FROM STAFF REPORTS
During its 2024 Wrap Party on Thursday night, Black Tie Dinner distributed a total of $1.45 million to 20 local beneficiaries, national beneficiary Human Rights Campaign Fund and to LGBTQ SAVES, recipient of the John Thomas Beyond the Tie Fund.
Black Tie “proudly expanded its legacy of giving in 2024, uplifting more LGBTQ+ organizations across North Texas than any time in the past two decades,” according to a press release announcing the distribution amounts.
“In a year marked by increasing challenges for the LGBTQ+ community, Black Tie Dinner reaffirmed its commitment with a $1.45 million distribution at the 2024 Wrap Party, generously underwritten by Lexus.”
Also at the Wrap Party, Deirdre Coleman was introduced as the junior co-chair for 2025, making her the first Black woman to serve as a Black Tie Dinner co-chair. This also marks the first time the organization has been co-chaired by two women, with senior Co-Chair Liliana Villarreal the first Latina and the first LGBTQ ally to serve in that role.
Joshua Williams was introduced as co-chair elect.
Distribution totals for local beneficiaries were:
- AIDS Services of Dallas: $40,627
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star: $47,327
- Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ: $42,209
- Celebration Community Church: $40,484
- Dallas Hope Charities: $41,184
- Equality Texas Foundation: $43,634
- Finn’s Place: $20,317
- Grant Halliburton Foundation: $22,304
- Galileo Church | North Texas Transportation Network: $19,392
- Help Center for LGBT Health & Wellness: $70,704
- Legacy Cares: $40,309
- Northaven United Methodist Church: $67,040
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas: $56,344
- Pride Frisco: $47,747
- Resource Center: $47,059
- Synergy Wesley Foundation: $41,384
- Transgender Education Network of Texas: $20,511
- Transition Resource Action Center: $41,087
- Turtle Creek Chorale: $40,684
- Uptown Players, Inc.: $45,279
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the national beneficiary, received $613,375, and Beyond The Tie Fund recipient LGBTQ Saves received $3,000.
This year’s distribution follows the 43rd annual event held in November and brings Black Tie’s overall total distributed to more than $32 million since the first dinner in 1982.
This year marked the first time in two decades that the board of directors selected and provided funds to 20 nonprofit organizations — the maximum number of local beneficiaries allowed — along with its national beneficiary, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
“When we started to see the rollback of DEI here in Texas earlier this year, we were nervous [about] how this would impact our ability to fundraise for our beneficiaries, but our corporate sponsors and community showed up,” Black Tie Dinner Senior Co-Chair Dustin Vyers said of this year’s total proceeds. “We are very pleased with our final numbers and the impact they will have on our beneficiaries as we move into an uncertain 2025.”
This year Black Tie Dinner officials “broadened [the event’s] impact by supporting a small organization — LGBTQ Saves — through the John Thomas Beyond the Tie Fund in honor of Black Tie Dinner co-founder John Thomas. And 2024 also saw a record number of beneficiary applications “as the board of directors continues to work to expand its reach and amplify every voice in the LGBTQ+ community,” the press release noted.
Black Tie Dinner Junior Co-Chair Liliana Villarreal noted, “Fundraising goes beyond raising money. It’s about building a community that believes in a shared vision. It’s because of that community that we can continue to broaden our efforts year over year.”
In addition to introducing Coleman as junior co-chair and Williams as co-chair elect, Black Tie officials introduced five new board members: Brian Kenjarski, Roscoe Compton-Kelly, Ryanne Thomas-Ward, Ruben Avendaño and Shayne Philibert.
Next year’s dinner, the 44th annual, is set for Nov. 8, 2025. For more information on how to get involved or how to apply to be a beneficiary, visit BlackTie.org.