About the Gala
Why the Gala Was Created
The Love & Legacy Couples Awards Gala was created to honor couples who bring love, leadership, and uplift to the Tri-City Area. José’s idea, refined with Stephanie, became a mission to celebrate partnership with both community voice and an independent, credible selection process..
Purpose
This Gala recognizes couples whose love strengthens the community. They lead, serve, support each other, and inspire others—not through perfection, but through their commitment to grow together.
Love & Legacy defined
Love is choosing each other daily.
Legacy is the impact that choice leaves on families and the community.
Together, they shape stronger generations.
2026 launch
Our inaugural year begins a new tradition—an elegant celebration honoring remarkable couples who deserve the spotlight.
About the Founders
José & Stephanie Quiñones
Stephanie and José are partners in love, leadership, and community impact. Rooted in the Tri-City Area, they are committed to empowering people, strengthening families, and creating spaces where love and legacy can flourish. Their shared belief: understanding and supporting each other’s separate and joint endeavors is essential—not only to their work, but to the strength of their marriage.
José is a community-focused leader and the creator of Back to Work & Off the Streets, helping individuals rebuild their lives through job readiness, GED support, and leadership development. He also serves on the board of Valley Healthcare System, advocating for accessible care and healthier communities. His conviction that strong couples build strong communities inspired the vision for this Gala.
Stephanie is a dynamic leader with a heart for service. As President of the River Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, she champions entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. She also serves in multiple community-focused roles and partnerships across the region. Through ThiqFitness and F.U.N. Fitness, she promotes accessible, joyful wellness in local neighborhoods. Her blend of leadership, energy, and empathy helped bring José’s idea to life.
Together, Stephanie and José embody what this Gala honors —
real love, resilient partnership, and community impact that lasts.
They don’t claim perfection; they simply choose to love boldly, support deeply, and inspire other couples to thrive and move in love.
Their shared passion is the heartbeat of the Love & Legacy Couples Awards Gala.
Message From the Founders
Welcome to the Love & Legacy Couples Awards Gala.
We created this celebration with one intention: to honor the beauty, resilience, and impact of partnership. In a world that often highlights individual achievements, we believe it’s time to recognize the power of two people committed to growing together—through joy, challenge, purpose, and faith.
This Gala is not about perfection; it’s about partnership. It’s about couples who show us that love is worth choosing every day, and that legacy is built in the quiet moments just as much as the public ones.
Thank you for joining us for this historic launch. May tonight remind you that love is powerful, partnership is meaningful, and together… we can all build something worth remembering.
— José & Stephanie Quiñones
Founders, Love & Legacy Couples Awards Gala