At their Chic & Unique Ball: Wild Elegance
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) will present two prestigious awards at The Chic & Unique Ball: Wild Elegance on Saturday, October 24, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Susan Renneisen will receive the Douglas Jackson Pew Community Leadership Award. Brand g Vacations will receive the Corporate Crescendo Award.
The Douglas Jackson Pew Community Leadership Award is presented at the annual ball to individuals and organizations recognized as mission champions for the Chorus and for their strong commitment to advocating for and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Susan Renneisen serves as Vice President of Community Affairs and Special Events at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and those impacted by HIV/AIDS spans more than four decades.
Susan has been an especially strong and consistent ally to the LGBTQ+ community, supporting organizations, opening doors, creating opportunities, and encouraging those around her to become advocates themselves. Her impact is measured not only by the organizations she has supported, over 350 charities a year and over 50 LGBTQ+ charities and causes, but also by the people she has empowered and the relationships she has built throughout the community. From her leadership during the AIDS crisis to her continued advocacy today, Susan’s story represents more than 40 years of genuine and unwavering allyship. Long before LGBTQ+ inclusion became commonplace in corporate America, Susan was already doing the work, standing with the community, helping people in need, and using her voice and leadership to make a meaningful difference.
I asked Susan her thoughts and she said: “My journey as an ally began in Atlantic City during the early AIDS crisis, at a time when fear spoke louder than compassion. I saw a community hurting, and I knew that silence was not an option. Over the years, I have remained committed to raising awareness and providing support whenever possible. My belief is that human rights begin with recognizing the dignity, equality, and freedom of every person. Since moving to Florida, my involvement with the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and many other notable LGBTQ+ organization has strengthened my commitment to lead with empathy, stand with courage, and use my voice where it can make a difference. I am humbled to be selected to receive the Douglas Jackson Pew Community Leadership award, with Pride, at the Chic & Unique Ball on October 24. To be accepted by a community I have loved and supported for so many years is profoundly meaningful.”
The Corporate Crescendo Award is presented to corporate partners who make a significant impact within the organization and the broader community. Brand g Vacations has stood alongside GMCSF since the 2015 season. Founded in 2011, the company is the #1 operator of luxury all-LGBT+ cruises and land tours, setting the standard for inclusivity, quality, service, and philanthropy. Brand g believes that travel builds bridges, and every journey includes carefully selected 4.5- and 5-star accommodations, world-class guides, and signature entertainment that create life-changing experiences. Their mission extends far beyond vacation packages.
A major tenet of Brand g’s philosophy is giving back. Over the past 15 years, the company has donated more than $1.3 million to charities in the countries it visits and here in the United States. Brand g shows up with purpose, and its partnership with GMCSF has helped the Chorus expand its reach and deepen its impact, including its generous donation of a seven-night all-LGBT+ Burgundy and Provence river cruise for two.
The Chic and Unique Ball will also serve as an official welcome for GMCSF’s new Executive Director, Justin Fyala, who takes the helm on October 19. Fyala brings a decade of leadership from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, along with arts management experience spanning the Kennedy Center, IMG Artists, and the Dallas Opera. “Nothing reflects the spirit of GMCSF quite like The Chic and Unique Ball,” said Fyala. “This night brings our mission, our partners, and our community together in full force. Stepping into this role at such a defining moment is an absolute privilege, and I’m excited to celebrate the amazing people who make our powerful music possible.”
Tickets are available in two tiers. The VIP Experience, at $500 per person or $5,000 per table, includes exclusive access to a 6pm reception featuring an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, dueling electric violins by the Synergy Twins, Alexander Zenoz and The Birds of Paradise, and singers from the chorus, all curated by GMCSF Artistic Director Gabe Salazar. VIP guests also receive premier seating, a luxury table gift, early access to the red carpet and silent auction, and entry into a premium raffle. Premium Admissions at $300 per person or $3,000 per table include red-carpet arrival at 6:30pm, open-bar cocktails, a curated silent auction, instant-win surprises throughout the evening, and a full dinner with live entertainment beginning at 8p. Both tiers include the live auction and the iconic Golden Ticket Drawing. All guests are invited to a spectacular poolside after-party beneath the iconic Guitar Hotel.
Attendees are encouraged to dress daringly for a night of glamour and purpose. Tickets and event details are available at thechicanduniqueball.com.
