Magic of Partnerships: Illuminight Gala

A night of magic - that is the best way to describe our 10th annual Illuminight Gala. It was a night of connection and unity as we honor our police and community partners and the work they do to keep our communities safe. 

Our guest speakers this year were Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department Emada Tingirides and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. 

Thank you to Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department Emada Tingirides for making the trip across the country to speak to our partners. Her background includes being named the Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine as well as one of Los Angeles’ Most Influential Women by Los Angeles Magazine in 2015. Her message of the importance of community policing is extremely meaningful for our mission.

We want to thank South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette for attending Illuminight. Pamela Evette is the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina and the first female Republican lieutenant governor. She has also worked to bring awareness to state nonprofits and the impact they have in our local communities. We are so thankful for her support of our mission. 

We’d like to thank our generous sponsors, including The City of Forest Acres, Jim Hudson Automotive Group, Richland County, Dunbar Funeral Home, Julie & Mike Brenan, Walmart, MUSC Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Southeastern Freight Lines, Duke Energy and Founders Federal Credit Union.

In addition to our sponsors, we would like to thank our in-kind donors, including ByFarr Design House, Loosh Culinaire Fine Catering, Bottles Beverage Superstore, Party Reflections Special Event Rentals, American Floral, Sound & Images, Black Tie Bartending, Sun Solutions, Ambient Media, Josh Cellar and Jac2 Photo. 

We are honored to celebrate our Community Champion Award recipient, the West Columbia Law Enforcement Assisted Deflection (LEAD) program, specifically to West Columbia Police Chief Marion Boyce and Rhonda Dinovo from the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work. We want to recognize the LEAD team’s consistent leadership in policing and dedication to community service. The team works with the West Columbia Police Department and the SC Department of Mental Health as a community-based alternative to prosecution. Since launching the program, there have been 1135 client contacts and 275 officer consults. 

We are thrilled to announce Sgt. Mary Frantz of the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office as our Greg Alia Award recipient. She is described as going above and beyond to serve her community. Sgt. Frantz is credited as playing a key role in establishing Neighborhood Watches across Aiken County, bringing Greg’s Groceries to the area and working with community stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and support. 

We are proud to celebrate Seneca Police Department as our Agency Community Leadership Award recipient. The department has been chosen for its dedication to building relationships with the community through a variety of programs and initiatives. Those initiatives include Neighborhood Block Parties, Popsicle Programs to connect with younger generations and their Reunite program to connect individuals facing homelessness to their families or resources. 

Some honorable mentions we would like to recognize include: 

Lieutenant Matt Parks of Mount Pleasant Police Department has a passion for helping people in need. In his 22 years at the department, he has worked to assist those suffering from substance abuse, taking calls at all hours of the day and night to help those in need. We want to recognize his deep care for others and his devotion to victims of substance abuse, treating them with dignity and respect as he works to restore their lives. 

Officer Joseph Siroata of the Columbia Police Department exemplifies the spirit of leadership, compassion and dedication.What stands out about Officer Siroata is the genuine warmth and friendliness  that he brings while on duty.  Whether it's sharing a big smile with local residents at an assisted living residence or at a local community center where he greets each child with a wave or a fist bump, Officer Sirota is noted for having a unique ability to make everyone feel valued and safe.

Officer Scott Danback of the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office is recognized for his unwavering commitment to community engagement and service. He is consistently going above and beyond the call of duty to serve and support both victims of crime and the public. One of the most remarkable aspects of Officer Danbeck's approach to policing is his innovative use of his K-9 partner, Matteo, to provide emotional comfort to victims and the community.

Thank you once again to our sponsors, speakers and partners for making this magical night possible. We can’t wait to see you at our next event!

Illuminight 2025 recap