From Staff Reports
Black Tie Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 10, distributed $1,245,000 to 16 local beneficiaries and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation during a reception at the Fairmount Dallas Hotel.
The Black Tie board also unveiled a new logo for the annual fundraiser and announced that BBVA Compass will be presenting sponsor for the 2017 Black Tie Dinner.
Co-chair Mitzi Lemons said the Black Tie committee was “thrilled to announce our third-highest distribution in our 35 year history, and the highest in nine years.” The event’s highest total came in 2006 when Black Tie distributed $1,350,000 to its beneficiaries. The following year, 2007, the event distributed $1,270,000.
“We cannot thank our sponsors, table captains, underwriters and volunteers enough for their contributions to this successful dinner for our community,” Lemons added.
This year, Black Tie donated $515,000 of its proceeds to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Other beneficiaries and the amounts they received were:
• AIDS Interfaith Network, $41,714
• AIDS Outreach Center, $44,039
• AIDS Services of Dallas, $50,514
• Cathedral of Hope, $45,766
• Celebration Community Church, $47,514
• Congregation Beth El Binah, $43,289
• Equality Texas Foundation, $43,414
• Lambda Legal, $52,156
• Legacy Counseling Center, $44,689
• Legal Hospice of Texas, $42,292
• Northaven United Methodist Church, $46,827
• Resource Center, $58,243
• Turtle Creek Chorale, $41,164
• Uptown Players, $45,147
• The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, $40,640
• Promise House, $42,591
The new logo and branding, developed pro bono by TracyLocke advertising agency working with marketing committee co-chairs Brad Pritchett and Aaron Wolfe, “honor Black Tie’s history of aiding those in need and reaching the broadest of people while giving the organization a fresh, new look focused on vibrancy, versatility and expressiveness,” Black Tie Dinner Co-Chair Nathan Robbins said.
“It was time for a facelift and we believe our new brand will inject even more life into our organization while helping us attract a larger audience of LGBT supporters,” Lemons added.
BBVA Compass Director of Corporate Reputation and Responsibility Reymundo Ocanas noted that his bank has been “a long-time supporter of Black Tie Dinner because of the significant impact it makes to both local and national organizations who are committed to making the future better and brighter for the LGBT community.”
He added, “I am thrilled at BBVA Compass’ recent announcement that the bank will become the presenting sponsor of the 2017 Black Tie Dinner.”
Robbins said the Black Tie committee is “beyond excited” to have BBVA Compass as the 2017 presenting sponsor, adding, “This level of engagement from them, at both the local and national level, will help us in many ways, most importantly in helping us raise money for all of our beneficiaries.”
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 4, 2016.
Black Tie distributes largest total in 9 years
