Walden Family Services Moulin Welcome to the Moulin  Rouge Dwayne Wynne

By Cesar A Reyes

Please introduce yourself (tell us a little about who you are what you do)?
My name is Dwayne Wynne and I have been a Hillcrest resident for the last 14 years. I am originally from Bellingham, WA but got offered an opportunity to move to San Diego. In less than two weeks, I sold everything I owned, threw my clothes in a bag, and hopped on a plane with $100 in my wallet. It was spontaneous and crazy, but still the absolute best decision I ever made. I met my fiancé online through a mutual friend and we just celebrated our 11th anniversary! We have two wonderful rescue pups, Tucker who is 18 and Winslow who is 5. 

For the past decade, I worked at Gossip Grill, with eight of those years as the Security Manager. I always dreamt of living in a thriving gayborhood so having the chance to protect and be immersed in our community has really been personally gratifying. Having worked in the community for some time, I have really had the opportunity to meet so many people from all walks of life. I think that is my favorite part of Hillcrest: the melting pot of different humanity all blending together. It is freeing to live and work somewhere where I can truly be myself. 

Back in Washington, I started monthly queer theme parties for which I received a Community Service Award for improving our LGBTQ+ community. I helped build up my hometown Pride. That Pride has since grown into a weekend-long festival and is a well-loved community event with a parade and family day. I was asked to come back as the keynote speaker last year, which was one of the greatest moments of my life.

After working at Gossip Grill for a few years, I seized the opportunity to leverage my platform and voice to champion causes I believe in and raise community awareness. I started throwing fundraisers for Planned Parenthood and now for Walden Family Services. These fundraisers highlight the importance of our community supporting local organizations like Walden. By working together, we can make a positive impact on our community, especially for those whose voices are often unheard. Every small ripple we create can truly make a difference in someone’s life. That is what it is all about, right? If we can create change to make the world a safer, more loving place to be, why would we not take that opportunity and run with it?

Please tell us about becoming involved with Walden Family Services:
Years ago, there was a social media campaign about kids in the foster care program. It showed these kids putting their belongings in black plastic trash bags. Foster children are often given trash bags to transport their belongings due to a combination of factors, including resource constraints, the need for quick placements, and the lack of readily available alternatives like luggage.

That video was like a gut punch for me. You know when you see or hear something, and it just sticks with you. That is what this video did to me. All I kept imagining was how scared these kids must be. How traumatic it would be to suddenly be pulled away from everything you know and then to be told that you can only bring what you can fit into a trash bag. To me, it was like telling the child that they were trash. It just really hit my heart hard. Every night for weeks, I dreamt of that video and those kids. By the second week, my brain went from “how sad this is,” to “what can I do?”

I started researching foster care and found that approximately 368,000 children are in the foster care program at any given time in the US. 30% of those kids identify as LGBTQ+. I sent out emails to 8 or 9 different agencies here in San Diego. I set up Zoom calls to meet with the agencies, discuss my ideas, and determine if we aligned. Nothing was really hitting home with me until I had a meeting with Walden Family Services. Immediately, I knew that this was who I wanted to work with. They really emphasize creating a safe space for these kids and creating an inclusive environment for them to thrive in a loving family environment. Giving these kids the opportunity to really realize their potential. It was the perfect fit because it felt like all my core values were being met. 

I started throwing drag queen fundraisers at Gossip Grill with help from Mariam T. She has been such an amazing force in helping to bring my visions to life. Amazing queens like Mariam T, Chad Michaels, Glen Alen, and Naomi Daniels have all performed.  Together we raised over $30,000 for the foster kids and youth with Walden Family Services. 

About two years ago, I pitched my most ambitious idea yet: a Moulin Rouge dinner and show that would be different than what most people associate with a gala-style event. I really wanted to add my flare and creativity to create something new and entertaining that would shake things up a bit. 

Working with this amazing group of individuals over the last year has been so wonderful. Amanda Nelson, Philanthropy and Special Events; Kellye Buchanan, Director of Philanthropy; Shannon Lynard, Creative Director; and then co-chairs Raymond Simas and Andrea Da Rosa. This also would not be possible without the support of Walden’s CEO Teresa Stivers. This group backed every idea I had about this event and really gave me a seat at the table to be seen and heard. Together, I really feel like we are creating an inclusive event that is not only going to WOW our guests but hopefully raise awareness for the work that Walden does and raise a bunch of money for foster kids!

This year’s event is a Moulin Rouge themed extravaganza. Can you tell us some of the fun things you have planned for the night?:
Well, I do not want to give away too much, because I want our guests to be surprised. I will say that all the hard work this team has put into this event will show. This immersive fundraiser blends Parisian charm, local drag, and a celebration of belonging. It ensures a night of glitz, glamour, and goodwill! It’s being held at the iconic The Abbey on Fifth, which that alone is such a stunning setting. The beautiful stained glass and ornate woodwork really make you feel like you are stepping back in time. We really hope to invoke a sense of the world of the historic cabarets of Paris. And of course, we welcome our guests to really lean into the Moulin Rouge theme when deciding on their outfits! Who does not love a good theme night, right? Also Chris Shaw and Doug Snyder will be receiving the inaugural Kindness in Action Award for their dedicated philanthropy for LGBTQ+ youth, showcasing their continued love of home by creating a safe space for everyone, and setting an example of what it truly means to take care of one another.

How can folks get involved?:
Sponsorship tables and individual tickets are on sale now at https://waldenfamily.org/moulin-rouge/. There are also multiple underwriting opportunities available. We are still accepting items for both our silent auction like gift cards to local businesses and restaurants and items for our live auction like larger experiences. If you have something over-the-top, like dinners for large groups, VIP experiences, hot air balloon rides, flying an airplane (I am just throwing BIG ideas out there!) for us to auction off, there is an in-kind donation button on the website. 

In the current political climate, funding is being pulled from organizations that truly make a difference. Now more than ever, fundraisers like this are so important. Foster kids should not be pawns in a political game. Love truly is a universal language. Having blended communities come together to raise awareness, money, and hope for these foster kids is the light we all should be shining right now. For those want to donate to our cause but cannot attend the event, there is a donation button available on the website. Remember that anything you give, no matter the size, is creating change in a foster kid’s life! 

The WORD is Small ripples create big splashes:
“I alone can’t change the world, but I can create a little ripple in it. I can make that ripple a little bit brighter, a little bit happier and a little bit safer. Now imagine if those in my immediate circle and those reading this right now, decided to make their little ripple in the world a little bit brighter, a little bit happier and a little bit safer, and that ripple grew and grew…then maybe we collectively can change the world. Small ripples create big splashes.”