G A L A S F O R DAY S
THE ARTS ISSUE
SEEN
PHOTO IN PRINT EDITION BY NICK CARDELLO; VIDEO IN DIGITAL EDITION BY MATT MAYES
EMBRACEMEDIA.US
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Celebration at the Mahaffey 2022 Equality Florida St Pete Gala shatters records and tackles turbulent topics. BY TODD M. RICHARDSON, PINELLAS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, EQUALITY FLORIDA
T
he 2022 Equality Florida St Pete Gala 25th anniversary celebration was a smashing success, breaking a 25-year fundraising, and attendance record! 675 supporters helped raise over $711,861! The evening started with a VIP party that allowed our guests to reconnect after a two-year hiatus. David Fischer and his amazing team from ZaZoo'd, Cocktail, The Saint, and Wetspot, turned the beautiful Mahaffey Theater into a festive and fun space for our guests to celebrate.
He hung “GAY AF” over rainbow fabric and our guests laughed, took photographs, and posted them on social media. It was a creative way to tell our oppressors that we will not be silenced. Catering by the family catered our Gala back in 2019, and they knocked it out of the park again this year with their delicious appetizers and dinner. Our guests continue to rave about their catering. Our program in the main theater was powerful and empowering. The lovely and talented Sunde performed as our guests took their seats. Spectrum Bay News 9’s Chuck Diaz-Henson did
TODD RICHARDSON is the Pinellas County Development Director for Equality Florida. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida College of Fine Arts, and a veteran of the United States Air Force.
