, & Bill Warren. These volunteers have been meeting since January to pull together the logistics, silent auction, and venue into one brilliant night of recognition. Our day-of-event volunteers, who were so helpful during the set-up and check-out, were coordinated by Joseph Mooradian, SAVE Dade Community Coordinator.

A special thanks to our Honorary Host Committee and Host Committee for asking their friends and colleagues during a difficult economic year to support such an important cause.

We look forward to seeing you all next year!

If you are interested in playing a role in the development of Champions of Equality 2010, please contact CJ Ortuno at CJ@savedade.org.