SALISBURY ó Salisbury/ Rowan Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will host the chapterís fifth annual Autumn SoirČe, its major fundraiser to benefit the chapterís scholarship foundation, sponsored by Food Lion, a subsidiary of Delhaize America and other businesses and individuals. The event will be 6-10 p.m. Oct. 29 at Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee Street.
Carol Williams-Swoope, chairwoman of the scholarships advisory committee, said the fundraiser has allowed the local chapter to award 16 $1,000 scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight students in Rowan County over the last five years.
ěThe success of this scholarship foundation is a testament to the support and generosity of donors, sponsors, businesses and individuals in our community who share the common mission and vision of PFLAG,î she said.
Since its start in 2007, the Salisbury-Rowan PFLAG Scholarship Foundation has added scholarships each year and now awards four: The Anne Stanback-Charlotte Kinlock Scholarship, named in honor of the Salisbury native and her wife, Charlotte; the Founderís Equality Scholarship, named in honor of chapter founder Michael Clawson; a scholarship named in honor of Salisbury native Linda Ketner; and the Bob Page-Dale Frederiksen Scholarship, named in honor of Bob Page, founder and CEO of Replacements, LTD., and his life partner Dale Frederiksen.
This year, Clawson said in a press release, the Salisbury-Rowan PFLAG Executive Committee and the Scholarships Advisory Committee have partnered with the Salisbury Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Foundation for the Carolinas, to maintain the chapterís scholarship fund.
ěBy having a separate scholarship fund with the foundation, we will have access to their investment options as well as a vehicle to help our fund grow into an endowed scholarship fund that can support multiple annual scholarships for youth in our county. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to seeing our fund grow,î he said.
This yearís fundraiser will be a silent auction/raffle with food, drinks and entertainment. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Janie Long, director of the Center For LGBT Life at Duke University.
Long began working with LGBTQ issues on campus in 1993 at the University of Georgia, where she held her first full-time academic appointment. She helped develop safe space training and provided leadership for statewide Beyond Tolerance conferences. She has also served as a faculty advisor to LGBTQ student groups and mentored those students on several campuses. Currently, she is a fellow at the Rockway Institute for LGBT Research and Public Policy and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of LGBT Family Studies. Long has also made numerous national and international presentations on LGBTQ issues and published numerous related articles and book chapters. She is an affiliated faculty member with the programs in Womenís Studies and Sexuality Studies at Duke. Long also serves on the board of directors of Equality NC.
The Ashley Jo Farmer Band, led by Salisbury singer and songwriter Farmer, will provide entertainment. Personal chef Lee Piper will prepare food for the evening.
Many local businesses, artists, members and friends of the organization have donated items for auction and raffle. Dress is casual and the cover charge is $30 and $15 for students. Tickets may be purchased at Critters or Greyshores Trading Co. in downtown Salisbury or Green Goat Gallery in Spencer.