On April 11, 1992, 550 people dressed in their best packed the halls of the Boston Ballet. Their mission? To raise money for Fenway Health, to bring renewed attention to women’s health, and to throw a fabulous celebration of Boston’s vibrant LGBT community. The Fenway Health Dinner Party was born.
The Dinner Party’s name is a tribute Judy Chicago’s pioneering art installation. Chicago’s The Dinner Party is considered an iconic work of feminist art, depicting a large with place settings laid for famous women throughout history. In this spirit, The Fenway Health Dinner Party continues to uplift LBTQ women and honor their many contributions to health care for all.
1st Dinner Party
Date: 4/11/1992
Location: Boston Ballet
Chair: Deborah Heller
Awardee: Susan M. Love, MD
2nd Dinner Party
Date: 4/10/1993
Location: State House
Co-Chairs: Arlene Fortunato, Amanda Reed
Awardee: Boston Women’s Health Collective
3rd Dinner Party
Date: 4/9/1994
Location: State House
Co-Chairs: Ann Sanders, Michelle Wheeler
Awardee: Mercedes Tompkins
4th Dinner Party
Date: 4/8/1995
Location: World Trade Center
Co-Chairs: Nannette Dumas, Liz Page
Awardee: Ellen Bass
5th Dinner Party
Date: 4/20/1996
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Brenda Cole, Adrienne Benton, Carol Roby
Awardee: Amber Hollibaugh
6th Dinner Party
Date: 4/19/1997
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Sheila D’Allessandro, Nan Ives
Awardee: Kip Tiernan
7th Dinner Party
Date: 5/02/1998
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Vengerflutta Smith, Charlotte Wilson
Awardees: Diane Laskin Siegal, Beverly Saunders Biddle
8th Dinner Party
Date: 5/15/1999
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Joanne Ayoub, Johanna Schulman
Awardee: Irene Rabinowitz
9th Dinner Party
Date: 5/20/2000
Location: Sheraton Boston
Co-Chairs: Kirsten af Klinteberg, Gail Ponzek
Awardee: Lois G. Pines
10th Dinner Party
Date: 4/21/2001
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Gorgone, Jamie Marchese
Awardee: Deborah Heller
11th Dinner Party
Date: 4/27/2002
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Patti Brainard, Sheila Long
Awardees: Byllye Avery, Ngina Lythcott
13th Dinner Party
Date: 5/1/2004
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Amy Hunt, Vengerflutta Smith
Awardee: Dr. Valerie Fein-Zachary
14th Dinner Party
Date: 5/30/2005
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Sydney Mason-Barrett, Lisa VanZant
Awardee: Susan Troyan, MD
16th Dinner Party
Date: 4/28/2007
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Adrienne Benton, Lisa Paine
Awardee: Nancy Norman, MD, MPH
17th Dinner Party
Date: 4/5/2008
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Roberta F. Kety, Elizabeth Wu
Awardee: Jennifer E. Potter, MD
19th Dinner Party
Date: 3/13/2010
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: June Kelly, Molly Goodwin, Deb Graeber
Awardee: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
20th Dinner Party
Date: 5/7/2011
Location: Westin Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral, An G. Hinds, Ann Rogers, M. Ed
Awardee: Catherine D’Amato
22nd Dinner Party
Date: 4/6/2013
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Lori Griffiths, Pat Hamilton, Jenn Jones
Awardee: Ursula Matulonis, MD
23rd Dinner Party
Date: 3/26/2014
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Cynthia Cahill, Jenn Jones, Sarah McCormack
Awardee: Elyse Cherry
25th Dinner Party
Date: 4/9/2016
Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place
Co-Chairs: Lauren Matysiak, Kendra Moore, Carol Roby
Awardee: Attorney General Maura Healey
