Hampton Roads Retail Alliance Gala 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award

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A number of our friends tease us about the number of formal events we go to each year. but if one supports worthy causes and wants to support friends and community advocates, it actually takes an effort NOT to go to many events.  Tonight, on a reminder from our dear friend Cindy Cutler (a former Legends honoree), we attended the Greater Hampton Roads Retail Alliance Gala that honored top retailers from both the Virginia Peninsula and the so-called "Southside" - i.e., the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk -  and, most importantly, our dear friends, Claus Ihlemann (another past Legends honoree and Equality Virginia "Outstanding Virginian" and his husband, Robert Roman, the owners of Decorum Furniture.

Not only are Claus and Robert great supporters of LGBT equality - the are presenting sponsors at the 2016 Pride fest event in Norfolk on June 18, 2016 (the husband and I are also sponsors, but on nowhere near that level) - but their philanthropic efforts extend to ACCESS/AIDS Care, Hope House, Tidewater Arts Outreach and many other causes that seek to enhance the greater Hampton Roads community.  Their constant refrain for what they do is "Pay it forward."

The husband and I consider ourselves lucky to count this year's lifetime achievement winners as friends.  Moreover, the set the stand for other to emulate, including their willingness to live their lives honestly and authentically, making no apologies for who they are. The same goes for our friend Cindy Cutler, mentioned above, a formidable "straight ally" to the LGBT community.

As I have advise in the past for those coming out - especially those coming out later in life - the key to thriving is to get involved and surround yourself with inspiring people.  Each of us has the ability to create change and to make sure that it gets better for those coming after us.  

As for the event itself, it was well done, with a masquerade theme - many guest sported formal wear and stylish masks - we wore masks from Venice - and to liven up the evening, performers from the based Hurrah Players (which among others, first launched actor Grant Gustin ) providing well done renditions from Phantom of the Opera.   In short, it was a wonderful evening.

Hampton Roads Loses an Amazing Benefactor

There are many who achieve success and do little or nothing to give back to their community. Walter Segaloff, who dies suddenly yesterday morning was not such a person.  After a successful career in building a chain of women's clothing and specialty stores Segaloff remained involved in the Hampton Roads community, especially on the Virginia Peninsula and in 1992 established An Achievable Dream, a program offering tennis lessons and summer and after-school tutoring to elementary school students in Newport News.   His vision for the program: to end the cycle of poverty through education.   An Achievable Dream evolved into an elementary school and expanded to include a middle and high school.  Now, more than 1,200 economically disadvantaged students in grades K-12 receive an education with a social curriculum at the year-round, extended-day, public/private schools.  Just recently, plans to open a replica of that school in Virginia Beach in fall 2014 were announced.  Both the Virginian Pilot and the Daily Press are carrying stories on Segaloff's passing and his many past civic activities. Here are some excerpts:

In an interview earlier this year, Segaloff said he got the idea for An Achievable Dream when he watched from his car as police handcuffed three teens.  "I felt there's no American dream here," he said in the interview. "It isn't happening."  He said he had also noticed that his family's stores had trouble hiring workers because many applicants didn't know how to act or speak in an interview. He said he wanted to change that.

The schools are operated as part of Newport News Public Schools, but An Achievable Dream's nonprofit status allows it to raise money to add longer days and more programs for students.

Segaloff has developed partnerships with local businesses, the military, law enforcement and other agencies, and employees of those entities spend time in the school interacting with students.  The students, known as Dreamers, are greeted each morning by teachers, administrators, deputies from the Newport News Sheriffs Department and Fort Eustis Soldiers who line up to shake their hands as they enter the building. "Our kids ... you just show them the way.

If you teach them socially, morally and ethically the right thing to do, they'll do the right thing," Segaloff said Friday night [when he had been honored by the Virginia Press Association as its 2013 Virginian of the Year]. "With all of our graduates, we don't have one of them in trouble.

They are in business, college or military; they're productive, law-abiding citizens."

Traditional classroom instruction is blended with lessons about ethics, etiquette, peaceful conflict resolution and healthy living.

Walter Segaloff was one of the boyfriend's clients and we supported the Achievable Dream's annual fundraiser each year.   I feel lucky to have known him.  I cannot help but contrast what he did for his community compared to what so many of the "godly Christian" crowd fail to do.  Segaloff was Jewish and like many others in that faith community gave back to others.