On May 20, New England’s LGBTQIA+ community will enjoy a can’t-miss evening of fashion and fine dining at the Omni Boston Seaport at Fenway Health’s 2023 Gala, an elegant celebration that raises funds to support Fenway’s life-saving care, research, education, and advocacy work.
Following on the heels of a highly successful inaugural event in 2022, this year’s Gala will take place in two parts – the Main Event and the After Party. The Gala is the latest evolution of our historic fundraisers, The Dinner Party and The Men’s Event and is the “see and be seen event” of the season, with glamour and style worthy of our history and future.
- Main Event – 6 – 9 PM
Hosted by WCVB Channel 5’s Jessica Brown, the Main Event will feature red carpet photo-ops, a cocktail hour, seated dinner, and live auction, and will recognize and honor those working to ensure a healthier future for the communities we serve. - After Party – 9 PM – 12 AM
With a deejay, live entertainment, refreshments, and a whole lot of dancing, the After Party is an unforgettable night of high-energy music and dancing featuring local talent, special guest appearances, and other highlights.
“The Fenway Gala is a once-a-year opportunity for our community and allies to come together in celebration and solidarity,” said Fenway Health Chief Executive Officer Ellen LaPointe. “We celebrate our wins, recommit to the work that must still be done, and appreciate and enjoy one another, all the while raising funds to support vital programs and services to address health disparities experienced by LGBTQIA+ individuals, BIPOC people, and those living with HIV here in Massachusetts. The Gala also helps support our research, education, and advocacy efforts to defend LGBTQIA+ rights and expand access to high quality, compassionate LGBTQIA+ care in the face of a rising tide of discriminatory legislation throughout the nation.”
At least 45 states currently have at least one anti-LGBTQIA+ bill on their legislative agenda and the Human Rights Campaign reports 150 of those are anti-trans bills seeking to criminalize access to gender affirming care and/or participation in school sports or restrict the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
During dinner, Fenway Health will be honoring individuals and organizations who embody our mission by helping pave the way for equitable and accessible healthcare and demonstrating the promise and resolve to ensure a healthier future for the communities we serve.
Kevin Churchwell, CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital, will be presenting two Fenway Leadership Awards. The first will be given to Karen and Rob Hale and the Hale Family who demonstrate extraordinary ally-ship, to the LGBTQIA+ community through their generous support of youth experiencing homelessness.
Karen and Rob Hale believe deeply in supporting local communities through philanthropy and have pledged or donated more than $300 million to a broad range of causes in New England and beyond. Last year alone they made $52M in grants from their Foundation – $1M per week to organizations making a difference on a wide range of causes, from environmental conservation to youth mental health to equality for our underserved local communities, including Fenway’s Youth on Fire program.
The second Fenway Leadership Award is being presented to Boston Pride For The People, a group of community members who have come together to reimagine Boston’s LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration to be more inclusive. Boston Pride For The People is a volunteer-led organization that plans activities and events that celebrate the rich diversity, culture, and intersectionality of the LGBTQIA+ community, including BIPOC people and those identifying as transgender or non-binary.
Corporate sponsors include:
- Presenting Sponsors: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Moderna, and Point32 Health
- Platinum Sponsors: Eastern Bank, Gilead, and Takeda
- Gold Sponsors: PTC, PWC, and Vertex
For more information about the Fenway Health Gala, visit celebratefenway.org.