Philadelphia’s Black-Tie GayBINGO returns on 3 October with dinner, dancing, drag-led bingo and a meaningful milestone. The fundraiser will celebrate Action Wellness’s 40 years of HIV advocacy while raising support for people facing medical, housing and financial challenges. It’s a glamorous night out, but its purpose remains firmly rooted in community care.

Essential Takeaways

  • Date and venue: The event takes place on 3 October at the Regency Ballroom at Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
  • What to expect: Guests can enjoy cocktails, dinner, bingo, a silent auction and dancing.
  • Special honour: Dr Demetre C. Daskalakis will receive the first Carlota Ttendant Award.
  • Why it matters: GayBINGO has raised almost $5 million for people affected by HIV.
  • Tickets: Event details and tickets are available through Action Wellness.

A glamorous night with a serious purpose

The evening promises sequins, laughter and plenty of theatrical flair, but the cause behind the cards is serious. Action Wellness is using its annual Black-Tie GayBINGO fundraiser to mark four decades of HIV advocacy and support in Philadelphia.

According to Action Wellness, the event will feature hosts Stella D’Oro and Goldie Jawn, alongside the Bingo Verifying Divas. A cocktail reception, dinner, auction and dancing round out what sounds like a properly polished night, with bingo providing the camp centrepiece.

That blend of celebration and fundraising is precisely what has made GayBINGO so distinctive. It feels like a party, but every ticket and bid helps support practical services for people affected by HIV. (Sources: Action Wellness, Wooder Ice.)

From crisis response to long-term wellbeing

ActionAIDS was founded in Philadelphia in 1986, when volunteers stepped in to support people facing illness, isolation and widespread stigma. The organisation became Action Wellness in 2016, reflecting a broader focus on physical, emotional and economic wellbeing.

Today, the organisation supports more than 2,000 clients each year. Its work includes case management, housing help, perinatal support and assistance for people moving on from incarceration, showing how HIV care is closely tied to everyday stability.

Treatment has transformed HIV from an often fatal diagnosis into a manageable long-term condition for many people. Yet access to healthcare still depends on basics such as secure housing, food, transport and financial support. Those realities give the anniversary a more complicated edge: there is plenty to celebrate, but no excuse for complacency. (Sources: Action Wellness, Creative Philadelphia.)

GayBINGO's enduring Philadelphia appeal

GayBINGO began in 1996, with its Black-Tie edition following in 1999. After AIDS Fund Philly ceased operations in 2024, Action Wellness continued the tradition, keeping a familiar community ritual alive.

The event's appeal lies in its unusual chemistry. Bingo is simple and sociable, while the performers bring colour, humour and a little glorious chaos. For regulars, that atmosphere matters as much as the fundraising. A room full of people laughing together can be a powerful antidote to isolation.

Over the years, the fundraiser has generated nearly $5 million for HIV-related services. That is an impressive total, particularly for an event that has never treated entertainment as an afterthought. (Sources: Action Wellness, Wooder Ice, Action Wellness Giving.)

A new award honours a beloved host

This year's event will introduce the Carlota Ttendant Award, named after the long-time GayBINGO hostess who retired in June after 30 years in the role. Dr Demetre C. Daskalakis, chief medical officer of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, will be the inaugural recipient.

Ttendant's legacy is more than a hosting credit. She helped create the event's personality, making audiences laugh while keeping attention on the people and services the fundraiser supports. That combination of warmth and purpose is difficult to manufacture, which makes the new award feel especially fitting.

Daskalakis has worked extensively in HIV prevention and LGBTQ+ health, including advocacy around PrEP and U=U, the principle that people with an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV sexually. His recognition connects scientific progress with the community trust that helps turn medical advances into real-world care. (Sources: Action Wellness, HIV Medicine Association, Wikipedia.)

What guests should know before booking

The 40th anniversary Black-Tie GayBINGO begins at 6.30pm on 3 October at the Regency Ballroom, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street. Guests should check Action Wellness for the latest ticket information, access details and event updates before travelling.

For anyone new to the fundraiser, the format is straightforward: expect a dressed-up crowd, live entertainment, bingo games and opportunities to give beyond the ticket price. Comfortable shoes may also be wise. Dinner and dancing can turn even the most carefully planned formal outfit into a late-evening endurance test.

More importantly, the event offers a chance to support services that remain needed despite major medical advances. HIV has changed, but the social and economic pressures surrounding care have not disappeared. (Sources: Action Wellness, Action Wellness Giving, Creative Philadelphia.)

It's a glittering evening with a grounded message: community care still counts.

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