The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE! Gala and Award Ceremony

2017 marked my first time in a leadership role with The Trevor Project, and I'm happy to say it was the first of many too come. It's impossible to have a discussion about the most prominent nonprofits in the world without mentioning this one. To me, the work they do through their suicide crisis hotline and the mind-blowing actions they take to bring an end to conversion therapy is the kind of work we were put on Earth to do. Their mission and tireless efforts toward compassion and acceptance of all is something I will get on board to help produce any day of the week.

The Trevor Project is the nation’s only nonprofit crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization focused on ending suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth. TrevorLIVE, billed as “an irreverent evening of music and comedy” is the organization’s annual star-studded signature fundraiser and awards ceremony. The Trevor Hero Award recognizes an individual who serves as an inspiration to LGBTQIA+ youth or increases visibility and understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community. Trevor's Icon Award recognizes an individual who provides national visibility and awareness for The Trevor Project and is a role model for LGBTQIA+ youth nationally.

My responsibilities for this project included all creative vision and execution for the Icon Award recipient's segment and live performance stage time, nonprofit integration and partnerships, securing A-List attendees, facilitating all technical and logistical aspects of live performances, planning and capturing content for social media, and press correspondence on behalf of distinguished guests.

There were so many things to do at this event that it all seems like a blur in retrospect. However, their in-house production team is a well-oiled machine, so they led us through the evening's events with confidence, allowing me the luxury of focusing on my laundry list of to-dos.

This was the first time Shoshana Bean had ever met Kristin Chenoweth, literally. I introduced them just off stage right before they made their entrance to sing "For Good" - watch the video in the link provided and see how beautifully two people who are essentially strangers to one another interacted with each other on stage with such familiarity. A masterclass in acting! What an inspiration!