The Dallas Design District transformed into Funky Town for a night when Resource Center threw the 19th annual Toast to Life, themed “Time to Boogie.” And boogie everyone did.
Dressed in leisure suits, afro wigs, platform shoes, and roller skates, these supporters — never ones to shy away from a theme — partied like it was 1979. To ensure the dance floor stayed packed all night was the incomparable DJ Lady Bunny, who spun disco favorites and cut a rug right alongside the revelers.
Also keeping the party going was host Steve Kemble, who wore perhaps the biggest wig in the room. In a funny exchange, Lady Bunny looked at Kemble and said, “I’m mad at you because your hair is bigger than mine.”
To keep their energy up, attendees — including Kemble’s gal pal and Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken, Resource Center CEO Cece Cox, Chad Collum, Tommy Walker, Susan Morgan, Erike Morgan, Rodrigo Orta, Johnathan Brownlee, and Silver Hogue — stopped by food stations set up around the room’s perimeter, featuring small bites from the city’s top restaurants, including Stock & Barrel, Spice in the City, Street’s Fine Chicken, Villa-O, Salum, Truluck’s, and Dish.
Sweets were provided by the Original Cupcakery and Frosted Art. But who are we kidding? Dance fuel can most often be found in the glass. On this occasion, that ranged from sparkling wine to Stoli cocktails.
When they needed a break from dancing (see what we did there?), partygoers cruised through the silent auction, placing bids on custom art, exotic vacation packages, and fine-dining gift certificates. After all, this disco party was as much about raising money as showing off one’s dance moves.
The live auction proved just as important to the fundraising. Up for bid were items like a six-course winner dinner for 10 at Truluck’s; a VIP music experience for two to Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey at the AAC; and a two-night hotel stay, plus 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. But the live auction item that generated the most buzz — and went for $1,700, which is three-plus more times its value — was dinner for four with WFAA’s Dale Hansen at the Palm.
Perhaps you saw the national headlines after Hansen’s two-minute speech in support of transgender teen athlete Mack Beggs. It’s not hard to see why Hansen is beloved by the LGBT community, as well as so many others.
All told, Toast to Life raised $218,000 for the programs and services of Resource Center, which empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy.
Steve Kemble, Leeanne Locken, Chad Collum, Tommy Walker
The luncheon took place in the lobby of the Meyerson.Photo courtesy of SAWA