Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than $90,000 were raised at this year’s Pride for Youth gala. Pride with Purpose: A Benefit for PFY & the LGBTQ+ Community sold out on Thursday, bringing roughly 255 people to the event at the Westbury Manor. Veteran and congressional candidate Chris Gallant was honored at the gala.
The nonprofit offers many programs and services to support the LGBTQ+ community including legal support, counseling, sexual health services and gender affirming services. PFY Director Tawni Engel said Monday that the turnout and the amount of money raised for the organization were unprecedented for the event. She added that the goal was to raise $75,000.
“In this current economy and the current political climate, everything that’s going on, I wasn’t entirely sure if we would meet our goal this year,” Engel said, “and not only did we blow our goal out of the water, the event was sold out.”
This is PFY’s largest fundraiser of the year. Engel said that in the current political climate, it is particularly important for the organization to have funding that is not tied to a grant, especially at the federal level.
Sea Cliff resident Bruce Castellano chairs PFY’s gala committee. He spoke briefly about community at the gala before introducing Gallant as this year’s honoree.
“It is not a surprise to hear that we’re living through horrendous times,” Castellano said, “but it’s also important to know that together we make a difference.”
Engel echoed this idea on Monday, saying the energy of the gala was “incredible.” She added that she believes it is important to balance celebration with discussion surrounding the reality of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States.
“I think that people might just really be feeling a need to come together right now,” Engel said, “more than ever.”
Gallant, veteran, air traffic controller, volunteer firefighter, union leader and now congressional candidate in the first district, was honored at the gala, where he spoke about his experience serving in the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and after the policy ended.
“I watched that era come to an end,” he said, “and I watched our country become stronger because of it.”
Gallant also praised PFY for its work in supporting individuals and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Being unafraid to be myself has made me a better leader, a better teammate, and a better person,” he said. “I spend my life in service to my country, my community, and my neighbors.”
Engel described Gallant as “charismatic” and “humble.” She explained that honoring him is not a political endorsement, something nonprofits cannot do, but listed multiple reasons why he was chosen.
“We always try to choose someone who is local to Long Island,” Engel said, “someone who we feel is a very positive role model, good representation of the LGBTQ community, and he’s doing really good work for the community.”
