PRESS CONTACT: Philip Wier Black Tie Dinner Marketing Committee [email protected]

BLACK TIE DINNER ANNOUNCES 2014 BENEFICIARIES AND THEME

DALLAS– During its initial event of the season at Fort Worth Botanic Garden Thursday evening, Black Tie Dinner announced a slate of sixteen local beneficiaries and revealed the 2014 theme, “Forward.”

“After years of setbacks, recent advances in local, state and national LGBT equality has created momentum that is affecting our personal, work and civic lives, and having a profound impact on our community,” said Black Tie Dinner co-chair Ken Morris. “Our 2014 theme, ‘Forward,’ is a reflection of the direction we are moving.”

The “Forward” theme also focuses on the diversity of Black Tie Dinner’s beneficiaries, who provide programs and services in the areas of community, marriage equality, arts, family, health, faith and civil equality.

2014 local beneficiaries include returning organizations AIDS Arms, AIDS Interfaith Network, AIDS Outreach Center, AIDS Services of , Celebration Community Church, Congregation Beth El Binah, Foundation, Health Services of North Texas, Lambda Legal, Legacy Counseling Center, Legal Hospice of Texas, Northaven United Methodist Church, Resource Center of Dallas, , The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, and first-time beneficiary, Uptown Players. The is the Dinner’s national beneficiary.

BLACK TIE DINNER, INC.

3824 CEDAR SPRINGS #335, DALLAS, TEXAS 7521 9 972 -865-2239 BLACKTIE.ORG

Co-chair Debra Davis stated, “We cherish the long-term partnerships we’ve had with many of our beneficiaries, who represent the full spectrum of our community. We are especially delighted to welcome Uptown Players as a beneficiary this year, and look forward to supporting their important cultural outreach.”

The 2014 Black Tie Dinner, presented by Turtle Creek Solutions, will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Sponsorship tables are currently being sold at blacktie.org, with general table sales slated for June.

ABOUT BLACK TIE DINNER

Black Tie Dinner is a non-profit organization that raises funds for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) supportive organizations serving North Texas through a premier event of empowerment, education and entertainment in partnership with the community. Since its inception in 1982, the nation’s largest LGBT event of its kind has distributed more than $18 million.

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BLACK TIE DINNER, INC.

3824 CEDAR SPRINGS # 335, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5219 972 -865-2239 BLACKTIE.ORG