On September 8th, Diversity Richmond hosted Diversity Richmond Celebrates, an awards program that recognizes organizations doing outstanding work serving Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community.

At the event, held in person for the first time since 2019, Diversity Richmond awarded $78,000 in grants to fifteen organizations to both recognize and help deepen their community impact.

Luise “Cheezi” Farmer, Diversity Richmond’s board chair emeritus, said, “Diversity Richmond exists not only to serve the LGBTQ+ community, but to uplift others who serve the community as well. Diversity Richmond Celebrates is one of the most important nights of the year for us.”

Since 1999, Diversity Richmond has made over $1.2 million in grants to LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations doing transformational work in the LGBTQ+ community. The fifteen organizations recognized on Thursday evening were:

Black Men Can Cook

HE SHE ZE and WE

Iridian Gallery

Kehillah

Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)

Minority Veterans of America

Nationz Foundation

Patchwork RVA

Rainbow Souls

School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC)

Serenity

Sylvia's Sisters

Twin Oaks Community, Inc.

Virginia State University Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board

Women of Essence

Pictured are representatives from these organizations.