A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended “Dancing with the South Florida Stars” on Jan. 27. You all played a part in making our 13th annual event an unforgettable success. Thanks to your support, we’ve raised crucial funds for the upcoming Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride & Street Festival.
Congratulations to the winning team Chris McCorville and Orel Batt Haiim representing the Manor nightclub.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Contributors
Your generous support made all the difference, helping us continue this important tradition for our community. A huge shoutout to our special VIP sponsors:
- Catherine Cerniglia with Over Easy Cafe
- Pub on Wilton Drive
- Out/Advocate
- SunServe
- OutSFL
- Tropics Grille
- Scandals Saloon
- The Manor
- Miss Florida FI Pageant
To Our Amazing Dance Teams – WOW!
You absolutely wowed us with your performances. Thank you to each and every dancer for your hard work and dedication. You truly brought the energy and spirit we’ve come to expect from this event!
To Our Judges – You Made This Year the Best Ever
A sincere thank you to:
- Scott Newton
- Gary Santis
- Tiffany Arieagus
- Dean Trantalis
- Gary Kosuda
- George Kessinger
Your insights, charisma and expertise helped make this year’s event a standout success!
Special Performers – Thank You for Your Inspiration
A huge thank you to our special performers, Oscar A Novva and Ralph Meitzler, for adding so much to the night. You helped elevate the experience for all of us!
To the Trailblazers Who Have Inspired Us for Decades
We are forever grateful to you:
- Brett Jay
- Robbie Leslie
- Robbie Tannenbaum
- Paul Hugo
Your legacy continues to inspire and ignite change in our community.
It was thrilling for me to accept on behalf of Robert (Bob) Debenedictis the inaugural “Icon” award on his behalf. Each year going forward the “Dancing with the South Florida Stars” event will recognize an icon like Bob who made a difference to so many lives. Gave so many people opportunities to better themselves. If you had a good idea, Bob would back you and become your partner. He helped thousands of people make a difference and create a life they could only dream for. I am one of those very lucky people who had Bob in my life for nearly two decades. A true icon and my dearest friend and mentor that I have ever had in my life. Bob, we will honor you and your legacy for the rest of my life.
A big thank you to our amazing media partners:
- OutSFL
- Happening Out Television Network
- Hotspots Magazine
- The Bobby Blair Show
Your coverage helped us reach so many more people, making this event even more impactful.
A Special Thank You to Some Key Individuals
Scott Holland – Your support in producing this year’s event was invaluable. You are truly amazing!
Show hosts Eric Restivo and Velvet Lenore – Thank you for your incredible energy and presence.
Shawn Palacious – Thank you for your fantastic work hosting the red carpet.
We are beyond grateful to The Manor for providing such a stunning venue year after year. Thirteen years of hosting here – thank you for making us feel at home!
Thank you, Howard Andrew, for everything you do for us. And Harry Demasiado, your lights and sound team did an outstanding job as always. Your hard work never goes unnoticed, and we’re so grateful for you.
Thank you once again to everyone who made this event possible. Your generosity, passion, and commitment to our community made this a night we’ll never forget. Brian and I can’t wait to see you all again next year!
Bobby Blair is a LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.
