Samantha Giusti, executive director of The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) talked to AL DÍA News about their upcoming annual fundraising event TOY, the holiday party for the LGBT community, which will take place Saturday, Dec. 5, at Fire and Ice in Old City.

For Giusti, this is a great opportunity to take a break from the busy holiday schedule, to get together with the LGBT community during this festive and charitable time of the year, and to enjoy the open bar, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction and dance party.

“All the money that’s raised goes to support DVLF’s critical mission but additionally all the toys that folks bring to the event go to support the Special Immunology Service at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and patients served by ActionAIDS,” Giusti said. 

For 22 years, the philanthropic organization has been distributing funds to organizations that advance the interests of the LGBT community.

“It’s almost the end of the year, and here at DVLF we’ve been so happy to support so many critical organizations that are benefiting the LGBT community with our grantmaking,” Giusti said. “It’s really been a strong year at DVLF and I it’s certainly been a strong year for the LGBT community both locally and nationally.”

Back in spring, the organization honored LGBT leaders for their impact on the community, among them the late Gloria Casarez, Philadelphia’s first official LGBT liaison.

Among this years achievements for the local LGBT community, Giusti mentioned the 50th anniversary of the annual reminders protests in July; the voters decision to make the mayor’s office of LGBT affairs permanent in the November elections, and the signing of the gender neutral bathroom bill also last month. 

But there is still work to be done.

“Marriage equality hasn’t stopped the rising rates of HIV; it hasn’t stop LGBTs from getting kicked out of their homes, and it certainly hasn’t help the number of trans women, particular of color, that are being murdered,” Giusti said. “While we have a lot that we can be thankful for, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Tickets for DVLF’s Toy are now on sale for $75 in advance or $95 at the door. For more information, visit DVLF.