This year it’s “Lucky No. 13” for Metroball, the largest annual fundraiser benefitting the Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund. This year’s party starts at 7 p.m. Friday night, June 29, at S4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road.
Asia O’Hara, a Rose Room cast member and top four finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10, is the opening act and emcee for the evening, which will also feature dance music stars Exposé and Shannon, along with raffles and a silent auction with more than 125 items.
Tickets are $30 in advance, available online at GDMAF.org, and $40 at the door.
David Hearn, founder and executive director of GDMAF, said that each year Metroball is “tailored to those who have a limited budget but still want to experience a great night of headliners from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, as well as some of Dallas’ greatest talents.”
He added, “We have always said we are a ‘B’ event, because Metroball costs less than some other fundraising parties, everyone can come and be as casual as they want while enjoying the night of music and auctions.
“We want everyone to enjoy a night out,” Hearn said. “You can have a great time, help a great organization and still have money to go have breakfast or brunch the next day. “
Metroball started in 2006 and 2007 at TMC: The Mining Co., before it moved into its current location on Cedar Springs Road. Hearn said about 75 people attended that first event, and today, “we’re expecting about 700 people to attend Metroball 13 next weekend.”
All proceeds from Metroball each year go to GDMAF, an HIV/AIDS service agency that steps in to help with clients’ emergency needs when other agencies can’t, Hearn said.
“They come to us as a last resort,” he said, explaining that other, larger agencies are often faced with grant dollars and other funding that are restricted to specific areas. He said the areas 10 large HIV/AIDS organizations “act as our screeners and are allowed three requests per organization, per month. GDMAF can only help a person one time during a year, and it is just to get them through that crisis. So if someone calls us, we refer them to the other organizations where they can get the full benefits of case managers and help them in other needs.”
GDMAF is a 100-percent-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. Hearn said that thanks to donations from organizations and events like Dallas Bears, Texas Bear Round-Up, DIFFA Dallas, The United Court of the Lone Star Empire and the Miss Gay Texas State Pageant System, along with Metroball and the GDMAF Lifewalk Team, “GDMAF has been able to increase our help to include Fort Worth and Denton and Collin counties.
— Tammye Nash
Asia O’Hara, top; Expose, middle; Shannon and her dancers, bottom.
