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CAMILLE'S
CRUSADE
by Jed Ryan
 It
won't surprise most people to know that Camille Gnolfo, owner
of
Forevergreen bar in Lindenhurst, is incredibly
modest. When Camille learned that she was being honored at
this year's Dock of the Bay Summer
Party, her first response was "I don't really
know why they (GALFOLI)
chose ME! I don't think I've done that much. So many
people have done so much more!" True, there are many
"unsung heroes" in our community-- but how many
have Camille Gnolfo's grace, warmth, devotion to community,
and mannered enthusiasm? Camille is best known for her commitment
to Breast Cancer awareness, and she has generously donated
her valuable time and energy, in addition to space at Forevergreen,
to this cause. The Breast Cancer Benefit at Forevergreen
has become an anticipated and highly successful annual event.
Camille recognized that Long Island has the unfortunate distinction
of having one woman in nine affected by the disease. She also
pointed out during our phone interview that it's not just
a women's disease. Men do get breast cancer, although it's
a rare occurrence. "It will affect every one of us to
some degree sooner or later, whether it's you, your partner,
mother, friend, or other special person in your life"
says Camille.
Camille
started her involvement in the gay and lesbian community 25
years ago as a DJ at TC & Company, the West Hempstead
women's bar which would later become Bedrock and eventually
Shi Bar. Camille was a customer at Forevergreen,
and five years ago she became owner. The Breast Cancer
Benefit started at about that time when, according to
Camille, two women approached her with the idea of using Forevergreen
for a fund-raiser. The first year, $3,000 was raised. Motivated
by the success, the Benefit became an annual event,
and by the third year Camille's endeavor really "took
off," by her own words. An amazing $11,000 was raised,
which was distributed among three major breast cancer organizations
on Long Island. Entertainers Sue Larsen (who hosted) , Ellen
Lambert, The Figs, Ladeez
in the House, Venise
Charles, and DJ Denise, among others, were all there.
Helen from Club
608 donated her time and services by tending the bar
all day. (Keep in mind that this event lasted from 3 PM to
4 AM!) The Fourth Annual Benefit was the first in which
the entire community got involved. The Benefit expanded
into a two-day affair, with an auction on the first day and
the Benefit, raffle, and entertainment on the second day.
A triumphant $23,000 was raised. "All the entertainers,
volunteers and supporters who participated in the event...
it was clearly a labor of love on their part, and I'm thankful
for that. Everyone donated their time and talents."
In
April 2000,
Forevergreen won the "Outstanding Community Fund-raiser"
award at the Long Island Pride Press Awards for The Breast
Cancer Benefit.
Forevergreen was also awarded LIPP's "Best Bar
Business of the Decade" for their continuous support
of the community. That same year Camille won LIPP's "Best/Favorite
Female DJ." In April 2001, both Camille and Forevergreen
were recognized again. Forevergreen
was praised with LIPP's "Favorite Women's Bar" Award,
and Camille won LIPP's Humanitarian of the Year Award. That
night, Camille was praised in a heartfelt speech by Suffolk
County Legislator Maxine
Postal: "Camille is never looking for credit or praise.
The atmosphere at Forevergreen
is nurturing, warm, supportive, giving, and loving: a true
reflection of Camille. It's like being bathed in warmth. Camille
makes everyone feel special." Camille told me that she
actually knew Maxine
Postal long before the Awards, when Ms. Postal was a frequent
customer at IHOP
(International House of Pancakes) in Massapequa, which Camille
owns.
Between
owning both IHOP
and Forevergreen,
it's pretty obvious that Ms. Gnolfo doesn't have much spare
time. Even though she has a manager for Forevergreen,
Camille spends a LOT of time there, much to the delight
of the bar's loyal customers. Her birthday on Monday, July
24 turned into a mandatory gay gal event at Forevergreen.
When she does find spare time, she likes to spend time in
her garden. "Most of my spare time gets taken up by doing
paperwork for my two business," she says. "But I
have a passion for both gardening and music." Indeed,
Camille still DJ's at Forevergreen
from time to time, due to popular demand.
Camille
is excited about the future for both Forevergreen
and the gay community. "When we stick together as a community,
we open doors." This year, the Annual Breast Cancer
Benefit will be held on October 5th and 6th, with the
Benefit, an auction, and a very special "Rocky
Horror Show"-style musical performance, which
Camille and the other ladies have been rigorously rehearsing
for. Camille also plans to move the Breast Cancer awareness
efforts into the areas of prevention and education as well.
Her friend and fellow community activist Diane Bruessow is
the Founder of and Coordinator for the Long
Island Lesbian Cancer Initiative: a grass roots, feminist
initiative dedicated to securing lesbian-sensitive services
for women living with cancer and their partners and/or families--
which include a lesbian-friendly cancer support group. The
group is a local satellite of the Mary
Helen Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer, located
in Washington, D.C. Call toll-free at 1-866-MAUTNER or log
on to www.mautnerproject.org/longisland
for more details.
Camille
states that she felt "totally overwhelmed" at being
honored at this year's Dock of the
Bay. "Jim and Barry
(from GALFOLI)
are splendid individuals. We owe them our heartfelt thanks.
I have no doubt that they will succeed in their endeavors
for the community."
Maxine
Postal, at the 2001 LIPP Awards, pondered, "If only
we could have more Camilles!" Well, if cloning becomes
a scientific reality in the near future, I nominate Camille
Gnolfo to be the first person to be cloned. What a better
world it would be!
Congratulations,
Camille!
Related
Articles:
Photo:
Courtesy of GALFOLI
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