The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce will hold its 3rd Annual Installation Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento. Guy Farris, co-host of News 10’s popular TV magazine program, Sacramento & Co., will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
The evening will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and live auction with auctioneer David Sobon of Maximum Benefit Auctions at 6:30 p.m. Auction offerings will include fine wine and dining packages, exotic travel and other luxury items.
All proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit the Rainbow Chamber Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting programs for at-risk youth and other causes.
The evening program will include Foundation scholarship presentations and installation of the Chamber’s 2009-10 Board of Directors. Tickets are $75 through Aug. 31, $85 Sept. 1 and after. Sponsorship opportunities are available for as little as $100. Visit www.rainbowchamber.com for more information.
Event sponsors include Wells Fargo, Outword Magazine, SMUD, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center, Rainbow Pages/VRP.info, CARES, Le Rivage Hotel, Greenberg Traurig, Sestak Lighting Design and Equality California.
Before joining Sacramento & Co., L.A. native Farris began his television career as a production assistant at Sacramento’s KOVR/Channel 13, then traveled to Gold 33 News at Seven and the WB Las Vegas, where his entertainment reports and celebrity interviews aired on Sinclair Broadcasting’s 40-plus stations nationwide. As part of the NorthWest Cable News morning anchor team in Seattle, Farris interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. His irreverent style has earned him numerous Emmy nominations, culminating in a win for Best Entertainment Anchor in 2002. He also was named Seattle Magazine’s “It Anchor.”
Nine Rainbow Chamber 2009-2010 officers and board members will be officially installed at the event:
• President/CEO Fred Palmer, publisher of Outword Magazine, elected to a third term
• Vice President Steven Walker, CEO of Fast Break Tech Inc., elected to a fourth term
• Secretary Stephanie Slagel, State Farm Insurance agent, elected to her first term
• Treasurer Jason Russell, CPA, of accounting firm Marcia Fritz & Company, elected to a fourth term
• Brian Bentzen, Pampered Chef host, elected to a second term
• Gerald Filice, Esq., of Filice Law Offices, elected to a second term
• Roy Guira, stylist, The Associates Salon, elected to a second term
• Dr. Darrick Lawson, owner of The Healing Touch Chiropractic, elected to a first term
• Bonnie Osborn, owner of public relations company WriteAway Communications Services, elected to a second term
Palmer, who was elected Aug. 18 to his third term as Chamber president, said the large field of highly qualified board candidates was a reflection of the Chamber’s recent membership growth and expansion of services. In the past year, the Chamber has doubled its membership to 260 members, hired its first paid administrative staff, and significantly increased the number of networking and professional development events it provides.
The Rainbow Chamber Foundation (www.rcfdn.org) was established in 2007 as a 501c3 organization. In 2008 and 2009, the Foundation donated approximately $5,000 to programs for at-risk gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth and their allies, and awarded two $1,000 college scholarships.
The purpose of the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce is to promote networking among the gay and lesbian business community and its supporters; to enhance awareness of political and social issues; and to encourage involvement in charitable causes. For more information about the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, visit www.rainbowchamber.com.
