The Our Fund Foundation hosted the seventh annual South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards Presented by Bank of America Private Bank on February 7,2026 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
The signature event celebrated five outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in philanthropy, volunteerism and emerging leadership to lift up South Florida’s LGBTQ community.
“We are proud to celebrate these exceptional leaders whose generosity and vision continue to transform our community,” said David Jobin, President and CEO of The Our Fund Foundation. “They embody our mission to advance philanthropy and help make South Florida the nation’s most vibrant and welcoming place for LGBTQ individuals.”
The 2026 class of South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy awardees included:
Philanthropists of the Year
This year, The Our Fund Foundation is proud to recognize three remarkable men Don Croxton, Russell Vance and Peter Zimmer as our Philanthropists of the Year. Each individual has spent a lifetime giving generously to strengthen South Florida’s LGBTQ community. But what makes this recognition especially powerful is the way their philanthropy has deepened in recent years.
Croxton has been a steadfast champion of South Florida’s LGBTQ community, investing his time, talent and resources to strengthen the region’s performing arts and community institutions. A longtime supporter of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, Don continues to build spaces for representation and community building for gay men in South Florida, honoring the legacy he built with his late husband, Doug Pew.
Vance has been among the pioneering donors bringing sustained, strategic resources to LGBTQ philanthropy in our region. In the years since the passing of his late husband, Eddie Schwartz, Russell has deepened his philanthropy, stepping forward with significant gifts that support arts, culture, and equity organizations at a moment when public funding has sharply retreated.
Zimmer, together with his late husband Jim Stepp, has been a powerful force in South Florida and national LGBTQ philanthropy. Through their donor-advised fund at The Our Fund Foundation, Peter has carried forward the generous vision he and Jim shared, supporting LGBTQ organizations that strengthen community, culture, and care. His recent work includes hosting community-giving events and affirming that legacy philanthropy means both scale and heart.
Commitment to a Cause Award
Karen Kelley is a South Florida native and longtime realtor who has emerged as a key leader in the lesbian and women’s scene. As Board Chair of the Stonewall Museum & Archives, she has shepherded exhibits and community-engagement efforts that protected and broadcasted LGBTQ history; this includes a recreation of the original Stonewall Inn riot site with actual Stonewall uprising participants. Her insight into “what the community needs” is rooted in lived experience and is focused on future-facing equality for lesbian and transgender women alike.
Next Generation Philanthropy Award
Jonathan Sanz serves as President of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and is actively involved in broadening the organization’s reach, performance impact, and community engagement. Under his leadership, the chorus has produced bold concerts that have received critical acclaim and expanded audience access to queer arts. Jonathan’s work blends artistic excellence, operational leadership, and generational vision.
Content Courtesy of Pierson Grant PR
