The Center on Halsted Reminds Chicago: We Are All Human First

A benefit held this month for the Midwest’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community center raised about $1,050,000, benefiting various community programs at the Center on Halsted, located at 3656 N. Halsted St.

The 18th annual Human First Gala, the center’s largest event of the year and their primary source of revenue, helps programs such as the Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), mental health services, a youth program as well as recreational and cultural activities.

Janine Denomme, the director of the youth program, said the Center relies heavily on the good will of donors to support outreach programs like leadership development classes, career counseling, HIV prevention and various support groups.

“The event’s fundraising will help fund our expanding hours and our vocational programs,” Denomme said. The proceeds will allow for extending the daily programming from five to 12 hours.

“The gala is a time to dress up and rub elbows with famous people; it is a night of good entertainment and good food filled with thousands of people coming out to support the center,” Denomme said.

Jason McViker, director of the mental health services, said the Center on Halsted’s individual, family and group mental health counseling are provided on a “sliding-scale basis” based on the participant’s income.

Since most of the people seeking mental health services and support groups are low-income or need-based, the Center relies primarily on donors to offset the high cost, McViker said.

“The need is so great that being able to add more staff and have more providers on the mental health team would be a wonderful objective to meet,” McViker said. “We are just stretched to the max.”

In attendance at the event was the Center on Halsted’s former executive director, Robbin Burr with her partner Lisa Loudin. Burr, lauded for her extensive work in the Center’s establishment, said that while previous galas focused on acquiring funds to build the new center, this year will focus on expanding the various programs.

“This event is very important because it funds the Center on Halsted, which acts as a hub to Chicago’s GLBT community,” Burr said.

The event, hosted by political comedian and author Kate Clinton, offered individual and corporate donors a cocktail reception, a concert from actress Lorna Luft, dinner and dancing.

The night’s honoree was Patrick Sheahan, praised as one of the driving forces behind the Center.

Mark Costello, a resident of Lincoln Park and individual donor, attended the Human First Gala for the first time.

“Tonight serves a center that acts as an informational outlet for the community,” Costello said. “It is important, especially for the gay youth of the city.”