Pridelines Youth Services, a nonprofit organization that provides education and support services for South Florida’s gay youth, held its annual fund-raiser on Saturday night for more than 200 people at the So Cool eVenue. Anjé Soirees event planners Andi Dyal and Jennifer Schwartz—the latter of whom is on the nonprofit’s board of directors—switched up the sixth annual event’s format from a traditional dinner-dance to a casino night cocktail party.
“We had done a formal, seated [event] in the past and we were looking for something edgier this year,” said Schwartz, who along with Dyal helped with the last-minute details for 2008’s fund-raiser at Jungle Island.
Additionally, Pridelines executive director Luigi Ferrer lowered ticket prices by $50 from last year's $125 for general admission and $150 for V.I.P. tickets. “Without the big sit-down meal we had last year, we cut costs there so that we could make our tickets less expensive, which [in return] helped get more people to attend,” said Ferrer. He added that attendance numbers were a concern as a large number of the organization’s supporters are Jewish and the event fell on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Schwartz and Dyal converted the warehouse-style venue into a brightly colored casino with light-up acrylic tables, chairs, gaming tables—manned by dealers from A Hot Party—and a dance floor from So Cool Events. Aaron’s Catering provided passed hors d’oeuvres like bruschetta, grilled chicken quesadillas, and iced Gulf shrimp.
Attendees each received $25 in fake casino chips when they arrived, though additional chips could be purchased in $25 increments for $5 donations. Those with V.I.P. tickets had access to the venue’s ice lounge.
Former youth member Josh Santiago served as M.C. for the night, welcoming local R&B singer Gaby Duran, who sang two songs.
The organization raised about $12,000 from tickets sales, which along with the funds from the silent auction will help fund Pridelines educational and youth programs as well as its annual LBGT Youth Prom next June.
Sponsors included Bacardi, 411 magazine, and The South Florida Blade.
Correction: So Cool Events provided the illuminated casino gaming tables, not A Hot Party as originally reported. A Hot Party provided the dealers and chips.
