On Saturday, September 29, 1,100 LGBT and Allied community members joined Wingspan and Gold Sponsor, The Legend Group, for the 10th Annual Wingspan Benefit Dinner.
Supporters at the dinner also showed their support and appreciation of Wingspan by pulling together a record level of support. "This year's benefit dinner raised more than $280,000 through corporate sponsorship, ticket and ad sales, silent auction and centerpiece purchases, raffle proceeds, and gifts towards the generous $28,000 challenge. All proceeds further Wingspan's mission of promoting the freedom, equality, safety, and well-being of LGBT people in Southern Arizona.
Highlights of the evening included the musical stylings of Reveille Men's Chorus and Desert Voices; side-splitting entertainment by emcee and comedian Marga Gomez; a keynote address by Leslie Feinberg, internationally renowned author and activist; and a silent auction featuring exotic vacations, works by world-class artists, and jewelry from Tiffany & Co and others. Audience members were touched by a reflection on the past ten years of Wingspan Award Winners.
Thanks to everyone who attended the community and came out in support of Wingspan! If you missed it, text from speeches by Wingspan Staff Members Cathy Busha and Oscar Jimenez are on the Wingspan website.
We look forward to seeing you again at the 2008 Benefit Dinner when Wingspan celebrates twenty years of service to Southern Arizona's LGBT and allied community!
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Wingspan's Benefit Dinner, we are recognizing the valuable contributions of Wingspan Award recipients over the past decade.
Nine years ago, the Godat Award was inaugurated to recognize extraordinary long-term contributions by an individual to Southern Arizona's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Ken Godat, after whom this award was named, was the 1st recipient in 1998. Over the last nine years, the Godat Award has celebrated the personal commitment and public advocacy of the following community leaders:
1998 Ken Godat
1999 Jean M. Baker
2000 Colette Barajas
2001 Ana "Bertie" Lozano
2002 Bob Ellis
2003 Alexander John Goodrum
2004 Alan Storm
2005 Mae Krueger
2006 Craig Snow
In 2001, an award was crated to honor a straight ally who has made significant contributions to advance the freedom, equality, safety, and well being of LGBT people in Southern Arizona. Award winners have been:
2001 Ernesto Portillo Jr.
2002 George Miller
2003 Reverend David Wilkinson
2004 Dr. Kevin J. Carmichael
2005 Detective Tim Rupel
2006 Donna Rochester
The Hall Award is given to an individual who makes outstanding volunteer contributions to further Wingspan's mission of promoting the freedom, equality, safety and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The award is named after Steve Hall, a former Wingspan Board member and volunteer who died in 2001. Past Award winners are:
2001 Steve Hall
2002 Jim Sincox
2003 Lavina Tomer
2004 David Eyde
2005 Kathy Altman
2006 Kevin Maxey
