#MightyReal

On Friday, October 3rd, more than 220 guests gathered at The Pearl in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood for PRC’s annual Mighty Real Gala. This year’s theme, “Take a Chance On…”, invited our community to raise their hands, hearts, and voices in support of those taking courageous steps toward recovery, stability, and new beginnings.

The generosity of the night was extraordinary. Together, our community raised over $250,000 to fund PRC’s life-saving services in behavioral health, housing, workforce development, and legal advocacy. Guests embraced the spirit of the evening through exciting fundraising activities:

Wine Pull — with every bottle a surprise, each “pull” raised vital funds.
Winner-Takes-All Treasure Chest — brimming with luxury prizes and experiences.
Live Auction — featuring once-in-a-lifetime packages including a trip to Puglia, Italy, a Kauai beach escape, a San Francisco streetcar private party, a private tour of the AIDS Quilt, and dinner with PRC’s new CEO, Dr. Deborah Hawkes.

Welcoming a New Leader

The gala also marked a special moment of introduction for Dr. Deborah Hawkes, PRC’s new CEO. With warmth, charisma, and a deeply personal connection to PRC’s mission, Dr. Hawkes shared her own story of resilience and renewal. Her words set the tone for the evening, reminding everyone in the room why PRC’s work matters — and inspiring a standing ovation that signaled the beginning of a new, hopeful chapter in our history.

Janice Berthold and PRC CEO Dr. Deborah Hawkes

Honoring Our 2025 Awardees

The night also celebrated extraordinary leaders whose courage and dedication continue to inspire:

PRC Volunteer Extraordinaire Joanie Juster, and Mother of the AIDS Quilt and Sylvester Community Pillar Awardee Gert McMullin

Sylvester Community Pillar Award

Gert McMullin, the “mother of the AIDS Quilt,” honored for decades of devotion to preserving every panel and ensuring the stories of those lost to AIDS live on.

PRC Board Member Dr. John Peabody and Vanguard Leadership Award Honoree Dr. Margot Kushel

Vanguard Leadership Award

Dr. Margot Kushel, recognized for groundbreaking research on homelessness that has reshaped how California understands and responds to one of its most urgent social challenges.

California Senator Scott Wiener and Corporate Parnership Award Honoree Dustin Lauermann on behalf of Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Outstanding Corporate Partner Award

Seyfarth Shaw LLP, for their exceptional pro bono counsel in securing PRC’s Employee Retention Tax Credits, unlocking critical resources to strengthen our services.

Leadership & Community Voices

We were honored to be joined by Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman and State Senator Scott Wiener, whose heartfelt remarks underscored the importance of PRC’s mission and the need to continue fighting for dignity, compassion, and stability in San Francisco.

Grateful for Our Volunteers

The success of Mighty Real would not have been possible without our incredible volunteers. From welcoming guests at registration to selling blinkey rings, hosting the wine wall, and ensuring every detail ran smoothly, your dedication and joy infused the evening with warmth. We are profoundly grateful for your generosity of time and spirit.

Carrying the Spirit Forward

Mighty Real 2025 wasn’t just a night of fundraising. It was a night of storytelling, music, laughter, and standing ovations that affirmed a simple truth: compassion will always prevail. The theme Take a Chance On… came alive as guests rallied behind PRC’s mission and as our clients bravely shared their journeys of renewal.

Relive the Night

Experience the joy and energy of the evening through our Mighty Real 2025 Photo Gallery and carry the spirit of community with you into the days ahead.

As we look ahead to Songs of the Season in December and future opportunities to come together, we remain profoundly grateful to everyone who helped make Mighty Real 2025 an unforgettable success. Together, we are building a San Francisco where dignity, compassion, and second chances are within reach for all.

THANK YOU TO OUR MIGHTY REAL CHAIRS

Gia Jung

Michael Niczyporuk

AND OUR MIGHTY REAL COMMITTEE

Colin Hartke

Michael Kyle

Jacob Schaaf

Brian Schneider

Nichole Wiley

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

AFTER PARTY EXTRAORDINAIRE SPONSOR

INNOVATOR SPONSORS

Ramsbacher BerryFoundation

CREATOR SPONSORS

Edward Cheung

Josh & Dana Frieman

Marc Gannon & Ram Gangaram

Michael Niczyporuk & Rachel Forisha

Camellia & John Peabody

Tamarah Prevost

Brian Schneider & Robert Lieberman

Darren Smith & Klaus Gelinsky

Jessica & Mark Winterrowd

REVELATORY SPONSORS

Colin Hartke

Ahmad Henry & Aliza Sharfe

TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS

Thomas R. Fox Family Charitable Foundation

MAKER SPONSORS

Mills Pest Control, Inc.

MEDIA SPONSOR

IN-KIND DONORS

Josh & Dana Frieman

Colin Hartke

Deborah & Kevin Hawkes

Michael Niczyporuk & Rachel Forisha

Randi & Saikat Paul

Camellia & John Peabody

Tamarah Prevost

Beth Sandefur

Jacob Schaaf

Brian Schneider & Robert Lieberman

Darren Smith & Klaus Gelinsky

On Friday, October 4th, PRC’s Mighty Real fundraiser brought an unforgettable night of celebration, compassion, and community to The Pearl in San Francisco. With more than 200 attendees, the energy in the venue was electric as we embraced this year’s theme: Imagine | Inspire | Act. Thanks to our generous guests and supporters, we raised over $200,000 to support PRC’s life-changing services!

Mighty Real Fundraiser rooftop reception

The evening began on the rooftop, where guests gathered to enjoy the rare San Francisco heat, taking in the views while connecting with fellow compassionate changemakers—many dressed fabulously to reflect their “Mighty Real” selves. Our extraordinary volunteers set the stage for the event, decorating the venue, welcoming and checking in guests, and playing a key role in several fundraising activations.

One lucky guest who purchased a blinky ring raffle entry walked away with a treasure chest of luxury goods and experiences valued at over $7,500, including a signed guitar donated by our Spirits and Innovator Sponsor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Many others donated to our wine pull, leaving with a mystery bottle of wine for a game that blended fun and philanthropy.

The live auction was full of excitement. It offered trips to Portugal and Puerto Vallarta, a year of dining at some of San Francisco’s finest restaurants, and framed and signed Golden State Warriors championship memorabilia.

A special shout-out goes to Chevron, our largest supporter of the night, contributing an incredible $20,000 between their sponsorship and the Fund-a-Need match.

As the night moved into the main ballroom for dinner, our guests heard inspiring words from Master of Ceremonies Jon Moscone, Hostess Extraordinaire Donna Sachet, Mayor London Breed, Senator Scott Weiner, and PRC CEO Chuan Teng.

This year’s awards recognized the incredible contributions of several honorees. Steven Ames Brown received the Sylvester Community Pillar Award for his tireless efforts to ensure that Sylvester’s and other artists’ royalties continue benefitting PRC and other nonprofits. Steven has also been instrumental in representing BIPOC musicians for decades, securing the royalties they deserve.

Dr. Monica Gandhi was honored with the Vanguard Leadership Award for her pioneering contributions to HIV/AIDS medical advancements and her leadership as the Medical Director of Ward 86, one of the first dedicated HIV clinics in the U.S. Her work has been invaluable in removing stigma and providing compassionate care.

The Outstanding Corporate Partnership Award went to Marsh McLennan Agency, who has been a close partner to PRC, working alongside our People Experience team to provide staff with the best benefits. Their continued support, including securing a grant for PRC from the Barney and Barney Foundation, has been invaluable.

A particularly memorable highlight of the evening came from Basil Martinez, a former PRC client and now PRC’s Workforce Development Program Coordinator. Basil captivated the audience with his powerful story of recovery, sharing the experiences that brought him to PRC. His honest recounting of setbacks and personal transformation moved everyone in the room, showing that with the right support, positive change is not only possible—it’s something we see and support at PRC every day.

As the program wrapped up, guests hit the dance floor with tunes from DJ Adrian Loving, celebrating a night of incredible impact and opportunity for our clients.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make the night such a tremendous success, including PRC Board Members and Event Chairs Michael Niczyporuk and Darren Smith, our Mighty Real Committee members Colin Hartke, Phillip Keeling, Michael Kyle, Camellia Ngo Peabody and John Peabody, Brian Schneider, and Nichole Wiley, our generous sponsors and in-kind donors, our dedicated volunteers, and all who attended. Your support continues to make a real difference for the community we serve.

Thank you for making this year’s Mighty Real a night to remember!

Tag: #MightyReal

Mighty Real 2025: A Celebration of Compassion, Courage & Community