ROSMY Announces 2013 Catalyst Award Recipients for Their Work to Support LGBTQ Youth in Central Virginia
The Valentine Richmond History Center, Congregation Beth Ahabah and Dorothy Fillmore to be recognized at annual Springtime fundraiser
Richmond, Virginia (March 20, 2013) – With spring around the corner, ROSMY is excited to announce the recipients of its 2013 Catalyst Awards. The honorees were chosen based on their work in the community to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Catalyst Award recipients will be recognized at the organization’s annual fundraiser, Springtime: A Jazzy Affair on Saturday, April 20 from 7-11 p.m. at The Hippodrome Theater.
The 2013 Catalyst Award Recipients
The Valentine Richmond History Center: For more than 100 years, the Valentine Richmond History Center has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Richmond, Virginia. In that time, the VRHC has recognized the importance of the LGBTQ community to the city by collecting and sharing the history of gays and lesbians in the area. The museum is now home to the rainbow Pride flag which flew outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond during Gay Pride Month in June 2011. The Pride flag is the 50th object in the VRHC’s newest exhibit: “A History of Richmond in 50 Objects.”
Congregation Beth Ahabah: Located in Richmond, Beth Ahabah is a thriving Reform Jewish congregation. The synagogue is known for its inclusive culture and its teachings of acceptance and respect for all people. The synagogue has welcomed gay clergy and celebrated same sex marriages.
Ms. Dorothy Fillmore: Fillmore has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights most of her adult life and in the process, touched dozens of organizations across Central Virginia. Fillmore served as a member of Richmond AIDS Ministry’s first care team for persons and families living with HIV/AIDS. She served on the national board of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, advocating for full inclusion. A VCU administrative faculty member, she is a member and former co-chair of VCU Equality where she has contributed to the university’s five-year diversity plan and other initiatives supporting LGBTQ students, staff, and faculty. She is actively involved in the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Glen Allen, a welcoming congregation to LGBTQ.
“ROSMY remains committed to supporting Virginia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and ensuring they have a safe future,” said ROSMY executive director Beth Panilaitis. “This year’s Catalyst Award winners have made positive impacts on the lives of youth and many others in the Richmond community. We’re proud that we can honor them at this year’s Springtime event.
Springtime: A Jazzy Affair is presented by BB&T Wealth Management. Other generous sponsors include Weinstein Properties, Pence Subaru, Lewis Insurance Associates, CarMax, Mosaic Catering, Dominion Heating and Air Conditioning and PFLAG – Blue Ridge. Flowers donated by Flowers By Natalie, out of located in Charlottesville, Va.
Tickets for Springtime: A Jazzy Affair
Tickets are $125, with proceeds going to ROSMY’s programming that supports LGBTQ youth. The evening will include a cocktail reception, music by jazz quartet, As If, lead by VCU saxophonist, Myrick Crampton, and a silent auction featuring a variety of items from vacation getaways to one-of-a-kind art created by local and regional artists. For more information and ticket sales, please visit the website or call 804-644-4800.
ABOUT ROSMY
ROSMY was founded in 1991 to ensure equal opportunities for success for Virginia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth through access to support, education, and advocacy. ROSMY continues to be the only organization in Virginia that addresses the unique needs and the healthy social development of LGBTQ youth ages 14-20. ROSMY provides weekly support groups, a leadership program, and cultural activities through their Art’s Initiative. Other activities are hosted throughout the year including an annual Alternative Prom that more than 100 youth attended in 2011. ROSMY’s Institute for Equality has trained hundreds of social workers, teachers, and mental health professionals throughout Central Virginia on how to better serve the LGBTQ youth they work with.
