Every year, The Center’s annual Gala honors a host of community members and organizations that have contributed substantially to the betterment of the San Diego GLBT community. Seven local volunteers, activists, organizations and businesses received top honors from The Center this year at a private celebration held in September, and will be honored again at this year’s 31st annual Gala, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Marriott Hotel and Marina.

The Center’s Gala attracts the glitterati of the local GLBT community en masse for an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment that has become a San Diego tradition.

“Our annual Gala is an incredible evening that does two very important things – it is The Center’s biggest annual fundraiser and it is an exciting chance to celebrate all that our LGBT San Diego community has accomplished this year,” said board chair Richard Valdez.

Every year, a variety of awards are presented to individuals and agencies that have effectively promoted growth and progress for San Diego’s GLBT community.

Hillcrest Youth Center volunteer Devon Smith received this year’s M. Corrine Mackey Award, which recognizes one or more of The Center’s female volunteers for their service. A grad student, Smith has been active with the youth center’s volunteer committee. She also helped establish The Center’s Women’s Resource Center and volunteers with Marriage Equality California.

“Devon is a wonderful volunteer,” said Dana Toppel, coordinator of youth services at the Hillcrest Youth Center. “She is deeply committed to the youth who attend the youth center and is very appreciated by the staff. Devon is self-motivated, always helpful and has a great heart.”

The Dennis Howard Award honors one or more men who have contributed substantially as a volunteer. Center volunteer Win Anderson, who has volunteered for The Center’s Public Policy Department, Speaker’s Bureau and the Hillcrest Youth Center, has also spent much of his time this year registering voters and helping with The Center’s voter projects.

“It was an incredible honor,” Anderson said of receiving the award. “The award was icing on a cake that didn’t need icing.”

“Win has been an incredible asset to The Center’s voter registration and get out the vote efforts,” said The Center’s director of public policy, AJ Davis. “Not only did Win and his partner, Carlos, go across the country to register voters, but Win also coordinated parts of the voter registration campaign here in San Diego. He is an amazingly dedicated volunteer who gives back to the community consistently.”

Patrick Concepcion and Tony Vergara share the Brian S. Mullin Youth Award, presented to a youth or adult who has worked diligently to support GLBT youth. Concepcion and Vergara have been heavily involved with the Hillcrest Youth Center’s Asian/Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS project, API2EYE, greatly expanding the reach of the project.

“Patrick volunteers for all of the events held by the API2EYE project. He is very busy and makes time to help with connecting youth within his community with resources such as the Hillcrest Youth Center,” Toppel said. “Tony is a wonderful youth who has made volunteer service a priority despite facing homelessness, family deaths and other hardships over the last year. Tony is always willing to help and is always friendly and engaging to the new youth who come in to the youth center.”

The Jess Jessop Founders Award is given to persons or organizations that have significantly enhanced the health and well being of the GLBT community. Local businessman Darl Edwards received the award this year for his decades of financial contribution to HIV/AIDS and GLBT service organizations including The Center, the Imperial Court de San Diego, Something Special Food Pantry and Stepping Stone.

The Renee E. Richetts Lesbian Health Award honors a person or organization that has promoted awareness and provided support to lesbian health issues, and this year’s recipient is the Imperial Court de San Diego’s Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund, which helps low-income lesbian and bisexual women who need medical treatment, referrals, support and education navigate the healthcare system. The fund has given approximately $5,000 this year.

The Ordinary Miracles Award went to the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego (MCCSD), for over 30 years of service to the GLBT community.

“It’s a real honor for our congregation to receive the award, and also an accolade for the entire community of faith,” said MCCSD’s senior pastor, the Rev. Tony Freeman. “Especially during a year of transitions for us, it is a real credit to the community of faith that we were able to do so much ministry. We really didn’t miss a beat.”

MCCSD has distributed food staples to low-income individuals and families each week, given support to GLBT foster parents and people with AIDS, and is part of a coalition to create long-term, affordable housing for homeless GLBT youth.

Regarding why MCCSD continues to do so much for the GLBT community, Freeman said, “God has called us to serve the entire GLBT community, not just those that attend church on Sundays. That is what is really in our hearts.”

Bank of America received the Friend of The Center Award this year, which is presented to a non-GLBT organization that has actively supported the GLBT community. Bank of America has provided financial support for several years for Center programs focusing on health initiatives and youth, seniors and communities of color.

Funds from the Gala benefit The Center’s programs, which include the Hillcrest Youth Center, Cyber Computer Center, HIV/AIDS counseling, mental health, domestic violence and psychological services, and public policy.