welcome from our festival chairs

Welcome home! It’s time to reunite with old friends and make new ones that will last a lifetime at Winter Party Festival!

This Festival is all about having fun and creating unforgettable experiences for you, our guests, but it’s also a party with a purpose. Winter Party began 30 years ago when four community activists decided to throw a one-day beach party for South Floridians to raise money to fight a statewide anti-LGBTQ initiative. Thanks to you and under the stewardship of the National LGBTQ Task Force, Winter Party Festival has been transformed into one of the world’s largest nonprofit festivals. Proceeds from the Festival and its sister event, the Task Force Gala – Miami, have allowed the Task Force to donate over $3.3 million dollars to South Florida LGBTQ non-profit organizations.

René’s journey with Winter Party started in 2000 when he first attended as a guest; one year later, he had his first volunteer experience and has continued supporting the Festival for more than two decades, stepping into the Chair role in 2019. Sergio first joined the team in 2017 in the new position of Director of Committee Engagement, a role dedicated to building a program to support the volun- teer leaders of the Festival, and two years later became Vice Chair and then Chair. About 100 talented committee members produce an event that attracts over 10,000 guests and raises close to $2 million a year, and we are so humbled to be leading this team. live free. play hard. give back.

We would like to thank Mayor Dan Gelber, the City of Miami Beach, all City Commissioners, and staff members that go to great lengths to support Winter Party Festival. We also want to thank our amazing sponsors for their contributions and ask you to please support them. Additionally, we would like to thank our volunteer Festival Committee members, our volunteer Executive Committee members, our Festival week volunteers, and the Task Force staff for devoting endless hours and unmeasurable energy to make Winter Party Festival a mind-blowing experience and a successful fundraiser. We are privileged to work alongside such amazing people, many who have become chosen family for us. The WPF Team is so excited to come back home and meet in person on the sands of Miami Beach after 3 years.

Thank you for supporting Winter Party Festival and welcome to Miami Beach!

RENÉ A. WOLFENSBERGER

Senior Winter Party Festival Chair 2023

SERGIO ORLANDO Winter Party Festival Chair 2023