The Black Tie Dinner, a Dallas-based nonprofit that raises funds to support the LGBTQ+ community, is currently seeking sponsors for its 43rd Annual Black Tie Dinner in November.
Since 2004, the dinner has raised at least $1 million for up to 20 local beneficiaries and a national beneficiary, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Nonprofits are selected each year through an application process based on their focus of LGBTQ+ programs in North Texas. Last year’s dinner hit a record and the planning committee is hoping to succeed that this year.
Munck Wilson Mandala partner Randy Ray, a longtime board member who currently serves as Black Tie Dinner’s general counsel, said the fundraising for the event is important for progress to continue in the LGBTQ+ community, since there is still much to achieve.
“The LGBTQ+ community has made incredible progress in the approximately 36 years I have been in Dallas,” he said. “The challenges and the primary focus may have changed over the years — from the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s to marriage equality in the 2000s and 2010s — [but] there is still much to be done. That is especially true in today’s climate, when there are continual challenges to LGBTQ+ rights and the ability to make additional progress.”
Guests can expect a fun evening with fellow gussied-up individuals, potential celebrity sightings, a cocktail reception (plus a VIP section for premium sponsors), a dinner, an auction, a raffle, and dancing, followed by an afterparty. The event will also honor a group of award recipients, who will continue to be announced in the months leading up to the dinner. Recently announced honorees include educator Han Seth Lu, the winner of the Richard Weaver Volunteer Award for his commitment and support of the Black Tie Dinner and its beneficiaries, and transgender rights activist Landon Richie, who will receive the Trailblazer Award for his work with the Transgender Education Network of Texas during the 87th Texas legislative session.
When: Saturday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.
Where: Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Event co-chairs: Dustin Vyers, a Dallas area creative consultant, designer, artist and owner of Dustin Vyers Art and Liliana Villarreal, director of global music marketing at iHeartMedia
Key law firm sponsors so far: Munck Wilson Mandala, Greenberg Traurig, Jackson Walker, Akin and Thompson Coburn
Diamond & platinum sponsors: American Airlines, iHeartMedia, Park Place Motorcars Dallas, Sheraton Dallas Hotel and the Eugene McDermott Foundation
How to sponsor (+ sponsor level info): https://blacktie.org/sponsors
To become an underwriter: Contact Gage Baird, chair of sponsorships, at gbaird@blacktie.org
Raffle tickets: Purchase here
How else you can help: consider volunteering, joining the board or donating any time of the year. Visit here for more information.
Reposted with permission from Texas Lawbook, May 20, 2024. Not meant for republication. The original article is hosted on Texas Lawbook: https://texaslawbook.net/.
