There have been some pretty amazing changes in North Texas fundraising activities thanks to COVID-19. One 2020 fundraiser that had to be canceled was the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum’s Mad Hatter’s Tea.
Moving ahead, 2021 Mad Hatter’s Tea Chair Jolie Humphrey and Women’s Council President Kay Weeks decided to make some major changes to the event that in recent years had been a morning champagne reception in the Scott K. Ginsburg Family Plaza, a formal fashion show and award presentation for special hats in Rosine Hall and a seated luncheon under a tent on the terrace.
In a Zoom get together of Council members this morning Jolie and Kay announced the changes. Yes, the event will still take place at the Arboretum; yes, it will still be held in April … Thursday, April 15, to be exact; yes, there will still be a hat competition; yes, it will benefit the Council’s A Woman’s Garden; and, yes, there will still be an honorary chair. It will be Carole Ann Brown, who chaired the first Mad Hatter’s Tea back in 1989.
The theme for the 2021 event will be “Out Of Africa – Into The Garden” with the signature poster artwork created by Barbara Elam (aka Jolie’s mom).
Now for the big changes. Did you ever think we’d get to them? Hold on to your chapeau.
The event will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. starting off with a champagne reception followed by informal modeling by Council members and the judges’ hat awards presentation. Translation:
- Instead of a rise-and-shine start, it will be a happy afternoon fun(d)raiser
- No formal fashion show and
- No seated luncheon under a tent.
Jolie is keeping the announcements of the hat categories and the judges literally under her pith helmet for the time being. She indicated that the judges would be revealed at the patron party that would be help just weeks before the Tea.
https://awg-11-17.myportfolio.com/mad-hatters
BTW, to get things rocking and rolling, “The Mad Hatter’s Reveal” video was produced “based on an idea by Jolie Humphrey and altered by the virus.” If you get four minutes, check it out.
Tickets will be available at the Women’s Council’s website.
* Artwork credit: Barbara Elam ** Photo courtesy of 2021 Mad Hatter's Tea