Nearly 370 people gathered to support Equality Florida at its annual Pinellas Gala fundraiser on Saturday, April 16â┚¬â€Âand they broke two records by doing so.
Those attending the gala held at the new Dali Museum downtown raised an all-time high of $106,000. The number of people attending an Equality Florida gala was also a new record.
â┚¬Å”The evening would not have been possible without the passing, time, commitment and energy of each of our host committee members, led by our steering committee,â┚¬Â said organizer Ed Lally.
A response was not received regarding a request for totals raised at the Tampa, Orlando and Miami Equality Florida galas.
â┚¬Å”As a young girl growing up in Florida's panhandle, I remember riding on buses and coaches telling us to duck down below the windows when we would pass through towns where black faces showing would cause us trouble,â┚¬Â Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith told the large crowd. â┚¬Å”It's amazing how far we've come but we realize how much more there is still to do.â┚¬ÂÂ
Also present at the Pinellas Gala were Deputy Director Stratton Pollitzer, St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell and the Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, of the Metropolitan Community Church. The evening was emceed by Bay News 9 traffic reporter Chuck Henson.
Before the speakers took the microphone, the Dali opened its galleries to those attending the gala and even offered an official tour. For many, it was their first experience in the new museum.
The Equality Florida event was not the first LGBT-specific event to be held in the new facility, however. St. Pete Pride held its Taste of Pride event there in March.
