2002

Unity Awards 2002 Main Page

Don't miss your opportunity to meet the MCs, performers, award recipients, and Inspiration Award recipients (including Howie D. from the Backstreet Boys). Come join us at the Post-Show reception!

For the 2002 Unity Awards, we are blessed to have the talented Pollyanna Dorough once again be one of our Master of Ceremonies! She has been with us from the beginning of the Unity Awards and we truly appreciate all of her help! Joining her this year will be Fr. Miguel Gonzalez from the Diocese of Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, Dave Rodney will not be able to attend this year due to a prior commitment.

Brief biographical information on:
Pollyanna Dorough
Fr. Miguel Gonzalez

Pollyanna Dorough: Master of Ceremonies - Get ready to move to the Latin rhythms of this bilingual Floridian who just happens to be the sister of Howie D. from the famous group, Backstreet Boys.

Pollyanna Dorough, a native to Orlando, Florida is a multitalented entertainer who writes, sings, and dances to her own original songs. Pollyanna’s latin/pop flavor is demonstrated in her high-energy dance groove numbers to her sentimental personal ballads.

Recently Pollyanna toured as an opening act for the Backstreet Boys' Black and Blue Tour, filling stadiums with 50,000 to 60,000 people each night throughout South America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Panama City.

When not touring with the "Backstreet Boys," Pollyanna and her brother Howie can be found traveling and singing together in concerts throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and South America representing the Dorough Lupus Foundation. This foundation is a nonprofit organization started by their family shortly after their sister, Caroline, had succumbed to the disease in 1998. Their mission is to raise money for lupus research, to educate the public, and to provide financial assistance for individuals living with lupus who cannot afford treatment.

In addition, Pollyanna wrote the foundation's theme song "Fly to Heaven" in memory of her sister, which is also used to raise money for their cause. The song was co-produced by her brother Howie D. and David Johnson and is now available to the public through the foundation’s website www.DoroughLupusFoundation.org with a small donation.

While staying busy assisting numerous charities and shopping for a record label, Pollyanna is presently writing, singing, and recording songs for her debut album.

Pollyanna has also showcased in Orlando at Downtown Disney's "House of Blues," Universal Studio's "Hard Rock Live," "Latin Quarter," and "The Groove," as well as Orlando's hottest new nightclub, Tabu. Her original song, "Andale Mi Corazon," can be heard in the movie "Sacred Seal." She continues to demonstrate her versatility as an entertainer with both her voice-over skills as a princess in the "Backstreet Project" Webisode, which premiered on the internet August 27, 2000, and her acting ability as a waitress in the released comedic/drama film "Long Shot."

While growing up in Orlando, Pollyanna always remained active in the musical environment as an entertainer at Walt Disney World, an active member of her Cathedral's Choir, singing with various nightclub bands, and performing in local dinner theaters.

For a short time Pollyanna left the "City Beautiful" to complete her musical education in New York, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the Westchester Conservatory of Music. While in New York, she continued singing and acting with a traveling children's theater group throughout the city's triborough. Pollyanna then returned to her hometown to share her musical talents with the local educational system as a music teacher and children's choir director.

Most recently Pollyanna joined forces with her brother Howie and his new production company, "HowieDolt Productions."

Last year Pollyanna could be found in "TEEN BEAT" magazine as a celebrity columnist, with her very own page titled "ASK POLLYANNA!"

Expect more exciting new songs as she continues to write, record, and produce with many other talented songwriters and producers.

For more information on Pollyanna and to listen to her song clips, please visit her website at www.Pollyanna.net.

Fr. Miguel Gonzalez: Master of Ceremonies - Fr. Gonzalez was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1998. For the past two years, he has served in the Diocese of Orlando as Parochial Vicar at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Among his many responsibilities within the Diocese, Fr. Gonzalez hosts a weekly spanish radio show on Radio Paz, a radio ministry of the Diocese of Orlando. He also officiates a Spanish televised Mass, which is aired every Sunday on WTMO Channel 40, an affiliate of the Telemundo Spanish Television Network. Prior to becoming a priest, Fr. Gonzalez worked as an on-air personality and music program director for a commercial Spanish music station in Orlando, Florida.

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