Season of Giving

Cherished Dallas Christmas market takes shopping and giving online

The shopping bags will be virtual this year.

Photo courtesy of Chi Omega Christmas Market

The Chi Omega Christmas Market is known as the unofficial start of holiday shopping season in Dallas, with more than 300 merchants and small businesses offering artisan goodies and gifts and the entrance fees benefiting local nonprofits. That's not changing this year, but what is is its format: The beloved holiday tradition is going virtual.

The 12 Days of Chi Omega Christmas Virtual Market will take place online November 10-21, allowing supporters to shop from the safety of their own homes while giving back to some of North Texas' most deserving beneficiaries, whose important work has not halted during these difficult times.

"A virtual Chi Omega Christmas Market allows us to bring a new experience to shoppers this year, while continuing the rich tradition of spreading holiday cheer and raising critically important funds for this year's amazing beneficiaries — the true meaning for the market," says Jana Beth Eidson, who is co-chairing the event with her daughters Taylor Eidson Wood and Savannah Eidson Near.

In addition to the new virtual market experience, the Chi Omega Christmas Virtual Market will include a variety of fun virtual events designed to spread holiday cheer. Registration will open for each of these events upon the open of the Market on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Visit www.chiomegavirtualmarket.org to register for each:

Kendra Scott Virtual Styling Event
Hosted by: Leslie Fearla, Director of Customer Experience
Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 pm
This Kendra Scott Gives Back Virtual Styling and Wreath-Making Event offers a limited 20 percent discount. Register here.

The Magic of Christmas, Story Time with Santa!
Hosted By: The Cincy Santa, Pat Lease
Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 4:30 pm; Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 pm; and Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 10:30 am
Cozy up and listen to Santa read a Christmas story.

Tablescapes: Tricks and Tips for Setting A Festive Table (without chipping a nail!)
Hosted By Jana & Bryan Otis, Owners of Chateau Charmont Interiors
Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 pm
This event will demonstrate a Thanksgiving table setting and will discuss the centerpiece, effective use of beautiful vases, place settings, serving pieces, dining chairs, and more.

Work Up a Sweat Live (!) with Newest Workout Craze AKT
Hosted by: AKT
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 am for live class, can be streamed on-demand after class airs.
AKT is a full-body workout that combines cardio dance intervals with strength and toning, all while having fun.

Cooking Royally with Chef Darren McGrady
Hosted By: Chef Darren McGrady
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 pm
Celebrate the return of the fourth season of Netflix’s The Crown with Princess Diana’s former chef, Darren McGrady. He’ll be teaching how to whip up a royally delicious holiday treat and dish about his time serving the Royal Family. The ingredient list will be provided upon registration.

Wine Tasting Award Winning Ab Astris Winery
Hosted By: Kristen & Mitch Nelson and Mitchell Sharrock of Ab Astris
Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 pm
Wine-down on Wednesday and join Ab Astris Winery for a virtual tasting of four award-winning, 100 percent Texas wines. Included in this bundle are four dry wines, including one white and three reds.

A Texas Christmas Virtual Cooking + Mixology Class & Chi Omega Trivia
Hosted by: TV personalities Hannah Davis + Kara Sewell
Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 pm
Join TV personalities Hannah Davis and Kara Sewell for this fun, virtual Girls Night Out. Learn how to make two essential items for a Texas Christmas — a White Christmas Margarita and Chipotle Bacon Guacamole — while playing Chi Omega trivia. The ingredient list will be provided upon registration.

During its 43-year legacy, the market has given back more than $9 million to 120 local nonprofits.

This year's beneficiaries include Bridge Breast Network, Braswell Child Development Center, CitySquare, DME Exchange of Dallas, Family Gateway, Grant Halliburton Foundation, Make-A-Wish of North Texas, Mi Escuelita Preschool, Mommies In Need, New Friends New Life, Our Friends Place, PediPlace, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and The Senior Source.

The First Call for Patrons tradition will also continue, letting shoppers who make a donation shop the market a full day prior to the event's official start.

A custom gift guide will highlight merchants from across the country, and can be requested by completing the "contact us" form on the market's website. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and spotlighted items.

The first Chi Omega Christmas Market started in 1978 at the NorthPark Inn with fewer than 50 merchant booths and raised $13,150 for the Dallas community.

shopping fundraisers holidays charity

It's Giving Glam

Black Tie Dinner 2024's cyber theme equals real-world impact in Dallas

Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo

Liliana Villarreal, Dylan Mulvaney, Dustin Vyers

A black tunnel illuminated with rainbow LED light rods transported more than 2,000 guests at this year's Black Tie Dinner into "Simulation," a safe and inclusive space where they could celebrate being themselves.

The cyber-tinged theme manifested itself in another welcome way at the 43rd annual fundraising gala, held on November 16 at the Sheraton Dallas. For the first time, closed captioning was added to all programming, along with ASL interpretation.

But wait, there were even more firsts! Following an introduction by the night's virtual host, "Prism," the crowd was welcomed with a performance by indie pop duo Fly By Midnight.

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Fly By Midnight.Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company

Then, this year's co-chairs Dustin Vyers and Liliana Villarreal announced that in 2025, Villarreal will be joined by Deirdre Coleman, making history as the first time Black Tie Dinner will be chaired by two women.

The dinner, which is the the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ fundraiser, also happened to coincide with the close of Transgender Awareness Week. To help honor the importance of transgender advocacy, three of the night's awards were presented to transgender recipients.

Dylan Mulvaney, the actress and activist who has become a bold voice for the trans and queer community, was presented with the Black Tie Dinner Equality Award.

“Every single person should love to be who you are,” said Mulvaney in her acceptance speech. “We're showing the world that love is stronger than fear, that joy is more powerful than hate, and that being yourself and liking yourself is the most revolutionary fight of all.”

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Carter Brown.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo

Carter Brown, co-founder and executive director of the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, accepted the 2024 Kuchling Humanitarian Award for his lifelong commitment to advancing Black transgender rights. Brown is the first transgender recipient of this award — add that to the "firsts" tally!

Trans activist and Houston native Landon Richie was the recipient of the Trailblazer Award.

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Landon Richie.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo

Following a savory surf-and-turf dinner and a paddle raise for the 20 local beneficiaries supported by Black Tie Dinner, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson and HRC press secretary Brandon Wolf each spoke passionately about the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and the need to continue fighting for progress in the face of mounting political opposition.

“They cannot break a community that has turned pain into power for generations,” Robinson said. “We will make progress by moving hearts and changing minds—one conversation, one dinner table, one workplace, one community at a time.”

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Liliana Villarreal, Kelley Robinson, Brandon Wolf, Dustin Vyers.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo

The HRC Foundation is a national beneficiary of Black Tie Dinner.

Legendary sports commentator Dale Hansen presented his Ally for Equality Award to Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Marshall regularly uses her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, notably introducing a Pride celebration for Mavs fans.

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Cynt MarshallPhoto by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company

Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo

Liliana Villarreal, Dylan Mulvaney, Dustin Vyers

A spirited live auction led by Jason Lamoreaux, plus a raffle for a credit of $45,000 toward the purchase of a vehicle from Park Place Motorcars Dallas, transitioned into the AfterBlack Party, which had guests up and dancing late into the night.

To date, Black Tie Dinner has raised more than $30 million to LGBTQ+ supportive organizations. Three of this year’s beneficiaries provide critical support to the transgender community.

Black Tie Dinner 2024 Jason Lamoreaux and Black Tie Dinner beneficiaries.Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company

All 2024 local beneficiaries include:

ASD (former AIDS Services of Dallas)
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lonestar
Cathedral of Hope
Celebration Community Church
Dallas Hope Charities
Equality Texas Foundation
Finn's Place
Galileo Church - North Texas TRANSportation Network
Grant Halliburton Foundation
Help Center for LGBT Health and Wellness
Legacy Cares
Northaven Church
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
Pride Frisco
Resource Center Dallas
Synergy Wesley Foundation
Transgender Education Network of Texas
Transition Resource Action Center
Turtle Creek Chorale
Uptown Players

Proceeds from the dinner will be announced on December 19 at The Empire Room in Dallas. The 44^th annual Black Tie Dinner will take place on November 8, 2025.

fundraisers celebrities black tie dinner dylan mulvaney galas