Thank you for joining MenAlive at our annual gala. It was indeed an evening of good times with grand friends. We’ll see you in 2025.

2024 Rich Cook Community Bridge Award Recipients

MenAlive is honored to present Alex Mohajer, an award-winning independent political writer, advocate, and organizer, and Jeff Whittiker, longtime MenAlive member, the Rich Cook Community Bridge Awards.

The Rich Cook Community Bridge Awards are presented annually to honor those in the community who have made a positive impact in and for the LGBTQ community. The award continues to recognize distinguished community members who personify MenAlive’s mission of “informing, bringing healing, joy, friendship and building bridges to the public at large.”

ALEX MOHAJER

Alex Mohajer is an award-winning independent political writer, advocate, and organizer. He was the first millennial and first Iranian American elected President of the Stonewall Democrats, one of the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ political advocacy organizations. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Iranian American Democrats of California. Queerty named him one of the 50 most inspirational LGBTQ voices in the nation.

A passionate activist since he was a teenager, Alex has stated: “The movement for the liberation of oppressed people is intersectional and nonpartisan… I will always advocate for marginalized communities here at home, especially as hate against our Asian American, Jewish, LGBTQ+, and Black neighbors is on the rise.”

Born and raised in Irvine, CA, by a single mom who immigrated to the United States from Iran, Alex graduated from University High School and Irvine Valley College before attending the University of California, Berkeley for his undergraduate education. He returned to the district for law school and graduated with a J.D. from Chapman University School of Law in 2011. For the past 10 years, he has worked in public service, trying due process hearings and investigating allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination as a Civil Service Advocate. As a public speaker and media personality, Alex frequently appears on panels, conferences, television interviews, and podcast/radio broadcasts nationwide. In 2019, he executive produced the National Vote-at-Home Initiative. This multimedia GOTV project recruited the talents of notable celebrities and influencers to register more than 30,000 voters to vote by mail.

Alex is proudly 5 years sober and an active member of the sobriety community, volunteering his time helping people who struggle with addiction.

JEFF WHITTIKER

Jeff Whittiker, a lifelong resident of Orange County, has spent over 20 years working in various capacities to build, promote, and secure MenAlive’s position as an integral member of Orange County’s LGBTQ+ community. In that time, he performed as a singer and dancer, served for three years on the MenAlive Board, and served two years as CFO/Treasurer. Contributing in innumerable ways to the day-to-day running of the Chorus, he has served on MenAlive’s Gala, Retreat, and various other committees. Never one to be idle for long, he currently volunteers to manage and ensure the continued accuracy and effectiveness of the Donor Database. Talented administratively and artistically, he volunteered for many years as the Musical Section Leader for the second tenor section.

Jeff’s contributions go beyond MenAlive, however. An active member of the Laguna Beach community, he performs with the LagunaTunes Community Chorus and volunteers as their Choreographer/Dance Captain. In the Spring of 2023, he volunteered to join the Board of the Laguna Beach Garden Club as co-treasurer with his husband, John Holcombe.

Jeff and John frequently open their Laguna Beach home to MenAlive for fundraising and social activities. Sterling, their beloved Silver Lab, generally tolerates these occurrences.

2024 HARMONY PHOTO GALLERY

Many thanks to our photographer, Jay Cambare.

MENALIVE Season Sponsor

Rich Cook Community Bridge Award Recipients