5 Factor Presented by Purple Foundation

Honoring five who have made a difference at Resource Center.

BITES | LIBATIONS | MUSIC

For more than 30 years, Resource Center has served the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as all people affected by HIV/AIDS, and every year it is important to recognize the people and groups that have assisted in the Center’s success. The sixth annual 5 Factor, presented by the Purple Foundation, salutes five honorees that are important to the growth and development of the Center. The event takes place September 26 (Friday), at 7 for Parties, 150 Turtle Creek Blvd., Ste. 107, Dallas.

This year’s 5 Factor honorees come from a varied background and have diverse interests. What sets them apart and makes them worthy of praise is their commitment to community support and to Resource Center, along with their drive for success. This year’s honorees are:

Sports Media: Dale Hansen, sports anchor for WFAA-TV (Channel 8). Hansen has been an award-winning sportscaster at WFAA for more than 30 years. His February 2014 commentary in support of NFL rookie player Michael Sam, who came out prior to being drafted, went viral. Hansen’s remarks garnered worldwide acclaim and he has since delivered additional LGBT-supportive commentaries.

Government: Philip Kingston, Dallas City Councilmember. Kingston was elected to the Dallas City Council in 2013 and has been a steadfast ally of the LGBT community. He is chair of the Council’s Arts, Culture & Libraries Committee, vice chair of the ad hoc Judicial Nominations Committee and is a member of the Police & Fire Pension Board, Finance & Audit Committee, Housing Committee and ad hoc Legislature Committee.

Commerce: Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market has a long history with the Center. Daily food donations to the Center’s HIV Nutrition Program, including produce, canned goods and prepared meals, are worth tens of thousands of dollars a month. These donations are invaluable to the clients who shop at the Center’s food pantry and eat lunch at its meals program, as they aid in reducing side-effects of the clients’ life-saving HIV medications.

Culinary: Abraham Salum, proprietor of Salum and Komali restaurants. Salum is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont and expanded his skills in kitchens in France, Belgium, Mexico and the United States. He opened his namesake restaurant in 2005 and Komali in 2011, is a fixture in the competitive Dallas restaurant market and has been a consistent supporter of Center events for years.

Philanthropy: DIFFA/Dallas, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. DIFFA/Dallas has been raising funds for preventative education and services for North Texans affected by HIV/AIDS since 1988. With events including the House of DIFFA each spring, DIFFA/Dallas has granted nearly $7 million to organizations across North Texas, including the Center. March 2015 will mark the 25th anniversary of the House of DIFFA.

The event is chaired by Ky Fiser, CFP®, Private Wealth Manager, Fiser Wealth Management. Dining and beverage stations throughout the event will feature snappy bites and chic cocktails. Sponsors include: PRESENTING SPONSOR—Purple Foundation; PLATINUM—Aetna, AT&T, Randy & Debra Campbell, Fiser Wealth Management, Charles MarLett, Deborah McMurray & Glen Davison; GOLD–Avita Pharmacy, Dana Barber, Doctor EyeCare, Merrill Lynch – The Meyer Fontana Group, Steven Rayl & Scot Presley, James R. Seitz, Jr.; SILVER– American National Bank of Texas, Henry Barber, Vanessa Benavides & Sheila Bryant, Brian Bleeker-Realtor, Dave Perry Miller & Associates, Deiadra Burns & Sandra Howell, Caven Enterprises, Cece Cox & Barbara Houser, Alfredo Flores & Cesar Medina, Steven Hawkins & Tommy Phipps, Robert Kucharski, Legal Hospice of Texas Board of Directors, Ranil Ninala, J. Anderson Lester, Dr. Mark Parker & Eric Johnson, Samuel Lynne Galleries, Triangle Payment Systems, Chad West Law, Christopher White & Tom Burt, Whole Foods Market, and David Wood & Don Hendershot.

Admission is $50 per person, and sponsorship opportunities are available for the event benefiting the programs and services of the Center. Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.myresourcecenter.org/events/event-calendar/5-factor.