The LOFT LGBT Community Center To Hold Annual Gala

White Plains, NY –The LOFT LGBT Community Center will rise above all that is happening in Washington, D.C. and celebrate three, at their largest fundraiser of the year, RISE The LOFT 2017 Gala on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 6:30pm, at the Crowne Plaza White Plains, 66 Hale Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10601. The RISE The LOFT 2017 Gala honorees are Terry Stone, who will receive the Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer Equality Award; Westchester Medical Center will be presented with the TD Bank Business Ally Award, and Christopher Oldi,will receive the LOFT Ally Award.

‘We are excited to rise above it all and celebrate, this year, in the face of a tumultuous political climate that threatens LGBT equality, it has never been more important to rise above adversity, hence the official name RISE The LOFT 2017 Gala.” said Judy Troilo, Executive Director at The LOFT LGBT Community Center. “Our Honorees have all risen to the occasion, dedicating time and effort to helping others rise above adversity and spread messages of diversity and equality while providing invaluable services to members of the LGBT community.” said Troilo.

Terry Stone, the former CEO of CenterLink will receive the Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer Equality Award (United States v. Windsor). The case of United States v Windsor is arguably the most influential legal precedent in the struggle for LGBT marriage equality. In its landmark 2013 ruling in Windsor, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which by its terms had excluded gay couples from all the benefits and protections of marriage under federal law. At the heart of Windsor is the principle that gay people have dignity, and that the Constitution mandates that this dignity be respected equally under the law. Since Windsor, more than forty federal district court opinions and four circuit courts have held that the U.S. Constitution requires that gay people be allowed to marry. Terry Stone, a lifelong LGBT activist and change-maker made a great impact for The LOFT LGBT Community Center through CenterLink, which played an important role in supporting the growth of LGBT centers across the country and addressing the challenges faced, by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity and increase access to public resources in support of their programs. CenterLink also acts as the voice for LGBT community centers in national grassroots organizing, coalition building and awareness-raising in order to strengthen and build a unified center movement.

Westchester Medical Center will be presented with the TD Bank Business Ally Award for their exemplary commitment to and support of the LGBT community. Westchester Medical Center, located in Valhalla, New York, is the Hudson Valley region's advanced medical care and referral hospital, serving more than 3.5 million people. Each year, more than 120,000 patients receive care at Westchester Medical Center in every clinical specialty through their main hospital, their Maria Fareri Children's Hospital – the only all-specialty children's hospital in the region - and their Behavioral Health Center. Westchester Medical Center's services are also accessible to residents of New York City and portions of Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Christopher Oldi, Supervising Attorney at Legal Services of the Hudson (LSHV), and devoted ally to the LGBT community, will also receive The LOFT Ally Award.Christopher’s work at the Legal Services of the Hudson Valley include protecting rights and promoting justice. They are dedicated to providing free, high-quality counsel in civil matters where basic human needs are at stake for low-income individuals and families who cannot afford an attorney.

RISE The LOFT 2017 Gala will not disappoint, attendees will enjoy an extraordinary experience with a full open bar cocktail hour, and white glove butler passed horsd’oeurves, delicious dinner, entertaining live auctions and a wonderful performance by The LOFT Pride Chorus. Tickets for the evening are available for $175 per person until September 11th($1,500 special pricing for tables of 10), then the price increases to $200 per person. For more information about the event, as well as sponsorship and journal ad opportunities, please contact Judy Troilo, Executive Director at (914) 948-2932 x11, or via e-mail at judy@loftgaycenter.org or visit www.loftgaycenter.org.

“This is our largest fundraiser of the year, and we are so thankful to our event sponsors, who help us keep all of our wonderful programs alive.” Said Kira Barden, Board President, The LOFT LGBT Community Center. RISE The LOFT 2017 Gala Sponsors include Major Sponsors-TD Bank & Westchester Medical Center, Table Sponsors-Peloso-Barnes Group, Regeneron and Smart Daily Administrators,and Special Sponsors MasterCardand PepsiCo.

About The LOFT LGBT Community Center: The LOFT was founded over 3 decades ago, back in 1983 and incorporated in 1993; located at 252 Bryant Avenue, White Plains, NY, 10605. The LOFT provides a safe gathering place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and supportive community of Westchester County and surrounding areas. The LOFT is Westchester County’s premier and largest LGBT Community Center. The LOFT facilitates a wide range of educational, health, social service and recreational programs, and advocates for improved services for our community. The LOFT’s Mission is simple and strong: “The LOFT works to further the cause for inclusion, diversity and pride through education, advocacy and celebration.”

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Photos provided by The LOFT LGBT Community Center