Cocktails and Contemporary Art
Black Tie Dinner toasts sponsors at Craighead Green cocktail party
Staunch supporters of the Black Tie Dinner — voted by CultureMap readers as the most glamorous charitable event of 2012 — recently gathered at Craighead Green Gallery to honor the sponsors for the 32nd annual gala, set for November 2 at Sheraton Dallas.
Earlier this month, Black Tie Dinner announced its 2013 theme, “One Voice,” depicted in an inspiring video honoring figures ranging from national gay-rights activists Frank Kameny and Harvey Milk to locals such as Lupe Valdez. During the video replay, sponsor chair Debra Davis got teary.
In their welcome speech, co-chairs Mitzi Lemons and Ken Morris thanked generous sponsors such as Turtle Creek Solutions, Park Place Motorcars and BBVA Compass. Then they asked guests to observe a moment of silence for the recent tragedies in Boston and West, Texas.
Speaking of Park Place, chatter quickly turned to the big raffle giveaway: a 2014 Mercedes CLA — donated 100 percent by the dealership. Raffle tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online.
Caught cocktailing and eyeballing contemporary artworks: Raymond Shelton, Tom Phipps, Rick Aishman, Greg Hagopian, Doug Frankel, Andrew McPhee, Carol Meyer, Jerry Coalson, Sarah Hardy, Leslie Garner, gallery co-owners director Margaret Duncan.
The Dallas Black Tie Dinner is the largest fundraiser its kind in the United States. Last year’s gala raised more than $1 million for LGBT supportive organizations in North Texas and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.