The National LGBTQ Task Force Gala – Miami
Benefits the National LGBTQ Task Force
Saturday, October 6, 2018, at 6:30 p.m.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
305-571-7294 (Lisa A. Mercado)
LMercado@theTaskForce.org
The National LGBTQ Task Force Gala – Miami, presented by Wells Fargo, is an important South Florida tradition for the LGBTQ community and its supporters to honor our heroes, while at the same time provide funding for the community. The event is produced by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the oldest national organization dedicated to achieving equality for LGBTQ people, and also benefits dozens of organizations serving the Miami-Dade LGBTQ community.
The gala evening will feature a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner, a silent auction, an awards ceremony and dancing.
This year’s National Leadership Award honorees are two legendary TV broadcasters, Robin Roberts and Sam Champion.
Robin Roberts, a longtime ESPN sports anchor, became “Good Morning America” co-anchor in 2005. Under her leadership, the broadcast has won five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team. In 2007 and 2008 Roberts documented her successful treatment for breast cancer, and in 2012 similarly covered her medical battle against the blood disease, myelodysplastic syndrome. In 2013 she publicly acknowledged her longtime partner, Amber Laign.
Sam Champion, with nearly a million social media followers, is a five-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning anchor/journalist known for building winning “TV-chemistry” for ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, HLN, MSNBNC, The Weather Channel, WABC-TV, Regis and Kelly, The View, Larry King Live and Nancy Grace! His work with The Skin Cancer Foundation, Climate Reality, Climate Central, Global Green, Natural Resources Defense Council, as well as Human Rights Campaign, keep Sam in the forefront of community involvement. Sam and his husband, Rubem Robierb, have been married since December 2012.
Also, longtime supporters of the South Florida community, Charles Million and Tim Nardi, will receive the 2018 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award. Charles and Tim are both separately and together committed to many causes. Charles served as Chair of the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council for the last four years, is Vice Chair of the Miami Shores Community Alliance and is a board member of Miami New Drama. Tim serves on the boards of the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association and the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Committee. Charles and Tim were recipients of the Aqua Foundation for Women’s “Ally Award.” They both served for several years on the Gala committee and have each served two terms as Gala Co-Chair. Under their leadership the Gala grew tremendously from both fundraising and creative perspectives. Their efforts have raised significant funds for the Task Force and the local South Florida LGBTQ community. A generous and incredible couple, they embody the spirit of the Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award.
Gala Chair is Josue Santiago, who served as an executive committee member of the Task Force Gala – Miami and was Director of Human Resources where he was responsible for helping define the event’s organizational structure and coordinating the corps of volunteers.
Josue and his committee invite the community for an “evening of Being You!” Gala tickets are $450 per person and $4,500 for a table of ten.
About National LGBTQ Task Force
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We’re building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you.
