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Kindness for a cause
By Elizabeth Knighten, eknighten@starlocalnews.com
Dr Pepper Arena was buzzing on Saturday with glittery gowns, dozens local Frisco restaurant and area residents who were ready to dance, eat and donate money toward Frisco Family Services.
Frisco Family Services which held its largest annual event, titled One community, One purpose, One impact, in conjunction with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Plano had more than 600 guests attend the weekend event.
Gayla Simmons, Development Director for the Frisco Family Services said the hospital has been the "title sponsor" with the non profit organization for the past two years.
Kimberly Girard, Frisco Family Services Center special events manager said in an email the event raised over $75,000 from the silent and live auctions, also raised $35,000 for the relocation of the FFS Food Pantry. Girard added the organization needs $60,000 to relocate the food pantry.
"We are continuing to look for supporters to help fund this process," she said.
This is the gala's eighteenth anniversary. Girard said the first gala the non-profit held was in "February 1995 at the Broken Spoke Saloon."
Simmons said the venue and date for the event were planned a year in advance, but the "busy work" occurred within the last 6 months. She added that while Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital is the title sponsor for the event, it was not apart of the planning process.
"The event is really planned internally by staff and by our committee chairs or committee people," Simmons said. "Obviously Jennifer Kimbel, the event chair this year was integral in getting the whole event together, and then of course we have many, many committee members that go out and solicit donation items, auction items, baskets -- and then, of course the staff plays a huge role in getting all the details together. Texas Health Presbyterian is wonderful in their generosity, but they are not part of the planning process."
The gala, which was decorated in green and blue, the colors of the title sponsor, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, featured ornate peacock sculptures perched atop giant topiaries.
Simmons said she felt the event went well and the guests "had a really nice time." She added that the event is important to the city because it helps raise money for the programs and services the organization offers, but it also educates area residents on the needs of others.
"That's the most important reason, the people come together and the sponsors, and -- donate auction items and all those wonderful things to help us achieve our goals on preventing hunger and homelessness in the community," Simmons said. "As our largest fundraiser it's an integral part of our annual budget. Secondly, it really introduces people to the cause and what we do -- it kind of opens people's eyes that there are needs in Frisco, a lot of people don't realize that."
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