A red-letter evening awaits those who attend Tulsa CARES' Red Ribbon Gala on March 11 at Southern Hills Country Club.
The Red Ribbon Gala begins at 6:30 p.m. with flowing red cocktails, stimulating conversation, and a lively silent auction and raffle.
Dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. with a live auction starting around 9 p.m. Dancing, with music provided by Hero Factor, will begin at 9:45 p.m.
Gala chairwoman Kim Wood and honorary chairman Peter Walter will welcome guests to a feast for the senses that will include fine wines and cuisine created by Southern Hills Chef Devin Levine, set in a room filled with fabulous flower arrangements created by board member Toni Garner.
The silent and live auctions will offer antiques, furniture, original artwork, masterfully created jewelry, private dinner parties, and special interest classes, to name a few.
A new feature this year will be a raffle of fine jewelry created by Tulsa CARES board member Susan Sadler.
The invitation reads "Just Wear Red"—the color of AIDS awareness and a symbol of compassion for those affected by the disease.
The Red Ribbon Gala is the largest fundraising activity for Tulsa CARES (Center for AIDS Resources, Education and Support). This year, the event has received a tremendous kick-off with a generous grant from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Bank of Oklahoma Foundation as presenting sponsors.
A United Way agency, Tulsa CARES has been in existence since 1991. Executive director of the agency, Sharon Thoele, credits the generosity of the board members and donors for the difference they make for some of the community's most needy members.
"The best part of the Red Ribbon Gala is that it supports the ongoing efforts of Tulsa CARES to provide a safe haven for low-income men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS throughout northeastern Oklahoma. 2006 marks the 15th anniversary of providing support services to the individuals no one wanted to serve. Without the proceeds from the Red Ribbon Gala, our ability to provide these crucial services would cease," Thoele said.
Board President Pat Chernicky added: "The proceeds help serve more than 450 individuals. HIV does not affect one group of people, it affects us all."
Wood noted the event helps the organization continue to provide the services for those patients and families affected by this devastating disease.
Tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorship packages and reservations for priority seating are available. For more information, contact Bruce Lewis at 834-4194.
Executive Women International will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala on March 9 at the Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills. Anyone who has been involved in the organization over the years is invited to attend.
For more information, call Jan Ehrle at 749-2426 or email [email protected].
Mrs. Lee Williams Hearn, a member of the chartering committee, will be on hand to tell the interesting story of the organization's beginning on March 7, 1956.
Charter members attending the chartering night event at the Mayo Hotel included Elizabeth MacDonald, First National Bank and Trust Co. of Tulsa; Sally Jordan, Hillcrest Medical Center; Electra M. Scott, the Vandever Co. Inc.; and Bettie N. Wood, Bache and Co.
EWI brings together key people from diverse businesses for the purpose of enhancing personal and professional development and encouraging community involvement. It is a unique organization in that each firm involved holds the membership and selects a top woman in its organization to represent it.
Over the years, it has had Tulsa's most prestigious firms on its roster and has taken part in many community projects. It has also formed its own scholarship programs, such as EWISP, which benefits high school students with college expenses, and ASIST, which benefits adult students returning to college.
