Everybody will cut loose – footloose – at the thirteenth annual No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party, presented by The Purple Foundation. The much-anticipated theme for AIDS Services of Dallas’s largest fundraiser is A Night to Remember, reminiscent of an 80’s prom. From the classic balloon arch to boutonnieres and corsages to a live 80’s cover band and fun surprises in-between, it is sure to be a party to the max!
The 2018 No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party will be held on Saturday, April 7, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum (6911 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75209). Tickets are $75 for general admission and $150 for VIP tickets to benefit AIDS Services of Dallas. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.notiedinner.org.
“The vision for this year’s event is not only to have fun getting dressed up in 80’s fashion and dancing the night away, but to be a night to reflect on the inspirational and life-saving work ASD has done for over 30 years for those in the Dallas community living with HIV/AIDS,” said No Tie Chair Mr. Leslie Frye.
A Night to Remember also supports ASD’s ambitious “A Night of Housing” campaign. ASD President and CEO Don Maison explains, “The cost for one resident for one night is only $40.73. We rely heavily on No Tie and its generous attendees to donate an additional one night of housing or more so that we can provide our residents with the dignity of a place to call home.” In addition to housing, ASD, the largest HIV/AIDS housing provider in the State of Texas, also provides case management, medical case management, transportation and meals.
Mr. Frye, a talented creative in his own right as a medical sonographer by day and a singer, performer, and actor, by night, assembled a totally tubular team to host the No Tie Party: Honorary Co-Chair Dr. Steven Pounders, an award-winning internist who has specialized in HIV and infectious diseases since the 80’s; Honorary Co-Chair Kameron Westcott, the savvy business owner of Sparkle Dog Premium Dog Food and reality star on BRAVO’s The Real Housewives of Dallas; and Publicity Chair Susan Friedman, a 20-plus year veteran of the public relations industry who has represented No Tie for eight years. Kristi Holman with K&L Management will be producing the event for the fourth year.
No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party is a two-in-one-event starting with a dinner party followed by a grand dessert finale. Groups of people across DFW host dinners – large or small, elegant or casual – for friends and family any night leading up to the main event. Each dinner guest donates a minimum of $75 to ASD which provides a general ticket to the grand Dessert Party.
Then, on April 7, all dinner hosts and guests are invited to the Frontiers of Flight Museum where an expected 1,500 plus people will unite for an 80’s prom-palooza featuring delicious desserts from Dallas’s finest eateries; stellar live and silent auction items; a silent art auction curated by artist Christina Yielding highlighting original pieces by local artists; a stocked bar featuring Reyka Vodka, Tullamore D.E.W., and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and beer and wine provided by Ben E. Keith; among other surprises!
“Ecclesiastes assures us… that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh… and a time to weep. A time to mourn… and there is a time to dance.” –Ren (Footloose)
BIOS
Dr. Steven Pounders was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and quickly moved back after receiving his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He began his career in 1988, at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, starting at UT Southwestern where he was the co-director of the AIDS clinic for a year before he left to go into private practice. He saw a need for those with HIV/AIDS in the Dallas community to get proper help and soon opened an infusion clinic which quickly became a haven where people with HIV could go to try experimental drugs that, between 1995 and 1997, cut the death rate of people with AIDS by half. Today, Dr. Pounders still runs his own practice and continues to help those in the community. Dr. Pounders operates by his motto to give patients a choice, knowing that the best healthcare outcomes occur when patient and provider partner together. For more than 25 years, he has been the volunteer medical director at the Resource Center is also the first healthcare provider to receive Black Tie Dinner’s Kuchling Humanitarian Award. He serves as the 2018 Honorary Co-Chair of the No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party benefiting AIDS Services of Dallas.
Kameron Westcott grew up in Montecito, California and moved to Dallas, Texas in 2001 to attend Southern Methodist University. After receiving her Fine Arts Degree, Kameron worked in the fashion industry as the creator of BabyLou Pooch Couture, a collection of handmade dog clothes. Today, she is a mother of two, Hilton and Cruise, founder of Sparkle Dog Food, and cast member of BRAVO’s The Real Housewives of Dallas. Kameron is an active member of numerous charities and organizations including Cattle Baron’s Ball, Junior League of Dallas, Texas Ballet Theatre, and New Friends New Life. In 2008, she was a Style Ambassador for DIFFA Dallas and a year later won D Magazine’s “Top 10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas” Award. She is now serving as a national spokesperson for Susan G. Komen and the Honorary Co-Chair of No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party benefiting AIDS Services of Dallas.
Mr. Don Maison, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AIDS Services of Dallas, is a licensed attorney and a former member of the Dallas EMA Health Services Planning Council. He is a past Co-Chair of the National AIDS Housing Coalition, Inc., and presently serves on its Board of Directors. Since 1995, Mr. Maison has been a member of The Enterprise Foundation Network Advisory Committee. He served on the National AIDS Communications Roundtable from 1992-2004, serves as a director for the Texas AIDS Network, Inc., and is a member of the Dallas Homeless Consortium. He has served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance from February 2000 to present.
Leslie Frye is the father of two daughters, Arden (23) and Avery (19), and owner of LMF Consulting. He is a talented singer and performer having sung solos at some of the best venues in the world, from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. to the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, with the Turtle Creek Chorale. He is the President of the Board for Dallas Hope Charities, on the Governing Board for DFW Federal Club and a member of the Cathedral of Hope. He has been involved with AIDS Services of Dallas for the past five years raising funds as a Dinner Host for the No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party Dinner and is currently serving as the 2018 No Tie Chair.
Lead publicity technician, logician, and magician, Susan Friedman is the founder and owner of Friedman Marketing and Public Relations (FMPR) and has worked magic for over 20 years in media relations, promotions, special events, marketing, social media, and consumer outreach. FMPR works with a variety of lifestyle clients, from hotels and award-winning spirits brands to festivals and charity galas to exotic car rental dealerships and doctors. Most recently, Susan co-hosts a lifestyle podcast, Soundbites with Susan and Waylon. Susan has served as Publicity Chair of AIDS Services of Dallas’s No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party for the last eight years, volunteers with Refugee Services of North Texas, and has been involved with numerous organizations to help elevate and amplify their causes, messaging, and fundraising efforts.
ABOUT AIDS SERVICES OF DALLAS
The mission of AIDS Services of Dallas (ASD) is to create and strengthen healthy communities through the delivery of quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. ASD’s mission includes advocacy, education, and the development of affordable housing options and community development opportunities, both for its residents living with HIV/AIDS, and for economically disadvantaged people. For more information about ASD, visit www.aidsdallas.org.
ABOUT PURPLE FOUNDATION
Established in 2001, Purple Foundation, an all-volunteer non-profit, has raised more than $750,000 to support local charities that improve the lives of people in the Dallas area who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Funds are raised through numerous dance fundraisers and social events throughout the year, including their premier, electrifying Purple Party Weekend featuring some of the world’s most popular DJs.
