Announcing the Focus Awards 2019 and it’s Exciting New Location at Ballet Memphis!

Honor the great work being done in the Mid-South LGBTQ community by attending the 4th annual Focus Awards this August! The Focus Awards are the Mid-South’s premiere awards for recognizing LGBTQ+ persons and allies who are making a significant impact on the queer community through their leadership, career achievements and personal qualities, and who also inspire others to excel.

Ray Rico, owner of Ray Rico Freelance, a full-service marketing agency, conceived the idea. Ray Rico Freelance is the publisher of Focus Mid-South, an LGBTQ-centric print and online magazine with content created for the LGBTQ community and its allies. The awards recognize both individuals and organizations doing great work in and around Memphis. Winners will be announced at the Focus Awards event on August 23, 2019 at Ballet Memphis.

The Focus Center Foundation is beyond excited to partner with Ballet Memphis and bring the awards to Overton Square.

Steven McMahon, Artistic Director at Ballet Memphis wrote: “We are thrilled that Focus Magazine chose Ballet Memphis’ home to host their annual Focus Awards. Ballet Memphis is proud to stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family and its allies.

Our Midtown home was intentionally designed to be highly visible and transparent, to be an open and welcoming place of inspiration and creativity for Memphis. I cannot think of a more suitable place for Focus Magazine to honor the work and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community in Memphis.”

Six awards will be presented:

The Visionary Award will be given to an LGBTQ+ person aged 30 or older whose work has created opportunities, or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT community.  

The Trailblazer Award will go to an LGBTQ+ person age 30 or younger whose work has created opportunities or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBTQ community.

The Allie Award will be given to an ally any age whose work has created opportunities or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBTQ community.

The People’s Choice Award will be given to any LGBTQ+ person or ally of any age. Nominations will be submitted online. Top vote-getters will be sent to a panel of judges for final determination of the winner.  

The Legacy Award will be chosen by the Publisher, this award recognizes a person or persons, community group, business or ally whose work or community involvement has had long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT+ community.

The Publisher’s Award will be chosen by the Publisher and the Managing Editor, this award recognizes a person or persons, community group, business or ally whose involvement in Focus Mid-South magazine’s editorial content is exceptional because of the frequency of submissions, quality of writing, depth of research on a topic, or superior artistic contributions.

Judges will be invited from throughout the community and chosen based on their involvement in LGBTQ issues.

This year at the awards the Focus Center Foundation will be presenting a non-profit with a $20,000 grant (comprised of marketing agency services, advertising, and a cash donation). Details for how non-profit organizations can apply will be released next week.

Focus Awards detailed information: focusmidsouth.com/awards
Email inquiries: awards@focusmidsouth.com
Awards event: Friday, August 23, 2019 at 6:30 p.m
Ballet Memphis
2144 Madison Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
Event tickets: Early bird pricing is $60 per person and available through our website. Tables of 8 are $420. After July 15th, single tickets are $75 and tables are $525. Red carpet arrival and photos followed by an open bar and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the award announcements at 7:45 p.m.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. See full details on our website awards.focusmidsouth.com