Black Tie Dinner breaks $10 Million record

by PegNews wire

20 local organizations split $1.35 million this year.

DALLAS — Black Tie Dinner, Inc. announced today that it distributed $1.35 million dollars raised from its 25th Anniversary Black Tie Dinner, presented by hotels.com, to its eighteen local beneficiaries and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The amount raised came from corporate and individual sponsorships, sale of live and silent auction items and ticket sales. This record-setting figure brings the total amount raised by Black Tie Dinner, Inc. to more than $10.48 million since the fundraiser started in 1982.

“We are thrilled about the amount of money being distributed to our beneficiaries this year,” stated Tom Phipps, 2005-2006 Black Tie Dinner co-chair. “Never for a moment do we forget about the greater purpose of Black Tie Dinner, raising money for our beneficiaries. Distributing these funds is the single most important thing, and the most exciting thing, that we do.”

With an average dinner attendance of more than 3,000 guests during the past decade, Black Tie Dinner is the largest formal sit-down dinner of its kind in the country in both attendance and charitable contributions. Each year the dinner presents a gala evening of empowerment, entertainment and education, and features nationally recognized speakers and entertainers. This year’s featured speakers included actors Geena Davis and Alan Cumming, Mayor Laura Miller and Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez. Last year, Black Tie Dinner gave away a record $1.24 million dollars.

“It is because of the generous support of the community and our sponsors that Black Tie Dinner continues to break fundraising records and lead the nation,” stated Deiadra Burns, 2006-2007 Black Tie Dinner co-chair. “Our growth is exciting and many thanks go to our supporters.”

Black Tie Dinner’s board of directors is already working on next year’s dinner scheduled for November 17, 2007 at the Adams Mark Hotel. The 2007 beneficiary selection process will start in February 2007 and more information will be available at blacktie.org. Black Tie Dinner also presents two awards each year: the Kuchling Humanitarian Award, which recognizes local individuals for their contributions to gay and lesbian equality, and the Elizabeth Birch Equality Award, which recognizes an individual, organization or corporation working at the national level.

Black Tie Dinner, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for gay and lesbian supportive organizations serving North Texas through a premier event of empowerment, education and entertainment in partnership with the community. The event has headlined local and national celebrities, and leaders such as Maya Angelou, Alan Cumming, Geena Davis, Goldie Hawn, Governor Ann Richards, Sharon Stone and Lily Tomlin. Black Tie Dinner began in Dallas in 1982 to help support the Human Rights Campaign Fund. One hundred forty guests attended the first dinner, which raised $6,000. In 2006, the dinner contributed $1.35 million dollars to eighteen local beneficiaries and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. In its 25-year history, the dinner has distributed more than $10.48 million dollars.

Source: Black Tie Dinner