MELISSA WHITLER | NBCU Fellow
Melissa@DallasVoice.com
The Gay and Lesbian Fund of Dallas is hosting Flutter & Fizz on Saturday, April 19, as a benefit for the Dallas Zoo. The event will be a springtime champagne brunch in the zoo’s brand-new butterfly garden. And guests will get to be some of the first to experience the walk-through butterfly exhibit that features hundreds of butterflies and vibrant blooms.
This is one of the most ambitious efforts that GLFD has taken on as the organization seeks to raise $250,000. The money will go towards Dallas Zoo’s major capital campaign to develop new habitats and education facilities.
GLFD President and Co-Founder Enrique MacGregor said he is excited about the event, adding, “GLFD has never backed a project that would get us as much visibility as the zoo will.
“Spring is a beautiful time to be in that exhibit, and the event will be a lot of fun,” he added.
MacGregor also serves on the board of the Dallas Zoo, and he felt that this would be the perfect project for GLFD.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, GLFD couldn’t host major events, so this is a good way to bring attention back to what we do,” he explained.
GLFD’s goal is to advocate for equal rights for the entire LGBTQ community by focusing on public opinion. With naming opportunities at places such as the Dallas Zoo, upcoming generations of LGBTQ people will be able to see their sexuality and gender identity included in society.
“Since founding GLFD in 2001, I’ve seen the positive change that can happen from this work,” MacGregor said.
The Dallas Zoo is on the forefront of animal conservation efforts. The organization works hard to design unique habitat experiences that center the animals’ well-being. No other accredited zoo has giraffes and elephants together, or rhinos and cheetahs in the same space.
Flutter & Fizz will be an afternoon of bubbles, bites and butterflies, and all money raised will go towards the Dallas Zoo. ■
Tickets for Flutter & Fizz are available online. The event takes place in the I Spy Butterflies Exhibit at the Dallas Zoo on Sunday, April 19 beginning at 11:30 a.m.