About Us

A Celebration of Friends

MISSION STATEMENT

A Celebration of Friends, Inc. mission is to provide warm, comfortable, safe and engaging gatherings recognizing and promoting self-worth, dignity, kindness and friendships of and within our senior population. To that end, we strive not only to host celebrations of our seniors, but family type reunions of our friends and brothers through supportive connections within our nationwide and international scope.

All-Volunteer Organization

Over the past 15 years A Celebration of Friends has donated over $210,000 to local charities. We are an all-volunteer organization receiving no federal funding or grants.

A Celebration of Friends

Our Team

A Celebration of Friends

Tom (Tomcat) Pence

Founder and President of A Celebration Of Friends, Inc.

A Celebration of Friends, Inc. was founded by Tom Pence, a former U.S. Marine, who realized early on that "Maturity Matters" in this youth-oriented gay world and that there was a need for seniors to be celebrated.
The first Celebration was held in 2002 in New Orleans, LA. Over next 20 years, ACOF has hosted yearly Celebrations in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., Miami Beach, FL., Orlando, FL. Palm Springs, CA. and has had many distinguished guests, such as actor Ed Asner and former U.S, Congressman Barney Frank. Our next Celebration will be held in Key West, FL. in June 2021. Over the past 20 years, thousands of men have participated in these annual Family Reunions and given just under $250,000 to various charities. Tomcat’s unquenchable spirit and dedication has maintained the Celebration’s credo “We’re All In This together!!! and Together, We Can Make A Difference!!!

tomcat9722@aol.com

A Celebration of Friends

Alain Lecusay

Vice-President ACOF

Born in Cuba, Alain came to this country when he was ten years old.

Upon graduation from high school, Alain enlisted in the Marine Corps to travel the world. And travel he did, spending the next twenty-five years visiting the Pacific Rim, Kenya, Jordan, Somalia, China and Australia before retiring as a Master Sergeant.

Alain is currently working for one of Florida’s local City police Departments in the data entry field. He believes in the ACOF and the need for the A Celebration of Friends so deeply, he gladly volunteered to be on the Board and is one of its hardest working members. His innocence and shyness is something not often seen in a gay environment.

Alain would love to hear from you.

A Celebration of Friends

Franco Sperduti & Ray Boltz

Advisor 

Franco is “Mr. ACOF 2019” and also our newest Board Member.

A Celebration of Friends

William (Bill) Hagel

ACOF Advisor

Bill is a proud veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1972. After attending is first Celebration in July of 2017, He was so inspired with the mission that he ran for office and became a member of the Board. He worked for 31 years at AT&T as the Travel Manager providing services for over 300,000 employees. After leaving AT&T, Bill spent time as VP of Finance and Human Resources for Med-Jet. He finished up by returning to the corporate travel industry as VP of Sales and Customer Service for Gem Limousine Worldwide.

thumbnail_Gail & Joel

Gail Friend & Joel Leenaars

Board Member & Partner

Gail Friend w/ partner Joel Leenaars

Gail Friend and his partner Joel Leenaars summer in Naples, Fl and winter in Danbury, IA. Gail spent 38 years as a school guidance counselor in Naples. Joel was an elementary teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Florida. They happily spend their days enjoying nature and films. 

A Celebration of Friends

Charlie Egan & Efrain Campomenosi

Board Member 

Board Member Efrain Campomenosi has been a member of the A Celebration of Friends for over two years.

A Former member of the New York State Thruway Authority he is now employed as a Health Care Provider
He and Charlie Egan have been together for over
two years.

Charlie & Nick bio

Charlie Chiarelli
w/Nick Bisantino

MR ACOF 2022

 
Charlie has been with the ACOF since its inception in 2002.
This Canadian born youngster has been a U.S. citizen and a New York native for fifty years.  A member of Dignity and Prime Timers New York and then a founding member of the Fort and also the Lauderdale Prime Timers.  Charlie and Nick have been together since 2017, and live in Davie, FL.

NEWS

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

Terms of Service

Legal Notice

All notices from A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS to You may be posted on our Web site and will be deemed delivered within thirty (30) days after posting. Notices from You to A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS shall be made either by regular mail, sent to the address we provide on our Web site, or first class mail to our address at:
Delivery shall be deemed to have been made by You to A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS five (5) days after the date sent.

Copyright Notice

All content appearing on this Web site is the property of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.
Copyright © 2018 A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. All rights reserved. As a user, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute documents on this Web site so long as (1) the document is used for informational purposes only, and (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2018 A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. All rights reserved.

Trademarks

All brand, product, service, and process names appearing on this Web site are trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use of a product, service, or process does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation, or sponsorship of that product, service, or process by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel, or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS or any third party, except as expressly granted herein.

Terms of Use

This site may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed. Information on this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information, including product pricing and availability, may be changed or updated without notice. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, and/or cancel orders in its discretion, including, without limitation, if A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS believes that customer conduct violates applicable law or is harmful to the interests of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries.

Privacy Policy

This site may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed. Information on this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information, including product pricing and availability, may be changed or updated without notice. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, and/or cancel orders in its discretion, including, without limitation, if A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS believes that customer conduct violates applicable law or is harmful to the interests of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries.

Shipping and Delivery

At this time, A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS ships merchandise to locations within the United States and U.S. territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Additionally, A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS ships merchandise to Canada and Mexico, but not to other international locations. The risk of loss and title for all merchandise ordered on this Web site pass to you when the merchandise is delivered to the shipping carrier.

International

Customs and import duties may be applied to International orders when the shipment reaches its destination. Such charges are the responsibility of the recipient of your order and vary from country to country. Contact your local customs office for details.

Shipping laws are different in each country. It is your responsibility to check with your Customs office to verify whether the country to which you are shipping permits the shipment of your products. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS is not responsible for any direct, indirect, punitive, or consequential damages that arise from improper international shipping practices.

Sales Tax

A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS charges sales tax for merchandise ordered on this Web site based on the applicable state sales tax rate and the location to which the order is being shipped.

Warranties

The Content included in this Web site has been compiled from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice as are any products, programs, offerings, or technical information described in this Web site. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the completeness, quality, or adequacy of the Web site or Content, or the suitability, functionality, or operation of this Web site or it’s Content. By using this Web site, you assume the risk that the Content on this Web site may be inaccurate, incomplete, offensive, or may not meet your needs and requirements.

A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THESE WEB PAGES AND CONTENT. IN NO EVENT WILL A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES EVEN IF COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
-- OR Depending on State --
The information and content on this server is provided "as is" with no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Any warranty that is provided in connection with any of the products and services described on this Web site is provided by the advertiser or manufacturer only, and not by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.

The references and descriptions of products or services within the Web site materials are provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS is not liable for any damages, including any consequential damages, of any kind that may result to the user from the use of the materials on this Web site or of any of the products or services described hereon.

The descriptions of, and references to, products, services and companies on this Web site are the sole responsibility of the companies providing the information ("advertisers"), and not A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.
The inclusion of material on this server does not imply any endorsement by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS, which makes no warranty of any kind with respect to the subject matter of the server materials advertised.

A possibility exists that the server materials could include inaccuracies or errors. Additionally, a possibility exists that unauthorized additions, deletions, and alterations could be made by third parties to the server materials. Although A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS tries to ensure the integrity and the accurateness of the server materials, it makes no guarantees about their correctness or accuracy. Before relying on any representation made in any of the server materials, check with the advertiser of the product or service to ensure that the information you are relying upon is correct.

Return Policy

You may purchase merchandise from this Web site by using any one of the payment options listed in (link to Payment Options). A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS reserves the right to change its payment procedures at any time without prior notice to you.

Miscellaneous

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED: Although the information on this Web site is accessible worldwide, not all products or services discussed in this Web site are available to all persons or in all geographic locations or jurisdictions. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and the advertisers each reserve the right to limit the provision of their products or services to any person, geographic area, or jurisdiction they so desire and to limit the quantities of any products or services that they provide. Any offer for any product or service made in the materials on this Web site is void where prohibited.

GOVERNING LAW: In the event of litigation both parties agree that the Law of the State of business registration of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS shall apply and both parties shall consent to the jurisdiction of said State's courts, or in the event of diversity of citizenship, the United States District Court for the (District). Both parties expressly waive a trial by jury.

MISCELLANEOUS: The Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS with respect to this Web site. The Terms and Conditions supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral or written between you and A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS with respect to this Web site. No modification of the Terms and Conditions shall be effective unless it is authorized by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. If any provision of the Terms and Conditions is found to be contrary to law, then such provision(s) shall be constructed in a manner to closely reflect, as much as possible, the intentions of the parties, with the other provisions remaining in full force and effect.

Thank you for visiting https://celebrationoffriends.org!
As we strive for excellence and are continuously improving our services we are always interested in and indeed encourage feedback.

contact

Terms of Service

Legal Notice

All notices from A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS to You may be posted on our Web site and will be deemed delivered within thirty (30) days after posting. Notices from You to A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS shall be made either by regular mail, sent to the address we provide on our Web site, or first class mail to our address at:
Delivery shall be deemed to have been made by You to A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS five (5) days after the date sent.

Copyright Notice

All content appearing on this Web site is the property of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.
Copyright © 2018 A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. All rights reserved. As a user, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute documents on this Web site so long as (1) the document is used for informational purposes only, and (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2018 A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. All rights reserved.

Trademarks

All brand, product, service, and process names appearing on this Web site are trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use of a product, service, or process does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation, or sponsorship of that product, service, or process by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel, or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS or any third party, except as expressly granted herein.

Terms of Use

This site may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed. Information on this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information, including product pricing and availability, may be changed or updated without notice. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, and/or cancel orders in its discretion, including, without limitation, if A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS believes that customer conduct violates applicable law or is harmful to the interests of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries.

Privacy Policy

This site may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed. Information on this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information, including product pricing and availability, may be changed or updated without notice. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, and/or cancel orders in its discretion, including, without limitation, if A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS believes that customer conduct violates applicable law or is harmful to the interests of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and its subsidiaries.

Shipping and Delivery

At this time, A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS ships merchandise to locations within the United States and U.S. territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Additionally, A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS ships merchandise to Canada and Mexico, but not to other international locations. The risk of loss and title for all merchandise ordered on this Web site pass to you when the merchandise is delivered to the shipping carrier.

International

Customs and import duties may be applied to International orders when the shipment reaches its destination. Such charges are the responsibility of the recipient of your order and vary from country to country. Contact your local customs office for details.

Shipping laws are different in each country. It is your responsibility to check with your Customs office to verify whether the country to which you are shipping permits the shipment of your products. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS is not responsible for any direct, indirect, punitive, or consequential damages that arise from improper international shipping practices.

Sales Tax

A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS charges sales tax for merchandise ordered on this Web site based on the applicable state sales tax rate and the location to which the order is being shipped.

Warranties

The Content included in this Web site has been compiled from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice as are any products, programs, offerings, or technical information described in this Web site. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the completeness, quality, or adequacy of the Web site or Content, or the suitability, functionality, or operation of this Web site or it’s Content. By using this Web site, you assume the risk that the Content on this Web site may be inaccurate, incomplete, offensive, or may not meet your needs and requirements.

A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THESE WEB PAGES AND CONTENT. IN NO EVENT WILL A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES EVEN IF COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
-- OR Depending on State --
The information and content on this server is provided "as is" with no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Any warranty that is provided in connection with any of the products and services described on this Web site is provided by the advertiser or manufacturer only, and not by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.

The references and descriptions of products or services within the Web site materials are provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS is not liable for any damages, including any consequential damages, of any kind that may result to the user from the use of the materials on this Web site or of any of the products or services described hereon.

The descriptions of, and references to, products, services and companies on this Web site are the sole responsibility of the companies providing the information ("advertisers"), and not A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS.
The inclusion of material on this server does not imply any endorsement by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS, which makes no warranty of any kind with respect to the subject matter of the server materials advertised.

A possibility exists that the server materials could include inaccuracies or errors. Additionally, a possibility exists that unauthorized additions, deletions, and alterations could be made by third parties to the server materials. Although A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS tries to ensure the integrity and the accurateness of the server materials, it makes no guarantees about their correctness or accuracy. Before relying on any representation made in any of the server materials, check with the advertiser of the product or service to ensure that the information you are relying upon is correct.

Return Policy

You may purchase merchandise from this Web site by using any one of the payment options listed in (link to Payment Options). A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS reserves the right to change its payment procedures at any time without prior notice to you.

Miscellaneous

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED: Although the information on this Web site is accessible worldwide, not all products or services discussed in this Web site are available to all persons or in all geographic locations or jurisdictions. A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS and the advertisers each reserve the right to limit the provision of their products or services to any person, geographic area, or jurisdiction they so desire and to limit the quantities of any products or services that they provide. Any offer for any product or service made in the materials on this Web site is void where prohibited.

GOVERNING LAW: In the event of litigation both parties agree that the Law of the State of business registration of A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS shall apply and both parties shall consent to the jurisdiction of said State's courts, or in the event of diversity of citizenship, the United States District Court for the (District). Both parties expressly waive a trial by jury.

MISCELLANEOUS: The Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS with respect to this Web site. The Terms and Conditions supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral or written between you and A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS with respect to this Web site. No modification of the Terms and Conditions shall be effective unless it is authorized by A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS. If any provision of the Terms and Conditions is found to be contrary to law, then such provision(s) shall be constructed in a manner to closely reflect, as much as possible, the intentions of the parties, with the other provisions remaining in full force and effect.