For information on applying, see Scholarship Application. To donate, see Contribute to the Fund

• The Mary Anne Adams/ Edith Biggers Leadership Award
  Adams serves as ZAMI's Executive Director and is the founder of the Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund. In 1999, she founded Sister Outsider, a multi-cultured Atlanta based organization, with a focus on lesbians and aging issues. Adams is also the founder and moderator of Sister Outsider ll, an Internet list serve for black lesbians. In 2000, Adams founded Madam Productions as a way to foster community through musical and literary expression. In 2002, Adams founded Drum Sista, a drumming performance group for lesbians of color.

  Dr. Biggers is a public health physician who delivers compassionate and state- of- the- art medical care to indigent, uninsured, underserved, and substance using HIV positive patients with an emphasis on maximizing self-empowerment through education. Since 1993, she has been a frequent voice on the speaker's circuit encouraging patients to develop strategies for taking charge of their lives, increasing adherence with antiretroviral therapies, negotiating with partners and disclosing HIV status.

• The Sheryl Burke Award: Burke is a Personal Injury Attorney who operates her own law practices based in Georgia and California. Burke, a native of Los Angeles, California is a graduate of St. Louis University Law School and is a member of the National and Georgia Trial Lawyers' Association. Burke makes her home in Atlanta and is involved in supporting many local organizations including camps, scholarship funds, churches and educational groups. Burke writes and reads poetry in her spare time.

• The Cherie Caldwell Award: Caldwell is an expert in the supervision and management of employee relations, training and development, with more than 15 years of human resource management experience. Caldwell is currently employed as the Director of Human Resources for a flight attendant group of 19,000 employees. She is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign.

• The Ruth C. Ellis Award: Ellis was born July 23, 1899 in Springfield, Illinois and is the subject of a one hour documentary by filmmaker Yvonne Welbon: Living With Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100. Ellis resided in Detroit, Michigan until her death in 2000 and was highly respected as one of the oldest known "out" African-American lesbians. Wendy Belkin, was so empowered by Ellis' life story that she pledged a five year commitment to funding Ellis' award. She is an Ohio native and amateur astronomer who lives in Decatur, Georgia and for over 15 years has operated her own business as a Tax Attorney and CPA.

• The Sha' Mendon Award: Mendon, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, received a degree in Business Administration from Austin Peay University with a focus on marketing. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for an Atlanta IT firm. Mendon is the founder of Kings Crossing Publishing and recently published "Body Language" by C.C. Carter and "Resurrection: A Collection of Work" by Robin G. White.

• The Sherry Turner Award: Dr. Sherry Turner is a developmental psychologist whose research and teaching focus on the socialization of African- American women and girls. As an activist, Dr. Turner is committed to fighting against racism, sexism, homophobia, and all forms of oppression. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Turner currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

• The Tony Daniels Community Ally Award: Anthony C. Daniels (1965 - 1998), was one of Atlanta's most powerful organizers and activists. Daniels was a founder of In The Life Atlanta, Inc., of ADODI Muse, Inc., and of the Black Lesbian & Gay Poets Society. A long-time AIDS survivor, he was a vocal and passionate advocate for the rights and freedom of people living with HIV, poor people, women, and people of color across a broad spectrum. This scholarship is funded by ADODI Muse, Inc: A Gay Negro Ensemble, the black gay male performance poets' collective. Muse members, Duncan E. Teague, Malik M.L. Williams and Anthony Antoine specifically recognize Daniels' work to build bridges across diverse communities.

• The Hannah Guishard Award: A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Guishard came to the United States in 1988 to pursue her studies in Veterinary Medicine. She is a 1994 graduate of Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Guishard is the Founder and Co-Owner of Union City Veterinary Medical Center & Emergency Clinic, a 24 hour Veterinary Hospital on the south side of Atlanta. She is a part of the metaphysics community in Atlanta and is involved in supporting many LGBT organizations and causes.

• The Sadiqua Bey Memorial Award: Sadiqua Bey (1948-2003) made her living for many years as a draftsperson and an example of her work can be seen in the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, where she had great involvement in many of the floor plans and design elements. Bey worked with the National Black Women's Health Project during its inception; as a health and diet consultant; and as a caterer, She supplied metro area health food stores with her famous Queen's Garden food line. Bey was especially known for her work as a massage therapist and counselor where she touched the lives of many families. Bey was a founding member of GLADE (Gays and Lesbians Aging with Dignity and Enthusiasm.) This award is funded in part by Dr. Hannah Guishard and family and friends of Bey.

• The Marlon Riggs Social Justice Award: Marlon Riggs (1957-1994), was known for making insightful and controversial documentary films confronting racism and homophobia that thrust him onto center stage in America's "cultural wars.", Riggs graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard and received his masters' degree from the University of California - Berkeley where he became a tenured professor in the Graduate School of Journalism. Riggs second major work Tongues Untied, catapulted him into the debate over public funding of the arts. This moving, highly personal, sometimes angry, always poignant documentary was the first frank discussion of the black, gay experience on television. This award is funded by Ally, David Gillespie who grew up in Texas, and received his undergraduate degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University. In addition to his work with the Human Rights Campaign, David has volunteered for YouthPride, the CHRIS Rainbow House, and the Uganda Children's Charity Fund. David's vision for our communities is to more strongly connect all of our diverse groups into one powerful, united force.

• The Ronald Moore Humanitarian Award: Moore is currently the Diversity Manager for the corporate Functions group of Hewlett Packard. This is a global group of over 13,000 infrastructure employees. Most recently he was the Human Resources Manger for Hewlett Packard's Consumer Business Organization's Latin America Operation in Atlanta. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Moore received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications , a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Master in Labor and Industrial Relations, all from Michigan State University. Moore is committed to the Atlanta area and a firm believer that you are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

• The Keiron Williams Hero Award: Keiron Williams,(1974-2002) was one of Atlanta's bright young stars. In 1996, Keiron challenged the administration and student government of Morehouse College for the right to start a campus based organization to support Gay students. Keiron was victorious and in that same year, Morehouse Adodi was founded. In 1997, when the organization known as Second Sunday received funding to support young Black Gay and Bisexual men, Keiron became one of the founding Coordinators of the group known as My Brothaz Keeper. Through all of this, Keiron was HIV positive and fighting to maintain his own health. This award is funded by Kevin Bynes, a friend, colleague, and tireless community organizer/ activist around queer youth and HIV/ AIDS issues.

Unless, otherwise noted, the 2003 awards are named after the person who donated the scholarship.