AIDS Fund Names Preston and Steve Show “Favorite Straight Person of the Year”


Cast of the Preston and Steve Show.

Cast of the Preston and Steve Show.

The Preston and Steve Show will receive AIDS Fund‘s 2015 Favorite Straight Person of the Year Award next week at the 16th annual Black-Tie GayBINGO.

The award goes to an individual—or in this case a team of folks—who has made significant contributions to the HIV/AIDS or LGBT communities. In a press release, AIDS Fund explains why they chose the WMMR morning show, which has been on the air for 16 years, to receive their prize:

The Preston and Steve Show has also provided an outlet for the Delaware Valley to give back.  Since landing at WMMR in 2005, Preston and Steve have hit their stride and haven’t slowed down one bit. The show has spread the word to increase support for the AIDS Fund and AIDS Walk Philly every fall. Their annual Campout for Hunger, which benefits Philabundance, has amassed over 2,300 TONS of food and over $740,000 for those less fortunate living in and around the Philadelphia area. Their efforts in the spring, with their annual “I Bleed for Preston and Steve” blood drive has garnered over 10,000 pints of blood since 2006.

Preston Elliot says he got involved with AIDS Walk Philly after he attended the fundraiser in 1997. “I was so impressed with the outpouring of support and community that it was a very simple decision to lend a hand. Steve and I—and the rest of the gang—are very fortunate to have the platform of our show to help spread the word about community events and charities that are close to our hearts. One of the first was AIDS Fund and all of their events throughout the year.  We are proud to continue to lend our support.”

In addition to that award, AIDS Fund will also present its Founders’ Award to the Wistar Institute for its innovative research into fighting HIV/AIDS. The Philadelphia Senior Center (PSC) will get the Ferrara Family Volunteer Award, which recognizes exceptional AIDS Fund volunteers. They’re highlighting one volunteer from PSC, specifically: Martin “Marty” Krasner, who has put in time for AIDS Fund for the past nine years.

Black-Tie GayBINGO takes place Saturday, June 6th at the Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building. The evening will feature a lovely dinner, dancing, the fanciest BINGO game in town and, of course, the Bingo-Verifying Divas (below). Tickets are $150 per person, and will benefit HIV/AIDS organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region. Purchase those, and get more information here.

The stars of Black-Tie GayBINGO, the Bingo-Verifying Divas.

The stars of Black-Tie GayBINGO, the Bingo-Verifying Divas. | Photo by HughE Dillon