Equality Florida will present the Voice for Equality Award to Jill Ellis, the OUT and PROUD “Winningest Coach in U.S. Soccer History”, at the organization’s Annual Miami Celebration presented by PNC Bank on Saturday, March 28. The event begins at 6:30 pm at Nobu Eden Roc, 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.
The Voice for Equality Award is bestowed annually upon a person who, with courage, passion and unwavering commitment, moves the LGBTQ community closer to full equality.
On October 6, 2019, Ellis coached her final game for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), cementing a legacy on and off the field that will impact generations to come. She is the first coach in history to win back-to-back Women’s World Cups, and as head coach of the USWNT, she coached 132 international games, more than any USWNT coach in history.
With a monumental list of accomplishments, Ellis closed out her career with a 17-game win streak. She had coached against 39 different opponents and beat 38 of them at least once. The only exception was Iceland (which was a 0-0 draw at the Algarve Cup). She never lost in California, where she coached UCLA for more than a decade, going 15-0-0. With Ellis at the helm, the USWNT averaged 3.1 goals/game and conceded just 0.5. All of this, and more, has earned her the title of the Winningest Coach in U.S. Soccer History.
The theme for the Equality Florida Gala is the Rat Pack era. Think Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe. No particular attire is required, but guests are invited to wear a suit or tux like Frank, or a dress like Marilyn! Refreshments include cocktails by Bacardi, hors d’oeuvres by Nobu and delicious desserts by Sense Art.
A highlight of the evening is the State of the State Address presented by Nadine Smith, CEO/Founder of Equality Florida, who will outline the landmark achievements of the past year and address the work that is yet to be done.
The Equality Florida Miami Celebration presented by PNC Bank takes place on Saturday, March 28th at 6:30 PM at Nobu Eden Roc, 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Tickets are $150 in advance or $175 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.equalityflorida.org/
Equality Florida Institute is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. www.
Equality Florida has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, its top rating, and is the highest rated statewide LGBT civil rights organization in the nation, with four stars for both accountability and transparency. We’re also a Platinum Level GuideStar participant, a top-rated nonprofit by GreatNonprofits, and nationally accredited by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (give.org).
