The annual Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) gala was titled ‘An Evening at the Aragon,’ and was held Oct. 18 on the North Side at the historic Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence. The elegant setting was a welcome change of pace from the usual hotel ballroom. The location was the site of many legendary gay parties of the 1970s and, of course, still today is home to major rock concerts. Event co-chairs were Bradford Ballast, Dawn Hancock and L. Patrick LéFlore.

HBHC President and CEO Michael C. Cook presented the four awards for the evening. The first honor was the Spirit Award to a staff member, which went to lead medical assistant Tina Shaik. Longtime HIV/AIDS group facilitator David Gitomer received a Friend for Life Award, as did Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The final award went to attorney Mary York, who died of cancer earlier this year. In her lifetime, she had declined the honor because she felt others deserved it more; her partner, LaGenia Bailey, allowed HBHC to give York the Friend for Life Award posthumously, and accepted in her honor. York helped oversee the partnership of HBHC with the Lesbian Community Cancer (now Care) Project. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more at www.MysticImagesPhotography.com.

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