CenterPiece
Gala Dinner Raises $40K for the Center
With Harvey Fierstein, 250 guests, and a wonderful cause, it’s hard to go wrong.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center hosted its first annual gala dinner in February to benefit the Cornerstone Capital Campaign. The Feb. 9th event, held at Hillside Manor in Kingston was attended by more than 250 people, and raised more than $40,000 for the Center and its mission.
Attendees enjoyed a silent auction featuring such diverse items as a year of tanning, a weekend in a Central Park West apartment, and dinner at local restaurants. In addition, an exciting live auction included items ranging from artwork to a stateroom cruise on "R" Family Vacations.
There was also an opportunity to honor members of the community who have contributed so much to the Center in the past year. Award-winning screenwriter Ron Nyswaner and local film critic Barbara Salzman were recognized for their work to acquire the Center's film archive, which is named in their honor. Mr. Nyswaner and Ms. Salzman were presented with Center Legacy awards. Local publisher Jason Stern of Chronogram was presented with the inaugural Center Ally award for his enduring commitment to the Center through advertising support in his magazine.
The surprise of the evening was the presentation to Ted Hayes and Jack Waite, partners for 25 years, of a plaque naming the Center's conference room in their honor. The Hayes-Waite Conference Room is the primary meeting space in the Center and is the hub for small group and committee meetings.
But there was never any doubt about who would, and did, steal the show at the gala, since the Center’s special guest was Tony-award winning actor, playwright and screenwriter Harvey Fierstein. Fierstein reminded guests "Gay people are married in the United States and internationally. We have this life that's so normal and that's when I get frightened. Will we lose our specialness? As every gay person knows, there's a specialness to us." After Fierstein's address, Center president Ginny Apuzzo presented him with a sterling silver key to the Center.
The Cornerstone Campaign Committee was formed to raise money for the mortgage debt on the Center's home at 300 Wall Street in historic Uptown Kingston. To date, the committee has raised more than $150,000. More events are planned throughout the coming year to further liquidate the mortgage liability.
Because of the Cornerstone Committee’s efforts, membership dues can be used to support the programs, outreach and operations of the Center, rather than focused on mortgage debt. Many of these, like the Center's monthly Open Mic Night, Game Night and the Forbidden Fruit/Outlaw Love Film Educational Film Series, are low or no-cost events.
As the Center continues to grow, it remains solid thanks to those who organize events like the gala, and to all those who invest their time, talent, and resources in this community endeavor. Thanks to you all! Δ
- J. B. McNeil
View additional photographs from Our Catered Affair.