The seventh annual Dick Uyvari Memorial Celebrity Bowl was held at Waveland Bowling Alley June 3. The tournament was renamed in 2016 in honor of its founder.
The fundraising event featured bowling with a queer twist and a raffle, benefiting the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
As an annual fundraiser, the event directly supports the ongoing efforts of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, which apart from making Chicago residents aware of the contributions of individuals and organizations in the local community, also educates on there efforts to eradicate homophobic bias and discrimination.
The event was sponsored by Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, a not-for-profit organization formed in 2009 to run the Hall of Fame.
The festivities began with informal greetings from Hall of Fame chairman Gary Chichester, secretary Isreal Wright, and event organizers Kathy Caldwell and Darrick Johnson. Emcee Keith Butler, dressed as Wonder Woman, humorously labeled some of the throws names like "the Cher" or "the Tina Turner," where the bowlers had to emulate famous dance moves as they threw the ball.
Another humorous label had the bowlers throwing the ball while on there stomachs. Joining in on the festivities were Legacy Project Executive Director Victor Salvo, Hall of Fame board member Owen Keehnen, Hall of Fame treasurer Marcia Hill, and actor/director/producer/writer David Cerda who came dressed as Joan Crawford.
Raffle ticket holders competed for a chance to win $100 or a Donald Trump pinata, which many in the group verbally hoped they would not win.
Supporters of the event included Boi Magazine, About Face Theater, Ann Sather, Center on Halsted, Windy City Times, Sidetrack, and MB Financial.
During the month of June MB Financial Bank will display photographs and biographies of past inductees in the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in the Lakeview branch lobby at 3179 N. Clark St.
A total of $7,100 was raised.