The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund will host its seventh annual HEROES event from noon-3 p. m. May 19 — this year featuring a new location and after-party and a new award. Last year, the organization switched formats from a cocktail event to a brunch, which DVLF executive director Samantha Giusti said was a smart chice. The location, however, is different: Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, 433 Chestnut St. Giusti said the organization was taken by the venue’s ambiance and wanted to capitalize on the new hotel. There will also be a new after-party at Fire & Ice, 312 Market St., where guests will be treated to a drag show. “We haven’t done an after-party because the format was different in the past years, so with making it a brunch, we wanted to have an after-party,” Giusti said. “Fire & Ice is less than half-a-block away, which is convenient for folks to make it over there.” The agency will also present a new award, the Lifetime Legacy, which Giusti said allows the agency to honor someone with a longtime LGBT commitment. “HEROES usually looks at a person’s contributions to the LGBT community primarily within the last year and when we do that, we miss a lot of people,” she said. The inaugural award will go to John Cunningham. Other awardees include Franny Price, former Congressman Patrick Murphy, Chantel Wilson, The Philadelphia Foundation and Rossi Wellness Center. DVLF will also present its National HERO Award this year to an individual — out figure skater Johnny Weir. The award has in the past been given to a nonprofit organization doing national LGBT work. “Johnny Weir is from Coatesville, and we love it when the national awardee has roots to our community,” Giusti said. “He has been generous with his time by volunteering for different LGBT organizations, specifically those with LGBT youth connections. Weir’s contribution to the LGBT community and his focus on youth is really important to us as an organization that is focusing our grantmaking on youth this year.” Giusti said all of the HEROES have made impressive contributions to the community. “They bring a lot of heart, drive, integrity and selflessness,” she said. “DVLF wanted to identify a group of individuals who are selfless in intention to give back to the community and who are courageous and bold, and that’s what we have. They are heroic.” For more information on the event, visit www.dvlf.org/heroes2013.
