AIDS Fund Hosts 17th Annual Black-Tie GayBINGO

Guests drank cocktails, bid in a silent auction and played bingo (of course) while raising funds for HIV and AIDS education, prevention and services.

By HughE Dillon· 3/22/2016, 4:43 p.m.

The AIDS Fund held its fancy, fun and charitable 17th annual Black-Tie GayBINGO! event Saturday night at the Loews. The night opened with a cocktail party, where guests mingled and bid on great items in the silent auction. Guests headed into the ballroom for dinner and bingo games. The Bingo Verifying Divas (BVDs) dressed in glamorous drag and entertained the crowd while fund-raising for HIV and AIDS took place. At this year’s event the AIDS Fund honored several people, including their “Favorite Straight Person of the Year,” Judith Porter, “Volunteer of the Year” Robert Murray and the owners of the Woods Campground. The AIDS Fund is the producer of AIDS Walk Philly, GayBINGO and other fund-raising and awareness programs throughout the year.

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Bingo Verifying Divas at Black-Tie GayBINGO with the celebration cake. Thunder Showers, Messapotamia Lefae, Stella D'Oro, Selma Boddie, Anita Manhattan, Maddy Milan, Mistress of Ceremonies Carlota Ttendant and Summer Clearance.

Candice Thompson, chief operating officer of William Way, and Karis Slattery.

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Kurt Douglass celebrates his bingo win at the Philadelphia FIGHT table.

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Ben Jones, Johanna Irby, Andrew Whitmire, and Anthony May-Mazza.

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Nurit Shein, CEO of Mazzoni Center and R Perry Monastero, Mazzoni Center.

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Kevin Cotton, Evon Burton, Philadelphia FIGHT, Lee Brownlee, Zach Wilcha, executive director IBA, and Chip Alfred, Philadelphia FIGHT.

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Gwynn and Victor Stott, owner of Vu World.

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Thunder Showers standing in front of a few panels from The AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was on display at the Black-Tie GayBINGO.

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Keisha Diggs and Terrie Hawkins.

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Brian O'Neill, William Holmstrom and Mike Krier.

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Henry Patterson and Chip Ellis.

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Participants at the Black-Tie GayBINGO event pledged to play gay bingo until AIDS is eradicated.

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Stella D'Oro and Robb Reichard, executive director of the AIDS Fund, paid tribute to Robert Murray, who was honored with the Ferrara Family Volunteer Award. Rob began volunteering with the AIDS Fund 4 years ago selling raffles at the monthly GayBINGO events. For the past two years he has coordinated the logistics of the AIDS Walk and AIDS Run Philly each October. Even at the event on Saturday night he insisted on volunteering his time.

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John Hollingshead and Anita Manhattan.

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Selma Boddie and Judy Porter, who was honored with the Favorite Straight Person of the Year.

HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

AIDS Fund Hosts 17th Annual Black-Tie GayBINGO

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