The flowers were big. The buffet was big. The energy was, you guessed it, big. Mark Hunter hosted his annual Glad to Give Gala at the eponymous Hunters Nightclub on Dec. 3. Hunter, one of the community’s leading philanthropists, routinely opens up his bar to host events, but this evening is special. 

The beneficiary of this year’s Glad To Give party is SunServe, which takes a holistic approach to treating mental health.  

“It’s a beautiful night with beautiful drinks, wonderful food. The entire community is here, all to benefit SunServe,” SunServe CEO Tony Lima said. “We’re so excited.” 

The floor was packed with hundreds of community luminaries while a trio of musicians entertained from the stage. 

SunServe used the platform to kick off their Florida AIDS Walk fundraising, which includes promoting their annual SHINE Gala, set for March 28. The theme is A Night At the Tropicana. 

Gladitude 

The night is important for many reasons, not least of which is that dollars are drying up. Government grants and corporate support have dropped dramatically due to, in part, the hostile attitudes of the state and federal governments. 

But sometimes dark days can illuminate hidden strengths. South Florida’s LGBTQ community has volunteered, dug deeper into its pockets, donated more time to keep services going. 

“This event is a testament to the awesomeness of this community,” Lima said. “Everyone is here. Elected officials, business owners, heads of other organizations.” 

The night was a success. SunServe sold out about 75% of tables for their gala with nearly four months left until the event. 

Screenshot via OutSFL Live, YouTube.