Diversity Honors will recognize Dolores Huerta, president/founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation & co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America with Cesar Chavez, on April 27 in Hollywood, Fla.
What sets this event apart is that the men, women and youth that we honor, and those who receive a Milk medal, have had such incredible impact on the lives of so many people -- not for fame or glory - but to inspire us all.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (PRWEB) March 27, 2018
Diversity Honors presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, has announced its 2018 honorees. The April 27th gala benefitting Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park will recognize Dolores Huerta, president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America with Cesar Chavez, with the Harvey Milk Foundation Honors Medal award presented by Stuart Milk, nephew of the late civil rights icon, Harvey Milk (1930-1978). Craig Stevens, WSVN-TV anchor, David Richardson, Florida State Representative serving District 113 and current primary candidate for Congress in Florida's 27th District and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Gay-Straight Alliance will also be recognized as local leaders who have made a significant impact on improving the quality of life for the LGBTQ community.
Emceed by WSVN’s Lynn Martinez, the globally renowned celebration serves as a kick-off to Harvey Milk Day events around the world and spotlights those who are transforming lives by living authentically and advancing inclusiveness.
“It is significant for South Florida to be in our fourth year with one of the most amazing awards events in our nation, partnered with and at an amazing sponsor and venue, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino," said Stuart Milk, executive chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation. "What sets this event apart is that the men, women and youth that we honor, and those who receive a Milk medal, have had such incredible impact on the lives of so many people -- not for fame or glory - but to inspire us all."
Dolores Huerta is an iconic Latina women's rights leader, labor leader, activist and community organizer who has worked for civil rights and social justice for over 50 years. In 1962, she and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers of America. In 2002, she received the Puffin/Nation prize for Creative Citizenship which she used to establish the Dolores Huerta Foundation. DHF connects community-based organizing to state and national movements to register and educate voters; advocate for education reform; bring about infrastructure improvements in low-income communities; advocate for greater equality for the LGBT community; and create strong leadership development.
Dolores Clara Fernandez was born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, a mining town in the mountains of New Mexico. Her father Juan Fernández, a farm worker and miner by trade, was a labor activist who ran for political office and won a seat in the New Mexico legislature in 1938. Her mother, Alicia Chavez was an independent business woman. She owned and ran a 70-room motel.
Huerta is a two-time U.S. Presidential Award Recipient; she received the Medal of Freedom Award from President Obama in 2012, the highest civilian award in the United States, and the Eleanor D. Roosevelt Human Rights Award from President Clinton in 1998. She has received many other awards including Mexico’s Order of the Aztec Eagle Award (the highest decoration awarded by the Mexican Government to foreign nationals), the James Smithson Award from the Smithsonian Institution, the Icons of the American Civil Rights Movement Award, bestowed to her in 2011 by the National Civil Rights Museum. Huerta is a U. S. Department of Labor Hall of Honor inductee and she was the first Latina inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She is a University of California Regent and has earned honorary doctorates from universities throughout the United States.
March 27 marks the PBS prime time premiere of “DOLORES,” a critically acclaimed documentary about the life and work of Huerta produced by Carlos Santana and directed by Peter Bratt. The program also features interviews with Gloria Steinem, Luis Valdez, Angela Davis and more. The intimate and inspiring portrait of a passionate champion of the oppressed and the indomitable woman willing to accept the personal sacrifices involved in committing one’s life to social change will continue to stream and air throughout the month of April on local PBS stations.
“Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is committed to diversity and inclusiveness as part of a global brand philosophy,” said Susan Renneisen, vice president of community affairs and special events for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “We are proud to present this internationally recognized event which spotlights amazing people doing amazing things to advance human rights.”
The magical evening will commence with an elegant cocktail reception featuring live entertainment and an interactive balloon pop and raffle of more than 200 luxury items. Dinner will be a feast for the senses with creative cuisine at pop-up food stations plus an open bar. A memorable awards presentation will be followed by a decadent Stoli After-party with desserts, live entertainment, dancing and flowing spirits, also to be held at the Hard Rock Event Center.
This collaborative effort between the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park, along with generous support from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, has put South Florida on the international stage of LGBTQ rights and activism in honor of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States who was assassinated shortly after winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s historic service.
“For 25 years, The Pride Center at Equality Park has been synonymous with helping to improve the quality of life for the LGBT community,” said Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center. “As a safe haven and advocate for those who need us, we are proud of this event that spotlights those who work beside and with us to make the world a better place to live for all.”
Over the past three years, Diversity Honors has paid tribute to an impressive roster of honorees including civil rights activists Judy and Dennis Shepard, recipients of the Harvey Milk Foundation Honors Medal; Bollywood star Celina Jaitly and Ireland Senator Dr. David Norris who both received the Harvey Milk Foundation’s Lilla Watson Global Champion Medal; eight-year-old transgender YouTube viral inspiration Ryland Whittington, transgender teen activist Jazz Jennings – both recipients of the annual Harvey Milk Foundation Milan Rozsa Award plus Peter Clark, singer/actress Deborah Cox, Judge Rand Hoch, Robert Runcie, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, newly elected Mayor and past Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis and the CEO of Stoli Group USA Patrick Piana.
Sponsors of Diversity Honors 2018 include Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, DMK – Danne Montague-King, Stoli Vodka, Levi’s®, Norwegian, Macy’s, Miami Foundation, Stegelmann Family, GPR | Goodman Public Relations, Hotspots! magazine, WSVN, Ludwig Framemakers, Fast Printz and Lightship Media.
Tickets are $200 per person, plus a service fee, for the black-tie optional event. To reserve tickets or for more information, please visit http://www.DiversityHonors.com.
About The Harvey Milk Foundation
The Harvey Milk Foundation is a global non-profit NGO that promotes Harvey Milk’s inspiring legacy through human rights education and global outreach. In 1977, Harvey Milk (1930-1978) became the first openly LGBT elected official to a major office in the United States. He was assassinated in San Francisco’s City Hall 11 months later. The all-volunteer run foundation was founded by Harvey's nephew, Stuart Milk, and Anne Kronenberg, Harvey's campaign manager and political aide. Today, the Harvey Milk Foundation provides on-the-ground support and award-winning programing to struggling and emerging LGBT communities on 5 continents with over four dozen dedicated volunteer leaders and long term partnerships in 31 nations. For more information, please visit http://www.milkfoundation.org.
About The Pride Center at Equality Park
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, The Pride Center at Equality Park has provided a welcoming, safe space – an inclusive home – that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBT communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida. The Pride Center’s programs and services meet the distinct socio-economic, health, spiritual, and safety needs of the LGBT community. It hosts more than 60 regular meeting groups each month and more than 35,000 adults and youth attend activities at the Center, each year. Outreach activities over the past year directly impacted 50,000 residents and visitors to South Florida. The Pride Center is a major site for HIV testing and prevention, education and counseling and offers holistic and comprehensive support programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS, including the nationally acclaimed PALS Project. For more information, visit http://www.pridecenterflorida.org.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is South Florida's iconic entertainment destination located minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach. The AAA Four Diamond-rated resort features 469 luxury guest rooms and suites, award-winning restaurants, a lagoon-style pool and Beach Club Bar & Grill, a Hard Rock-inspired spa, premium meeting and convention space and a 5,500-seat Hard Rock Live concert arena. The casino offers 120 table games, 2,000 of the newest and most popular slots and a 37-table poker room. Fine dining options include Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, the resort’s signature steakhouse, and Kuro, a luxe and socially vibrant restaurant offering new-style Japanese cuisine. In the heart of the hotel is L Bar, a sophisticated, contemporary lounge showcasing handcrafted classic cocktails with a twist. Contemporary and casual eateries, include Blue Plate, the hotel’s 24-hour diner-inspired restaurant; Constant Grind, a gourmet coffee and pastry shop; and the ever-famous Hard Rock Cafe - Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 180 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll restaurants. For more information, call 800-937-0010, visit us online at http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com or follow us on Facebook: @SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly.
About Hard Rock Event Center
Hard Rock Event Center is the newly constructed 3,500-seat venue located in the northwest corner of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood. As part of the $1.5 billion property expansion, the former Hard Rock Live arena will be razed and replaced with a state-of-the-art 6,500-plus-seat venue in a theater-style configuration, slated to open in 2019. In the interim, a full schedule of concerts, comedy shows and other events will take place in the Hard Rock Event Center. Seminole Hard Rock has hosted some of the hottest musical acts such as John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Andrea Bocelli, Tim McGraw and Carlos Santana; top comedians including Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, George Lopez and the late Robin Williams; as well as major sporting events and events of major sports stars, from UFC matches to charity galas for Jason Taylor, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and more. For additional information, please visit http://www.myhrl.com.