'Elixir' event on Friday, May 18 - Mazzoni Center
'Elixir' event on Friday, May 18 - Mazzoni Center
'Elixir' event on Friday, May 18 - Mazzoni Center
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C<strong>on</strong>tact: Elisabeth Flynn<br />
Senior Communicati<strong>on</strong>s Manager<br />
eflynn@mazz<strong>on</strong>icenter.org<br />
215-563-0652 x 275<br />
MAZZONI CENTER CELEBRATES COMMUNITY ALLIES<br />
WITH ‘ELIXIR: THE CURE FOR THE COMMON GALA’ ON FRIDAY, MAY <strong>18</strong>, 2012<br />
Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong>’s annual celebrati<strong>on</strong> and fundraiser returns to <strong>Center</strong> City this spring<br />
with Elixir: the Cure for the Comm<strong>on</strong> Gala, which will take place at the Loews Philadelphia<br />
Hotel (1200 Market Street) <strong>on</strong> <strong>Friday</strong>, <strong>May</strong> <strong>18</strong> from 7:00-10:00 P.M., with a special VIP<br />
recepti<strong>on</strong> from 6:00-7:00 P.M. The theme of this year’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> is “Celebrating our Allies,” and<br />
to that end Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> will recognize a few individuals whose acti<strong>on</strong>s, c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s, or<br />
support have made an impact <strong>on</strong> the health and well-being of the LGBT community. Secretary<br />
of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will receive the Peter Mazz<strong>on</strong>i Award, for her<br />
leadership and commitment in addressing specific health issues that impact LGBT Americans,<br />
and improving their access to quality care. Secretary Sebelius will accept the award via video<br />
from Washingt<strong>on</strong>, while Joanne Grossi, Regi<strong>on</strong>al Director for HHS in Philadelphia, represents<br />
the agency <strong>on</strong> her behalf.<br />
Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joe Valentine will receive the Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> Ally<br />
Award. Valentine received attenti<strong>on</strong> in 2005 when he revealed to members of the press that he<br />
had been raised by two lesbian mothers. "I just wanted to give them some sort of recogniti<strong>on</strong> for<br />
this," he said at the time. "I feel in my heart they did a great job with me, and I thought it would<br />
be nice to just have them see that I appreciated it.” Valentine has become a role model to youth<br />
with gay and lesbian parents throughout the country, and has lent his time name and time to<br />
several organizati<strong>on</strong>s promoting fairness and equality for all individuals.
Master of Cerem<strong>on</strong>ies for the Elixir <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> will be Jim D<strong>on</strong>ovan, CBS 3 Eyewitness News<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sumer Reporter.<br />
“Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> was founded by volunteers who were both community members and<br />
allies, and we have been fortunate over the years to receive an increasing amount of recogniti<strong>on</strong><br />
and support from individuals and organizati<strong>on</strong>s outside the LGBT community,” Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong><br />
Executive Director Nurit L. Shein said, adding: “without their involvement we would not have<br />
been able to grow the organizati<strong>on</strong> and to make the significant gains for our communities that we<br />
have seen in recent years.”<br />
“Knowing that we have allies <strong>on</strong> the federal level, like Secretary Sebelius, gives us the<br />
opportunity to address the needs and health c<strong>on</strong>cerns of our community,” Shein explained.<br />
“Under her leadership the Department of Health and Human Services has made significant<br />
changes in both pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g>i<strong>on</strong> and care that have advanced the well being of LGBT individuals. The<br />
Peter Mazz<strong>on</strong>i Award is our way of acknowledging the Secretary for her support, and celebrating<br />
what it represents for our communities.”<br />
Guests at this year’s Elixir <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> will enjoy cocktails, a selecti<strong>on</strong> of passed hors d'oeuvres<br />
and buffet, musical entertainment by DJ Carl Michaels, plus a silent aucti<strong>on</strong>, and more. Newly<br />
crowned Mr. Gay Philadelphia, Sean Green, will also be <strong>on</strong> hand to mingle with guests.<br />
Guests who purchase VIP tickets will also enjoy complimentary champagne, free valet<br />
parking, plus cocktails, appetizers, and live jazz by the Behn Gillece Duo. All VIP guests will<br />
automatically be entered into a special drawing, and will mingle with h<strong>on</strong>oree Joe Valentine and<br />
some of the <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s h<strong>on</strong>orary committee members. Tickets for the VIP <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> are $250, and<br />
general admissi<strong>on</strong> tickets are $125. Tickets are available <strong>on</strong>line at: www.mazz<strong>on</strong>icenter.org<br />
Elixir co-chair and Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> Board President Kelly Harris said: “In additi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
celebrating the work of allies who have made a difference, our goal with this <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> is to raise<br />
funds for and awareness about those members of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in our<br />
area who c<strong>on</strong>tinue to need our support and direct services, whether in primary medical care,<br />
mental health, legal, or social service programs.”<br />
H<strong>on</strong>orary Committee members for this year’s Elixir <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> are: Robert L. Barchi, M.D.,<br />
Ph.D., President, Thomas Jeffers<strong>on</strong> University; the H<strong>on</strong>orable Bl<strong>on</strong>dell Reynolds Brown; Vik
Dewan, President of the Philadelphia Zoo; the H<strong>on</strong>orable Chaka Fattah; the H<strong>on</strong>orable Babette<br />
Josephs; Billie Jean King, tennis champi<strong>on</strong> and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient; the<br />
H<strong>on</strong>orable Mike O’Brien; the H<strong>on</strong>orable Allys<strong>on</strong> Schwartz; Susan Sherman, President,<br />
Independence Foundati<strong>on</strong>; the H<strong>on</strong>orable Mark Squilla; Huds<strong>on</strong> Taylor (founder of Athlete Ally)<br />
and Lia Parafax.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been generously sp<strong>on</strong>sored by: Walgreens, Loews Philadelphia Hotel,<br />
Woody’s, The Philadelphia Gay News, Media Copy, Brian Moss Design, the Tavern Group, and<br />
Cancer Treatment <strong>Center</strong>s of America.<br />
Tickets and more informati<strong>on</strong> are available at: www.mazz<strong>on</strong>icenter.org or by calling 215-<br />
563-0652 x 2<strong>18</strong>.<br />
About Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong><br />
Established in 1979, Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> provides quality comprehensive health and<br />
wellness services and is the <strong>on</strong>ly health care provider in the Philadelphia regi<strong>on</strong> specifically<br />
targeting the unique health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)<br />
communities. Mazz<strong>on</strong>i <strong>Center</strong> offers a full array of outreach, pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>event</str<strong>on</strong>g>i<strong>on</strong>, educati<strong>on</strong>, direct<br />
medical and care services, psychosocial services, legal services, and support groups, and is<br />
dedicated preserving the dignity and improving the quality of life of the individuals it serves. It<br />
is the oldest AIDS service organizati<strong>on</strong> in the Comm<strong>on</strong>wealth of Pennsylvania, and the fourth-<br />
oldest in the U.S. With over 33,000 individuals benefiting annually from its services, Mazz<strong>on</strong>i<br />
<strong>Center</strong> is a leader am<strong>on</strong>g community-based organizati<strong>on</strong>s in the greater Philadelphia area, with a<br />
reputati<strong>on</strong> for excellence and innovati<strong>on</strong> in service delivery to its c<strong>on</strong>stituents. More informati<strong>on</strong><br />
at: www.mazz<strong>on</strong>icenter.org