The Center’s 30th Anniversary Gala will honor a host of community members and organizations who have contributed substantially to the betterment of the San Diego GLBT community.

“It’s always difficult to make final determinations of ‘deserving’ people when there are so many folks who do such a great job in our community,” said Shawn Ingram, director of development at The Center. “There is not one award that is harder than another to fill.”

There are eight major awards, which will be presented formally at a VIP reception on Friday, Oct. 17, and recognized again in a brief ceremony at the Gala on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The Jess Jessop Founders Award is given to persons or organizations that have significantly enhanced the health and well being of the GLBT community. Jess Jessop, principle founder of The Center, was honored in 1989 as the first recipient of the award for his establishment of The Center, the Lesbian and Gay Historical Society of San Diego, and his lifetime of support for the GLBT community. Dr. William Beck will receive the award this year.

Kim Metli will receive the M. Corrine Mackey Award. Named after the local African-American lesbian activist and writer, the award was created in 1994 to recognize one or more of The Center’s female volunteers for their service.

The Dennis Howard Award was named for Center and community volunteer Dennis Howard in 1999, and honors a man or group of men who have contributed substantially as a volunteer. This year’s award goes to Nick Taylor.

Saranique Schwartz and Roxy Wood will receive the Brian S. Mullin Youth Award, which is presented to a youth or adult who has dedicated themself to supporting GLBT youth.

The Renee E. Richetts Lesbian Health Award honors a person or organization that has promoted awareness and provided support to lesbian health issues. This year’s recipients are Pierrette Van Cleve and Susan Atkins. Both are featured in this issue of the Gay and Lesbian Times for their involvement in breast cancer research and spreading awareness in the lesbian/ bisexual community about breast cancer.

The board of directors for the Something Special Food Pantry will be honored this year with the Ordinary Miracles Award. Something Special Food Pantry is an all-volunteer organization that has been providing food and hygiene supplies to people with HIV/ AIDS since 1997. Volunteers collect and distribute groceries and supplies to low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS each month. The Pantry holds monthly food drives at various supermarkets in San Diego, and survives strictly on private donations of time, money and food.

The Friend of The Center Award this year will be given to Pam and Yehudi Gaffen, local philanthropists who hosted a fundraising benefit for the Hillcrest Youth Center last year that raised over $30,000 for the Youth Center’s various programs. They will be hosting the event again this Saturday at their home in Rancho Santa Fe.

Nicole Murray-Ramirez, local social and political activist, emcee and columnist will receive the Decade of Distinguished Service Award. Murray-Ramirez has been involved in the San Diego GLBT community for more than 30 years, fighting alongside civil rights attorney Tom Homann and Jess Jessop for the permits to hold the first San Diego LGBT Pride parade in 1974, and helping to make the Imperial Court de San Diego a powerful fundraising organization. He was co-chair of the first Gay and Lesbian Advisory Board under Mayor Maureen O’Connor, president of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, a member of the Human Dignity Ordinance Task Force and the first grand marshal of the Gay Pride Parade in Tijuana. He is currently chairman of the board for Bienestar, president of the board of directors for the Imperial Court de San Diego, state co-chair of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality, a member of the Police Chief of San Diego’s Advisory Board, and president of Gays and Lesbians Con Orgullo.

The Gala takes place at the San Diego Convention Center in the Sunset Room. Funds from this event support the 22 programs The Center offers, including the Hillcrest Youth Center, Cyber Computer Center, HIV/AIDS counseling, mental health, domestic violence and psychological services, and public policy programming. For more information, call (619) 692-2077.