Ricky Martin, Greg Berlanti & Robbie Rogers, And Ariadne Getty To Be Honored At 49th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards On Saturday, Sept. 22
The Los Angeles LGBT Center announced today that Grammy winner, philanthropist, and writer Ricky Martin; producer, writer, director Greg Berlanti and his husband producer Robbie Rogers; and philanthropist Ariadne Getty will be honored at its 49th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards on Saturday, September 22, at The Beverly Hilton.
One of the nation’s premier LGBT charity events, the Center’s Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards brings together more than 1,200 of the region’s most important leaders and influencers in the civic, corporate, entertainment, and philanthropic communities to celebrate this year’s inspirational honorees for their unwavering support of the LGBT community and their dedication to creating positive change in the world. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, and entertainment, along with a not-to-be-missed silent auction that includes high-end items, packages, and experiences.
Tickets are now on sale at lalgbtcenter.org/gala. For the latest event news and information, follow @lalgbtcenter on social media and join the conversation using #VanguardAwards.
“Our honorees fully embody strength, compassion, and resilience. They set the stage for what will be an amazing and inspiring evening,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “At a time when threats to the well-being of the LGBT community happen almost daily, this event will be a celebration of our collective humanity and commitment to building a world where LGBT people thrive.”
Recently nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the FX Drama Series, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Ricky Martin continues to soar in his third decade as a leader in the entertainment industry. Since his first solo album release in 1991, Martin has appreciated a worldwide fan base, sold over 70 million records, and has won multiple Grammy awards. In 2004 he founded The Ricky Martin Foundation, an organization dedicated to denouncing and exposing global human trafficking, a worldwide crime that enslaves approximately 30 million people. After the catastrophic Hurricanes Irma and Maria of Puerto Rico in 2017, Martin was compelled to start an initiative to revive his homeland. The Ricky Martin Foundation organized The Puerto Rico Relief Fund which has raised almost $5 million to date.
WGA, DGA, and Golden Globe-nominated writer, director, and producer Greg Berlanti is the force behind the most inventive and acclaimed works in film and television. He is best known for his work as executive producer and co-creator of The CW’s Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. Upcoming television projects include Lifetime’s straight-to-series thriller You; the live-action version of DC Entertainment’s Titans, as well as Doom Patrol; Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for Netflix; All American for The CW; God Friended Me and The Red Line for CBS; and recently announced Batwoman series for The CW. Berlanti will make television history with a total of 14 scripted series on the air at the same time. His most recent feature directorial project is the critically acclaimed Love, Simon.
Television producer and former professional soccer player Robbie Rogers is best known as the first openly gay male athlete to compete in a top North American professional sports league. Internationally, Rogers represented the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing in 2008. Rogers published his memoir Coming Out to Play in 2014 and was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. As an LGBT advocate, he currently works closely with charities such as GLSEN, championing LGBT issues in K‐12 Education, and serves as an Ambassador for The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, providing educational, strategic and financial assistance to grassroots organizations supporting LGBTQ communities and individuals. He will produce the upcoming new series All American to debut on The CW in October 2018.
Ariadne Getty is a lifelong philanthropist dedicated to serving disenfranchised populations. She is the president and executive director of the Ariadne Getty Foundation, which since 2004 has partnered with nonprofit organizations worldwide to improve the lives of individuals and communities through large-scale investments and social activism. In addition to financial contributions, Ariadne donates her time and energy to causes she supports. As a member of GLAAD’s board of directors since 2016, she works tirelessly to inspire and motivate others to better understand and accept the LGBTQ community.
The 49th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards is co-chaired by Center Board member Michael Lombardo and longtime Center supporter Kathy Kloves with fellow committee members Karim Abay, Tess Ayers, and LuAnn Boylan. Previous honorees include Miley Cyrus, Jane Fonda, Elton John, George and Brad Takei, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Wanda Sykes, and Lily Tomlin.
2018 Diamond Sponsors: Audi of America and Wells Fargo; Platinum Sponsors: Tito’s Handmade Vodka and U.S. Bank; Gold Sponsors: BCG Digital Ventures, Barry McCabe, Citi Private Bank, Comcast NBCUniversal, Gilead, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, LabCorp, and Southern California Gas Company; Preferred Airline Partner: American Airlines.
About the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center's nearly 700 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people can be healthy, equal and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.
Original Post on Los Angeles LGBT Center