Many South Floridians first came to the region as tourists. Toes in the sand, a warm breeze caressing your shoulders, you may have filled out dozens of postcards to envious friends back home. With a photo of a palm tree and waves printed in sun-bleached pastel colors, each card announced in block letters: Wish You Were Here.
Sent with a subtly snarky tease to friends stuck digging their cars out of snow banks, the postcards were also unintentionally confessional: you really did wish they were here with you. Even in paradise, watching ever-new fantasies walk by in speedos, the only thing missing was “you,” that friend or family member to sit by you, so that you could soak up the sun and scenery together.
This year, COVID-19 has most of us South Floridians feeling that same longing to connect, to share, to celebrate together. We feel like we’re trapped in a holiday snow globe: beautiful scenery, but no way to get out of our hard-shell social bubbles. As we enter the “Gala season,” who would have thought we’d actually miss the routine of dressing up for special events, crowding into function venues, and dining shoulder-to-shoulder at round-of-10 tables?
The local non-profit HIV/STD agency, Latinos Salud, is working to bring us all back together, for a special Gala event, on February 27, 2021. While we won’t be able to dance and dine together in the same venue, this Gala will stand out from the screen-staring affairs that have turned viewers into Zoom-zombies. Latinos Salud’s Gala will innovate, by breaking through the virtual wall, and turning the camera around to share all the fun from safe watch parties taking place all over the region.
The rapid-fire Gala event will be open to all, with tiers of attendees from Freemium up to V.I.P. All participants will enjoy:
- surprise guest artists,
- moving videos
- great silent auction items, and
- live feeds from safe watch parties.
The other big change this year is that instead of departing gift bags, pre-registered VIP guests will receive a “Benefit in a Box” before the event. Each of these boxes will be packed with handy items, snacks, and colorful surprises, all designed to bring the party to your home. If you register your safe watch party, you may even be invited to strut your stuff, share your perspective, or just make some noise for all of your friends to watch and enjoy.
Though the agency served over 5,000 individual community members this year, all of the staff at Latinos Salud still “Wish You Were Here,” to come together, and celebrate the better times ahead. With this special Gala, you will.
Pre-registration opens soon. Sign up to learn more, and be the first to get your tickets in a few weeks! Scan this code to sign up for more information, or just send an email to Events@LatinosSalud.org to be included in the event of the season!
