The William Way LGBT Community Center will once again host its annual Indigo Ball at Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia.
The Oct. 14 event will include a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, a three-course meal and live music. In honor of its Parisian theme, the event will feature some added “sparkle.”
“We’re asking people to dress glittery and sparkly for this particular Indigo Ball,” said William Way Executive Director Chris Bartlett. “It’s always a black-tie event but we’re asking people to bring some glitter and sparkle to the evening.”
Each year, the center presents awards to individuals and organizations. The following will be recognized:
- Lifetime Achievement: Stevie Martin-Chester of “Men of All Colors Together”
- Community Service: C.C. Tellez of Lez Running Club
- Corporate Partner of the Year: Independence Blue Cross
- Community Partner of the Year: Independence National Historical Park
- John J. Wilcox, Jr. Leadership and Service: Laurie Ward, former William Way board co-chair
“We really wanted to reflect a group of individuals and organizations who had a direct impact on the community center,” Bartlett said. “Stevie, through Men of All Colors Together, has been a longtime supporter of our work and a donor. C.C. raised all of the money through Pride Run. Independence Blue Cross has been a major granter and supporter of our work and we have many members who are employed at Independence Blue Cross who have done work through their employee-resource group. Independence National Historical Park — we were partners on a grant from the Department of the Interior this year to do LGBT history work with the park and that included LGBT history tours and a new version of the Speaking Out for Equality exhibit, which will be showing in the Liberty Bell Pavilion. They have been really great partners over the last year. And Laurie Ward served many years as co-chair of the board and has been a great friend of the center.”
Bartlett said the event will include live performances from DJ Mz Deluxx and Cookie Diorio. Additionally, center leadership will present a silent auction that will include a chance to win tickets to Rufus Wainwright’s Jan. 19 performance with the Philly Pops, a set of 10 tickets for a Flyers game and round-trip American Airlines tickets with hotel arrangements to a location of the guest’s choice.
The event will also focus on the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives with a video and conversation about supporting the archives through donations and contributions.
“They reflect our incredibly rich history but they also help us imagine what our future is going to look like,” Bartlett said about the archives. “When you visit the archives and you see either periodicals or items that people have donated, you get to see where we’ve come from and you can also imagine what you can contribute out of your own story, whether that’s stuff that you pull out of your own personal archives or items that have been sitting in the closet that will help us continue to tell the story of the evolution of LGBT community and culture in Philadelphia.”
Indigo Ball will be held 5:30-11 p.m. Oct. 14 at Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia, 120 S. 17th St. Visit http://bit.ly/2xCtzR8 to purchase tickets.