Milk Money
On Thursday, April 19, Watermark publisher Tom Dyer and Gary Baron and Richard Szadek played host to Stuart Milk at a benefit for the Harvey Milk Foundation. More than 50 of Orlando's opulent gathered at the home of Baron and Szadek to hear Stuart talk about â┚¬Å”The State of Global Equality.â┚¬Â As part of the fundraiser, Jack Dixonâ┚¬â€Âin a first-time roleâ┚¬â€Âauctioned off Harvey Milk memorabilia. Despite guests' fears of falling into the lavish pool that encompassed a large part of the mingling area, there were no incidents. However, just before introducing Stuart, Pride in Business Awards emcee, Tom Dyer had to make a brief exit when he realized the new suit he had just purchased from Stein Mart still had the anti-theft device attached. The most memorable sighting of the night seemed to be the arrival of George Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara. The intimate gathering also included Gina Duncan, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Commissioner Daisy Lynum, Rep. Scott Randolph & Susannah Randolph, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Hon. Alex Sink, Hon. Val Demings, Hon. Jerry Demings, Hon. Alan Grayson. The Harvey Milk Foundation serves as a beacon, particularly to LGBT youth in the 80-plus countries where their existence is illegal and even dangerous. Stuart has traveled to five continents to spread Harvey's message of hope, pride and inclusion to legislatures and world leaders.
Let's Hear It for Miss P
Leigh Shannon, along with the Valencia Theater, has established a scholarship fund in order to benefit future students. The scholarship was created in memory of Paul Wegman, aka Miss P, the legendary Orlando entertainer, actor and director who passed in 2004. The Valencia Foundation scholarship is mostly funded by members of the theater community who knew and loved Paul. Currently, they are just $1,150 shy of reaching the point where the scholarship will be endowed. In order for it to live on in perpetuity and continue benefiting theater students, please contact Leigh Shannon at 407-897-2117 or stop by Ritzy Rags to make a donation. Besides directing, Wegman starred in many shows at the Valencia Theater. Among his most memorable roles at the college were â┚¬Å”Salieriâ┚¬Â in Amadeus, â┚¬Å”Dodgeâ┚¬Â in Buried Child, and â┚¬Å”Malvolioâ┚¬Â in Twelfth Night.
One-Stop Gay Shop
Forward-thinking, LGBT e-commerce destination, LoveAndPride.com celebrated its seventh anniversary April 24 by announcing it will donate $2,500 to openly gay political candidates supporting marriage equality. In a press release, they said candidates will be selected according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's endorsements, and LoveAndPride's donation will be made through Campaign Political Action Committees (CPACs) who support those candidates. The company has also redesigned its website, expanding beyond lesbian and gay designer jewelry collections, into full-fledged lifestyle brand featuring street wear, beauty and home categories. Motivated by its founding principles of equality, tolerance and diversity, the company still donates a percentage of net proceedsâ┚¬â€Âin some cases up to 100%â┚¬â€Âto charitable organizations benefitting the LGBT community. LoveAndPride has donated more than $380,000 to organizations such as Lambda Legal, The Mercury Phoenix Trust, Service members Legal Defense Network, Marriage Equality USA, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Human Rights Campaign. â┚¬Å”Furthering civil rights and meaningful change is what we believed in then, and it's what we believe in now, said LoveAndPride's co-founder and lead designer, Udi Behr in a statement. â┚¬Å”Giving back to the community we love is vital to usâ┚¬â€Âand so is championing the idea that philanthropy is cool, for whatever cause excites you. It's our dream to do both.â┚¬ÂÂ
