In December, fundraising for Mazzoni Center truly was a drag.

Drag entertainer Cherry Pop and her fabulous friends united for the 10th annual Code Red fundraiser, a drag/variety show held at Punchline Philly. It was a fun and powerful night of musical entertainment with a serious message and a vital cause. Code Red benefited Mazzoni Center, along with AIDS Fund, galaei, and Action Wellness, and its proceeds support the HIV-related services provided by each organization. This year’s event raised over $50,000 in total for its beneficiary organizations. Mazzoni Center has partnered with Code Red since it began, receiving over $75,000 in funding for our HIV services.

Meanwhile, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Alliance hosted one of the first on-campus drag events. This all-ages event was hosted at Sigma Kappa sorority and raised over $750 in ticket sales to support Mazzoni Center. The Wharton Alliance is the Ivy League’s first LGBTQIA+ pre-professional undergraduate organization. It focuses on building a culture of community, professionalism, and inclusivity on Penn’s campus. Wharton Alliance strives to create a strong queer network on campus for all of its members. The show featured three local Philly queens: Little Piece (Host at Franky Bradley's) Deja Vu and Xtrella, as well as several UPenn queens.

Anyone wishing to create their own drag show to benefit Mazzoni Center should contact [email protected].

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