DVLF Board Adds Eight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Juan Franco, Executive Director

jfranco@dvlf.org

215-863-8110

www.dvlf.org

Philadelphia, PA (Oct. 18) – Eight local leaders recently joined the board of directors of DVLF (Delaware Valley Legacy Fund), an organization with an endowment fund and activities that help meet needs of the Greater Philadelphia LGBTQ community. The new board members will be officially welcomed by board president Fernando Gonzalez at DVLF’s 25th anniversary celebration, “TOY – The Silver Jubilee,” on Saturday, Dec. 15 (www.dvlf.org/toy).

"I am thrilled to welcome this dynamic group of leaders to the board," said Gonzalez. "I look forward to their contributions to foster philanthropy by and for our vibrant LGBTQ community."

Dante Austin is a deputy sheriff and LGBT Liaison Officer in the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office, the latter role being the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. He has also served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Notably, he received the DVLF Hero Award this year for building bridges between law enforcement and the LGBTQ community.

Julian Domanico is the individual giving manager for City Year, an organization which supports urban schools and students. His advocacy work focuses on incarceration, reentry, and other social justice issues. He is a member of the Mayor's Millennial Advisory Committee (MAC), a board member of Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP), and is active with Action Wellness and the Philadelphia Queer Film Festival (QFlix).

Sappho Fulton is a primary therapist at Behavioral Wellness & Recovery. She previously served as director of LGBTQ Home for Hope, a recovery house and shelter. She has worked with people affected by incarceration, HIV/AIDS, and more. She hosts Lesbian Family Day Cookout to close Philadelphia Black Gay Pride. She also hosts a podcast, “It’s Healing Time,” on culture consciousness in same-sex relationships and co-founded a foundation with her wife to elevate, educate, and empower LQTB and womyn of color to sustain holistic healing.

Gloria Melunis, Esq., is staff counsel for the asset management group at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. She has also clerked in both the public and private sectors in New Jersey. She is a member of the National LGBT Bar Association. In addition to joining the board, she was voted to serve as governance chair, a member of the board’s executive committee.

John-Heath Olguin is head of visual merchandising and space planning for Five Below, having held similar branding/marketing leadership roles at other major retailers. He is involved with organizations such as the New Jersey affiliate of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, which provides free programs and services to LGBTQ youth.

Christopher Barrett Politan is the principal of Give, Get, Grow, a philanthropic advisory and consulting firm. He has worked with LGBTQ organizations including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, SAGE, Ali Forney Center, Anti-Violence Project, and OutRight Action International. He has also served on boards of various arts, culture, sports, and other organizations.

Roberto Thornton is a senior investment operations analyst in liquidity management at Vanguard, having worked in the financial industry since 2012. He is active with Vanguard's Open Professional Engagement Network, helping plan and speak at company-wide events. He is also active in the Transmasculine Advocacy Network (TMAN) as well as the Philly Trans March. He will be joining the board in January.

Kenneth (Ken) Tubbs, is the director of the customer sales and service contact center at NJM Insurance Group in West Trenton, New Jersey, overseeing a team of 450 in three locations. He brings extensive experience as a member of nonprofit boards in Upstate New York, including The Bridge which provides support to LGBTQ communities.

For more information about DVLF, email info@dvlf.org or visit www.dvlf.org. Also, follow DVLF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About DVLF

DVLF, now in its 25th year, fosters philanthropy and helps meet the emerging needs of the Greater Philadelphia region’s LGBTQ community through its endowment and other activities including Our Night Out. Over the course of its history, it has provided about $1 million in support for organizations working in areas such as health and social services, arts and culture, education and humanities, and legal and civil rights.