Fundraisers are casual, elegant
PARTY, throwing its Stirrup the Dust party at Pond View Farm, complete with requested “country casual” attire and a barbecue buffet.
“We do business in a barn. Having a party in a barn draws people back to the type of facility we operate out of,” says Cathy Schmidt, Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding’s founder and executive director.
Most fundraisers these days embrace casual or cocktail attire, unlike a couple of decades ago; it’s now the black-tie affair that’s a bit uncommon, and therein lies its appeal, organizers say.
“Everyone wears athleisure wear all the time. The notion that there’s something you can dress up for is special,” says Walters Art Museum director Julia Marciari-Alexander. “Going beyond cocktail attire is fun once in a while.”
The Walters and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have had great success with their formal galas. But both have been mindful to keep those parties fun and un-stuffy with fresh angles. The BSO is bringing in jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and “The Wire” actor Wendell Pierce as guest emcee for the concert portion of its gala. After a seated dinner in museum galleries, guests at The Walters get to break out on the dance floor with a DJ in the sculpture court.
Fundraiser planning comes down to catching the attention of prospective ticket buyers — and keeping it. A former BSO vice president who now serves on the boards of several nonprofits, Greg Tucker has been on both sides — as party organizer and inveterate partygoer.
“You try to create a distinctive evening that people talk about and want to repeat. Hopefully it creates some engagement with the organization and what they do. That’s the aim,” he says of producing the events.
As for the ticket buyers: “I think everybody loves a great party and wants to be where whoever throws the best [one],” he says. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Maryland Live! Casino, 7002 Arundel Mills Boulevard, Hanover Rock ’n’ roll attire or Halloween Live performance by AC/DC tribute band High Voltage, dancing, open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres $100, caseycares.givecorps.com/ events/3027-15thannual-casey-cares-rockn-roll-bash-live