Make
2025 HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
Cleveland Foundation
CBIZ
Thompson Hine
*Updated as of 9/26/25
Baker Hostetler
First Federal Lakewood
Plante Moran
UB Greensfelder LL
Twist Social Club
Vorys
Welcome to the HRC Cleveland Sneaker Soirée 2025!
This year’s theme is “Lace Up for Equality” a reminder that when we lace up our sneakers, we’re ready to take action. Whether it’s volunteering, leading, or standing up for our neighbors, every step we take together pushes the movement for equality forward.
Ohio is at the forefront of this struggle. Ongoing battles over gender-affirming care, school restrictions, and drag bans threaten our progress, while advocates strive to pass the Ohio Fairness Act, ban conversion therapy, and secure marriage equality. The work is far from over, but with your support, we will continue making strides.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, table captains, and the Steering Committee for making tonight possible. Most of all, we appreciate you for stepping into action and supporting us this evening.
Tonight, we celebrate our 30th Dinner Anniversary and our community and we lace up for the journey ahead.
JIM COWART AND KATE MULLEN
CLEVELAND DINNER CHAIRS
Aaron Swank Ceramics
Akron Symphony
Alson Jewelers
Amba
American Interiors
SERG Andujar
Angel Falls Coffee
Angelo’s Pizza
Matt Arnold & Michael Wojtanowski
Autograph Collection Hotels by Marriott
Valerie Bailey & Lauren Bailey
Blossom Music Center
Lori Boleware
Brown-Forward Funeral Home
Browne Family Vineyard
Cambridge Jewelers
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
Val Corbo
Jim Cowart & Peter Taylor
Dante
Charles Daroff
Jane Daroff
April & Jen Day-O’Donnell
Denim & Design
Estee Lauder
Melanie Falls & Tina Posey Falls
Brooke Figer
Marianne Forrester & Barb Bruno
David Fox
Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa
Mike Gibbons
Giorgio Armani
Great Clips of Macedonia
Anna Greenfield
Greenhouse Florist
Suzanne Hamilton & Char Ligo
Angie Haze
Hotel Cleveland
Anthony Covatta
Jeff Hicks & Scott Swaldo
Hospitality Restaurants
HRC Columbus Steering Committee
Human Rights Campaign
Jason Toth Studio
Jewelry Art
Joe Dill Designs
Juke Box
Kendra Scott
KGS Studios
Kilgore Trout
Kiln
Jim King
La Mer
Landmark
Janet Macoska
Hannah Manocchio
Maryann Candies
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Josh Maxwell
Kate Mullen & Ronda Warren
Lisa Mullen
Music Box Supper Club
Nauti Vine Winery
NCMC (North Coast Men’s Chorus)
Near West Theatre
Cheryl Norman, CLU, ChFC
Oak Barrel
Paul Duda Gallery
Stamy Paul
Peace Love & Donuts in Hudson
PFLAG
Pinstripes
Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce
Juan Quirarte
Ranger Chocolate
RKL eSolutions
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Saucy Brew Works
Steven Shore
Signature of Solon Country Club
Signia by Hilton
Skoops
Something Different
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Timber Ridge Honey Company
Jason Toth
Twist Social Club
Urban Orchid
Dawn Wegenek
Westsiders
Whirlpool
Amy Whitacre & Randy Ruttenburg
Wicked Sweet – John Moss
Rick Taylor & Shawn Wolfe
Nathan Wright
Zhug
Kelley Robinson is the ninth president of the Human Rights Campaign — the first Black, Queer woman to lead the organization. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality and liberation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Robinson — widely respected for her work over the last 15 years creating and leading winning campaigns and programs — stepped into her new role at HRC after serving as Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. From community organizer to progressive leader, Robinson has been at the forefront in the fight for bodily autonomy and racial and gender equity, with a focus on lifting up marginalized communities and building political power. Robinson will lead HRC — and its more than 3 million member advocates — as the organization fulfills its mission to realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
As seen on TBS, ABC, LOGO, and Last Comic Standing, veteran comedian Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; her quick wit and playful stage presence have her earning loyal fans across the country and abroad.
A crowd favorite, Goldberg has become a triple threat combining her comedy, hosting, and live auction talents to become one of the most sought after entertainers on the circuit. Voted one of the “Top Five Funniest Lesbians In America,” Curve magazine raves, “Goldberg is one of the brightest lights in a stellar comedy landscape.” Advocate.com named Goldberg one of the top three LGBT comedians in the nation.
In addition to headlining clubs, theaters and festivals around the country, Goldberg has performed at and emceed dozens of high profile events and has shared the national stage with luminaries such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Meryl Streep, Katy Perry, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Shonda Rhimes, and many more.
Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Goldberg has raised over 20 million dollars for non-profits around the country in the fight for marriage equality, LGBT rights, women’s health, and HIV and AIDS education and prevention. As the youngest child in a single parent household run by a Jewish mother in which two of three kids are gay, Goldberg helps keep most of the comedy venues and half of the psychotherapists in the country in business.
For more information on Dana Goldberg visit danagoldberg.com
Along life’s journey, let’s travel together.
American Airlines is a longstanding partner of the Human Rights Campaign.
American is a proud advocate for LGBTQ rights in Washington DC and beyond.
Lyft supports safer spaces, and all the humans who inhabit them.
That’s
That's why we've been proudly supporting the Human Rights Campaign since 2009.
macysinc.com/purpose
The most impactful way to support H RC is through a monthly gift, because you will help fuel HRC’s fight for FULL equality all year long.
Your ongoing monthly support will provide critical resources to fight back against anti-LG BTQ+ bills, expand and protect our pro-equality Congress, invest more deeply in our grassroots efforts with strategic organizing in key districts, keep pressure to pass the Equality Act in Congress and continue to show up and fight for the multiply marginalized in our community and country.
Thank you for supporting H RC and for staying with us in the fight. Together, we are an unstoppable force for change!
Transgender and non-binary people are your neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends. And when you or your friends and family are the targets of hate, violence and discrimination, you act.
The Human Rights Campaign is actively working to advocate for the rights and lives of the transgender and non-binary community–but we all must do more–can we count you in?
As LGBTQ+ people and allies, we have a responsibility to fight for EVERYONE in our movement. Now is the time to get loud, get visible, and spread awareness on behalf of transgender and non-binary people. So please take the actions below–but don’t stop there.
The more people who show they care, including allies and trans and non-binary people who speak up for the most marginalized in our community, the more hearts and minds we will change.
Sign the Pledge and Impact Change
The first step in voicing your support for the trans and non-binary community is to sign your name to the Count Me In pledge. By taking this action, you’re sending a message that you vow to go out of your way to raise awareness and uplift the lives of our trans and non-binary friends and family.
Provide Inclusive Books to an At-Need Library
Your contribution will provide a set of three books to a Title 1 school or community library serving multiply marginalized populations across the country.
Contact State Legislators
State legislatures are attacking LGBTQ+ folks, particularly trans people, left and right. Show antiequality legislators that we won’t tolerate any more bullying and discrimination.
Request and Show Off Your Sticker
Display your special edition HRC sticker on your car, laptop, water bottle — no matter where you put it, you’ll be saying you support our trans community.
Spread the Word On Social Media
Post these image shares on your social media channels and update your profile photos and let your networks know you believe in a more just and equitable world for trans folks — full stop.
Share a Voice Message of Support
State legislatures are targeting trans kids. Text HEART to 472-472 to share a public message of support for trans youth and show you’re fighting for them.
(Msg&dataratesmayapply. Recurring msgs. TxtSTOP2quit. HELP4info.)
Let Kids Play
Rebekah is a 14-year-old girl who loves school, reading, hanging out with her friends and playing field hockey. But lawmakers across the country are trying to pass laws that would prohibit Rebekah from playing sports with other girls.
Wear Your Support
From T-shirts to pins to socks to masks, you can show off your support for trans equality no matter where you are, who you’re with or what you’re doing.
Transgender Justice eNewsletter
Stay up to date on our Transgender Justice Initiative and what we’re doing to dismantle stigma and end the epidemic of violence against trans and gender non-conforming people.
pfizer.com/about/responsibility/human-rights
Target is proud to sponsor HRC in continuing our shared mission of creating inclusive and equitable spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year, celebrate your loved ones, holidays or other special occasions by giving the gift of equality! Gift a membership to the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, host a fundraiser to benefit our work, sign up for our wedding registry or donate in someone’s memory! Each donation includes an HRC membership and furthers the fight for full LGBTQ+ equality.
GIVE A MEMBERSHIP GOAL HRC MEMBER
HOST A FUNDRAISER FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, GRADUATION, PRIDE OR MO RE .. .
DONATE YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY
GIV E TH E GIF
FLY A FLAG
FOR HOLIDAYS & SPECIAL OCCASIO NS
DONATE IN HONOR OR ME MO RY O F SOMEONE
Celebrating a special occasion and looking to further LGBTQ+ equality? Join our over 3 million supporters today by giving the gift of membership, hosting a fundraiser, donating your wedding registry to HRC and more!
We all have ambitions. And working together, valuing each other and respecting our uniqueness creates the best environment for us to achieve them.
Our ambition is bold, to help the world get to net zero by 2050 or sooner. That’s why we value diversity and put being inclusive at the heart of how we operate. It’s also why we’re recognized as a top employer by the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
If that sounds like a culture you would thrive in, explore bp.com/careers
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. Since 1980, we have been fighting for a better future for LGBTQ+ Americans. We are now working tirelessly to pass the Equality Act, which will soon head to the U.S. Senate for consideration, fight back against a multitude of anti-LGBTQ+ legis-lation in states nationwide and ensure everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect. While our opponents are emboldened and on the attack, the Human Rights Campaign and our grass-roots army of more than 3.2 million members and supporters are energetically defending the rights we’ve gained and ramping up our fight for full equality across the board.
The alarming spate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country in 2020 has continued to surge in 2021. These include bills that would prohibit transgender youth from receiving genderaffirming care and bills that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in sports. This wave of anti-transgender legislation harkens back to the surge of anti-transgender bathroom bills that hit state legislatures in 2016, including North Carolina’s HB2. We remain committed to aggressively fighting these threats to equality by those who seek to undermine our rights. HRC will do whatever it takes to protect the rights and fundamental equality of every LGBTQ+ person in this country.
HRC’s decades-long work to build political power has uniquely positioned us to reach LGBTQ+ and ally voters who prioritize equality on the ballot, also known as Equality Voters. HRC has identified 57 million Equality Voters nationwide who, if they turn out to vote, will support pro-equality candidates. HRC’s early and sustained year-round engagement in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin bolstered historic turnout in 2018 and 2020 producing pro-equality outcomes at every level of government. In 2019, HRC’s mobilization of Equality Voters in Virginia, where lawmakers had repeatedly blocked proequality bills over many years, produced groundbreaking progress for LGBTQ+ Americans in the South. These victories led to the Virginia Values Act becoming law, making Virginia the first state in the South to advance statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.
The HRC Foundation improves the lives LGBTQ+ people by building understanding and shaping the public debate of LGBTQ+ people and the challenges they face through innovative research and public education campaigns. We also change the policies and practices in the institutions that shape our everyday lives (hospitals, schools, workplaces, and more) and empower strategic partners, community advocates, and allies through convenings and capacity-building. Guided by these theories of change and seeking to prioritize work impacting those who are multiply marginalized, we have 11 cuttingedge programs advancing equality in the U.S. and beyond.
All Children - All Families is the only national program dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion in child welfare (foster care and adoption agencies) that provides resource development, technical assistance and training.
Public Education & Research produces written resources and conducts original quantitative and qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people.
Global Partnerships provides capacity-building and leadership development opportunities to LGBTQ+ advocates from around the world to strengthen movements and advance global LGBTQ+ equality.
HBCU Program is the only national project that partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities on establishing an LGBTQ+-inclusive campus climate.
Health & Aging provides resources and training to help thousands of healthcare facilities adopt inclusive policies and practices to better serve LGBTQ+ patients and employees.
HIV & Health Equity develops public education and capacitybuilding programs to address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latinx communities.
Religion & Faith provides faith leaders with opportunities and tools to stand up for equality even as opponents attempt to weaponize faith against LGBTQ+ people.
Transgender Justice Initiative leads economic empowerment programs, capacity-building initiatives, community engagement efforts, and public safety education campaigns that combat the discrimination faced by transgender people.
Welcoming Schools is the only bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+-specific training and resources with an intersectional lens, developed for use in elementary schools.
Workplace Equality advances equality for LGBTQ+ workers through the adoption and implementation of inclusive policies, practices, and benefits in the U.S. and beyond.
Youth Well-Being provides professional development to over 5,000 youth-serving professionals annually, through the annual Time to THRIVE conference, webinars, participation at major national convenings, and by amplifying the stories of HRC Youth Ambassadors. The program also convenes HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council.
MGM Resorts International has a longstanding commitment of supporting the LBGTQ+ community. Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts in our workplace, policies and operations, MGM Resorts is proud to be the first in the gaming and hospitality industry to offer same-sex health benefits and has expanded supplier relationships to include LGBTQ+-owned businesses. From the casino floor to corporate headquarters, MGM Resorts strives to stand out as one of the leading companies for workplace equality and has pledged a corporate responsibility to providing resources for EVERYONE to live and thrive as their authentic selves. MGM Resorts proudly supports the Human Rights Campaign.
Our most important work happens outside the four walls of our bank.
KeyBank gets involved, supporting people who make a difference and working with community-focused organizations through investments, philanthropy, and volunteering. We believe that together we can keep our communities full of hope, compassion, and opportunity, one open door at a time.
KeyBank thanks HRC Cleveland for making a difference.
As one of the largest event and video production companies in the US and Mexico, we know how to bring events to life in ways that achieve real goals and make signature statements. Events. Video. Creative. End-to-end or anything in between. For live, virtual, or hybrid experiences — we do it all for some of the best-known brands in the world.
bakerlaw.com
We’re honored to support the Human Rights Campaign of Cleveland and their dedication that’s helping our communities thrive.
plantemoran.com
Supporting local organizations like the Human Rights Campaign isn’t just what we do — it’s who we are. We understand the value in neighbors helping neighbors, and look forward to continuing our efforts to promote a safe, open-minded environment and equal opportunities for all in the workplace.
Giving Back to our Community for oVer 26 years!
Including:
PLEXUS LGBTQ+ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN LGBT COMMUNTY CENTER AND MORE!
CLEVELAND’S #1 LGBTQ+ CLUB FOR 8 YEARS RUNNING!
As Cleveland's Premier LGBTQ+ Bar and Club, we are always looking for ways to give back to our community. From monthly Charity Bingo to event sponsorship and grants, Twist is committed to helping our community.
At UB Greensfelder we’re proud to support the 2025 Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equality.
As advocates for justice, we believe progress is built on inclusion, respect, and the courage to lead with purpose. We’re honored to partner with HRC in building a future where everyone can live openly and authentically.
Together, we’re moving equality forward.
200 Public Square Suite 1400 Cleveland, OH 44114
vorys.com
We are proud allies of the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQIA+ community. At Vorys, diversity, equity and inclusion are not only long-standing core values, but also key strategic priorities.
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The HUMAN
CAMPAIGN salutes our National Partners based in the CLEVELAND area.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025