We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you for joining us tonight as we celebrate this milestone in our mission to support the LGBTQIA+ and HIV communities. Your presence here tonight is a testament to your commitment to making a positive impact, and we couldn’t be more honored to have you with us.
Your support is invaluable in helping Resource Center to continue its work and make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we can create a brighter future and build a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Thank you for being a part of this special evening, and we hope you enjoy the festivities ahead!
Special Guests
Hunter Ryan Herdlicka
A Dallas native and Broadway star, Hunter is best known for his role in the Tony-winning A Little Night Music, performing alongside legends like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury, and Bernadette Peters. With an incredible stage presence and a passion for entertainment, he’s sure to make this magical evening even more unforgettable!
DJ Blake Ward
Dallas favorite Blake Ward is a booking manager and lead DJ at Park Hous and Legacy Hall. He produces a moving theme party called Disco, TX and has a voguethemed LGBTQ party called Climax featuring the actor Xa’Paris from HBO’s popular show, ‘Legendary’. Contact: DJBlakeW@gmail.com
Award Recipient: LGBTQ Community Award
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s LGBTQ Community Award and LGBTQ Impact Award, recognizing individuals whose dedication and contributions have made a profound difference in the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ Community Award
– Honoring an individual whose hands-on commitment, advocacy, and service uplift both the broader LGBTQ+ community and Resource Center’s clients. This changemaker leads with compassion, working tirelessly to provide resources, support and care where they are needed most. Please help us congratulate Coach Dee.
Coach Dee Coleman is the founder & CEO of Dee’Tox Life Coaching Services, Co-owner of Creative Beauty Salon Suites, & Founder/CEO of Masc Gent Bosses. As an entrepreneur, model, 3x author, speaker, and influencer, Coach Dee, also known as the self-love G.O.A.T. is on a mission to showcase healing and self-love through radical self-acceptance! Being a representation as masc of center queer woman, her leadership, influence, style, dedication & passion for unapologetic living is inspiring and empowering the world especially those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Award Recipient: LGBTQ Impact Award
LGBTQ Impact Award
– Celebrating the first ever winner of this achievement. They are an individual whose long-standing contributions — through financial support, advocacy, leadership, or service — have significantly shaped and strengthened our community. Their generosity and dedication have ensured lasting progress and meaningful change. Please help us congratulate Dr. Steven Pounders.
Dr. Steven Pounders, a Dallas native, has been a dedicated leader in HIV/AIDS care for over 40 years. After earning his medical degree from UT Medical Branch and completing his residency at Baylor College of Medicine, he returned to Dallas to work at UT Southwestern and Parkland Hospital’s AIDS Clinic. In 1989, he transitioned to private practice, where 40% of his patients are people living with HIV. He has served as an attending physician at Baylor University Medical Center since 1988 and was the voluntary Medical Director of Resource Center for 28 years. Dr. Pounders continues to mentor future medical professionals as an assistant clinical professor at UT Southwestern. His contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Austin College (2022) and a Special Recognition Proclamation from the Dallas Mayor and City Council (2020). His unwavering commitment to HIV/AIDS care remains his passion today.
Thank You to Tonight’s Sponosrs!
Enchanted Sponsor
Mystical Sponsors
Deborah McMurray & Glen Davison
Tommy Stockton & Matt Davies
Twilight Sponsors
David W. Carlson & Brady Frost
Chris LaGrone & Matthew Peters
Cece Cox & Shelly Skeen
Mr. Dale Philbrick & Mr. Joel Scarborough
Fairy Sponsors
Vincent & Janet Hunter Kate & Keith Newman Farhad Niroomand, MD
Steven Pounders, M.D. & Jimmy O’Reilly
Andy Smith & Paul von Wupperfeld
Steven Rayl & Scot Presley
Robert Wiley & Brendan Luguern
Gnome Sponsors
Justin Bundick & Josh Mayer
William Horn and Robert Wong
Carol Meyer
Dr. Cole Edmonson & Mr. Allen Roeseler
Jones / Kahle
Michael Matthews & Michael Pugh
Jay Oppenheimer Peter David Oramas & Joe Mutti
Thank You to Tonight’s Sponosrs!
Pixie Sponsors
Mark Agnew
Stephen Gilhooly
Seth N. Brown
Phil Boustani & Ted Schweitzer
Michael Kaufman & Durward Watson
Kevin McDorman & Alexander Paez
Lynn McBee / Jeff Netzer
Curtis Cannon & Jeff Brown
Meagan LaBossiere & Candice Montes
Linda G. Moore & Laurie Foley
Chris Parker
The Louis M. Sloan Family
Scott & Janet Stockton
Brad Nation & Brett Johansson
Dr. Mark Parker & Eric Johnson
Roman Smith & Carter Brashears
Chip Williamson
William Rodriguez
Steven Smith
Mari Woodlief & Dorsey Standish
In-Kind Sponsors
DJ Blake Ward
2025 Auction Donors
119 Portraits
Alamo Club
Alto
American Airlines
Amy Berlin
Anonymous
Artifex
Barons Creek Vineyard
Barry’s
Barry’s Dallas
Becky Bowers
Bonetti
Boss Luxury Cars
Bradford Renaissance Portraits
Broadway Dallas
Brook Tretter & Jordan Bostick
Chicken N Pickle
Christopher LaGrone & Matthew Peters
Christopher Wagley
CJMiller Art
Cliff Risman
Consulate General of Canada
Currey & Company
Dallas Glass Art
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Stars
Dallas Zoo
Dance Instructor - Tony
Darrin Chin & Christopher Akers
Del Shores
Dock Local
Don Morphy LLC
Doris Sanders LTD
Dude Sweet
Elite Island Resorts
Emily Herrera Art
Fabulous Anonymous
Fort Worth Zoo
Fossil
Frank & Eileen
Free Range Concepts
Gail Grace
Gittings
Go Home LTD
Hai Hospitality (Uchi and Loro)
Harlan Hopchik
Haus of Garcons
Home on Bishop
iL Bracco Restaurant
Isabelle Guillen
Jackson Vaughn
Janice Provost, Abraham Salum & Gigi Zimmerman
JAXON Texas Kitchen
Jay Maggio
John H Matthews
JT Design Eye
Kate Newman
Kelli Halsell
Kennys East Coast Pizza
Kennys Woodfire Grill
Kevron Madden Original Art
Knox Dental
Kristin Moore & Ferrara
Showman Gallery
2025 Auction Donors
LA Creations
Lisa Nik
Luckys Cafe
Lululemon
Mari Woodlief
Mario & Associates
Martin & Associates
Meredyth Petree & ML El Albergue
Nice Winery
Nicholas Mata
Old Monk Oak Cliff
Pamela Nelson
Park Hill Collection
Park Hill Fine Art Portraits
Party Bazaar
Passport And Visa Express
Performing Arts Fort Worth, Inc.
Pistil Cocktail Lounge
Pizza Hut
Rancho Disaronno
Rebecca Romanowski
Rick Best
Robin Jackson Photography
Roslyn & Rex Thompson
Sammons Center for the Arts
Shakespeare Dallas
Shoals Smokehouse
Si Lom Thai Asian Fusion
Simkhai
Sir Sweeney Barbershop & Lounge
Sixty Vines
Source One
Southwest Airlines
Sparkles Home
Stanley Korshak
Steven Smith
Stock & Barrell
Studio Movie Grill
Stylecraft
Suzanne Roberts Gifts
Taylor Paladino
The Adolphus Hotel
The Capital Grille
The Charlotte
The Crescent Club
The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
The Gents Place Uptown
The Light Garden
times ten Wine Cellars
TITAS / Dance Unbound
Tito’s Vodka
Tony Bonetti & Matt Perra
Top Golf
Total Wine & More
Trulucks
Tuxedo Club
Uptown Players
Urban Spikes
VAHLE Fine Art
Victory Social
We Are 1976
Written by the Seasons
Zsa Zsa
Auction Information
Auction Rules:
The silent auction opened on Monday, March 31 and closes tonight at 10 p.m.
Only registered bidders who have provided a credit card upon check-in may participate in the Silent Auction. You must register and receive a bidder number in order to bid in the Live Auction.
If you want to bid but do not want to use your own device, you can find bid helpers located throughout the auction with tablet devices.
Bids are automatically entered and calculated based on your maximum bid price. Visit the registration desk if you accidentally make an error in the bidding process.
Check out begins at 10:30 p.m. You will receive an email after the close of the auction with your receipt. Please proceed to the registration desk where a representative will confirm your winning bid and hand you your item.
All items must be removed by the end of the evening. Should you not be present at the close of the event, your winnings may be picked up at The Empire Room on Sunday, April 6 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Resource Center is not responsible for any unclaimed items.
For any auction winnings that are not picked up by May 30, 2025 ownership of said items will return to Resource Center.
For a complete set of auction rules, please visit the event website at: myresourcecenter.org/toasttolife
Auction Information
Mobile Bidding & Registration Info:
Click on the link that is found in your automated text message. If you do not receive this message, please return to the registration desk.
Confirm your name when prompted and you will be taken to the main mobile bidding platform page. You can search packages by number, keyword, or class.
Click “Bid” to bid on a package or see further information.
You may skip ahead to the bid amount you want to pay. The next bidder must bid higher than you to be successful.
During the Auction:
If you are outbid on an item, you will be notified via text message.
You can keep an eye on your winning bid and any packages you want to come back to later by selecting the “Activity” icon in the upper right corner.
Set a max bid so that the system will bid for you up to a maximum dollar amount so you don’t have to check back to see the highest bid.
For a complete set of auction rules, please visit the event website at: myresourcecenter.org/toasttolife
Toast To Life: Planning Committee
Deborah McMurray
Tommy Stockton
Jerrod Resweber
Gerry Altamirano
Chuck Steelman
Joel Ferrell
Michael Hairston
Jim DiMarino
Shane Allen
Derrick Brown
Landen Oster
Garrett McGrew
Meagan LaBossiere
Eric Valadez
Rhea Pollard
Daniel Jaimes
Lavaughn Brown
Bill Scott
Deborah Cavazos
Event Co-Chair
Event Co-Chair
Auction Chair
Auction Chair
Auction Team
Experience Chair
Experience Chair
Experience Chair
Experience Chair
Host Committee Chair
Host Committee Chair
Marketing Chair
Ticket Chair
Ticket Chair
RC Staff
RC Staff
RC Staff /Marketing
RC Staff / Sponsorships
RC Staff / Volunteers
Toast To Life Host Committee
Mark Agnew
Gail Grace
Amanda Lauro
Anthony Perez
John Michael Race
Grant Willis
Resource Center: Board of Directors
Chris LaGrone
Calvert Collins-Bratton
Ashley Innes
Jon Vogel
James A. Jones
Board President President-Elect
Board Secretary
Board Treasurer
Board Alumni Liaison
Kate Newman President-Emeritus
Derrick Justin Brown
Deborah McMurray
Brandon Q. Jones
Gerry Altamirano
Dale Philbrick
Kevin McDorman
Philip Clemmons
Ellen Farrell
Christopher Wagley
Seth Brown
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Chuck Steelman
American Airlines
Kelli Halsell
Lionel Hillard
Kelly Kawnak
Patsy Johnson
Benjamin Laizure
Special Thanks!
Steven Pounders, M.D. & Jimmy O’Reilly
Arturo Saldivar
Michael Shallcross
Eric Tysinger
Toast To Life Entertainers
Toast To Life Volunteers
Also, a very special thank you to Stephen Tosha & Stephen Strecansky for their unwavering support of Resource Center.
Resource Center
Resource Center’s Mission:
Resource Center pursues societal equity by proudly offering LGBTQIA+ affirming resources designed to improve health and wellness, strengthen families and communities, and provide transformative education and advocacy.
Community members are afforded the opportunity to thrive without bias or barriers based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or HIV status.
