Texans are often accused of being braggadocios about being the best, the finest, the richest, etc. Well, in the case of the Black Tie Dinner, it ain’t brag; it’s a fact that it is the nation’s largest LGBTQ fundraising dinner of its kind.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Black Tie Dinner Senior Co-Chair Brad Pritchett and 2021 Black Tie Dinner Junior Co-Chair Terry Loftis have just announced plans for a repeat performance of fundraising with the unveiling of the 40th anniversary logo.
Brad explained the importance of this anniversary: “After 39 years and nearly $26 million raised for our North Texas LGBTQ community and HRCF (Human Rights Campaign Foundation), it was important for us to reflect on our rich and colorful past while shining a light on cultural landmarks such as the Trans Mural, Legacy of Love monument and recent beautification projects on Cedar Springs.”
While the fundraiser’s date — Saturday, November 13 —is locked down, the decision hasn’t been made whether to have an encore of last year’s televised Black Tie Live on WFAA or to hold it at the Sheraton.
According to Black Tie Marketing Committee Member Matt Ginn, “Given COVID-19 restrictions, we are still observing vaccination rates and CDC guidelines. Whether it be a televised give-a-thon on WFAA like last year with ‘Black Tie Live’ or a socially distanced, safe and smaller capacity dinner at the downtown Sheraton, we plan on having our experience on November 13th, 2021, to celebrate our historic 40th Black Tie Dinner. The safety of our Black Tie Dinner friends and allies is our top priority. Brad and Terry plan on making the decision, along with the Board, on an in-person or a televised event sometime later this Spring.”
As part of last year’s program, The Black Tie Ambassador Program’s peer-to-peer fundraising campaign was launched. It was so successful that it will be part of the 2021 effort.
According to Terry, “Due to the success of last year’s Ambassador Program, we decided to extend this year-round giving campaign throughout our 2021 fundraising year. We are extremely grateful for the support of our Black Tie Dinner friends and allies and this will give us the opportunity to connect with even more community members in 2021 to fundraise for our beneficiaries as we celebrate our historic 40th Dinner.”
Another returnee is Park Place Motorcars, which will provide a 2021 Mercedes-Benz to be raffled off.
Thanks to the dinner, sponsors like presenting sponsor BBVA, auctions and raffle, proceeds of the 2021 Black Tie Dinner will benefit its national beneficiary Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) plus the following 17 returning local non-profits: AIDS Services of Dallas, Big Brother Big Sisters Lone Star, Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ, Celebration Community Church, Coalition of Aging LGBT, Equality Texas Foundation, Health Education Learning Project, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Legacy Counseling Center, Northaven United Methodist Church, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Promise House, Resource Center, Turtle Creek Chorale and Uptown Players, plus the addition of Dallas Hope Charities.
*Graphic/photo courtesy of Black Tie Dinner