National LGBTQ Task Force’s 18th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner Breaks Fundraising Record

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 15, 2014 — The National LGBTQ Task Force hosted its 18th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner, “Sparkle,” presented by Wells Fargo, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on Saturday, October 11, 2014. The Miami Recognition Dinner honors individuals for their work to secure full equality for the LGBTQ community.

This year’s honorees included 2014 National Leadership Award recipient Kristin Beck, a transgender community activist and former Navy SEAL, and 2014 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award recipient James G. Pepper, a longtime LGBTQ rights activist, community leader and philanthropist. During the evening’s program, the City of Miami Beach presented a proclamation announcing October 11 as James G. Pepper Day. The event, co-hosted by Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Miami star Lea Black and South Beach icon Elaine Lancaster, featured a sizzling performance by Latin musical duo, Fede y Tiago. Attendees enjoyed cocktails by GREY GOOSE Vodka, a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items, a gourmet dinner and a glittering after-party with entertainment by popular local DJ AJ Reddy.

More than 60 sponsors, underwriters and a crowd of over 750 guests contributed to another record-breaking year for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual dinner. While the numbers are still being tallied, the event is expected to have grossed over $635,000. A number of influential guests attended the dinner, including retired tennis player Martina Navratilova, advocate Rodrigo Lehtinen and National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey.

The dinner also served as the official unveiling of the Task Force’s new, evolved brand, including the new tag line “Be You.”

Over the years, the Miami Recognition Dinner and its sister event, Winter Party Festival have become vital sources of funding for organizations serving the LGBTQ community. To date $1.85 million has been donated to support the important work of both the GLBT Community Projects Fund of The Miami Foundation and the National LGBTQ Task Force.

For more information, please visit www.miamirecognitiondinner.org. Find the Miami Recognition Dinner on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/MiamiDinner. Follow on Twitter and Instagram at @SparkleMRD. Join the conversation now by using the hashtag #2014SparkleMRD.

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To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce.

Media Contacts:
Mark Daley
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
(Office) 202.639.6325
(Cell) 202.379.8318
mdaley@thetaskforce.org

Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
(Office) 202.639.6306
(Cell) 213.842.7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org