Last night me and some friends celebrated the 2009 Portland Red Dress Party. A charitable event raising money for HIV/AIDS and various LGBTQ outreach programs. I've attached a few photos for your enjoyment. Below is a little blurb regarding the Red Dress Party and what it's all about.
Thanks guys, love to hear your feed back. Thanks to my cousin Gary for the fantastic sunglasses (I gave your website out to several people at the party, everyone loved them) http://gogglesandglasses.com , thanks to Sam "Samantha Star" for trimming that mop of a wig, Thanks to Christy for the use of her makeup, thanks to Josie for purchasing the tickets, and thanks to all my friends who made it a very special night.
Jai
It started as a party in the basement of a North Portland home and has become one of the most celebrated fundraising events in town.
75 friends attended our first Red Dress Party in 2001 -- although we fully admit that the idea of the red dress party isn't new and wasn't ours. Red Dress Runs and Red Dress House parties happen in communities across the country. But something about the party was special, and it left us all wanting more. So we did it again on Super Bowl Eve 2002, and 150 guests join us for more fun and revelry despite the Winter Blast {minor snowstorm} that year.
Having established both interest and demand, organizers began to plan a bigger and better event in 2003 that would help raise money for our friends and neighbors who were living with HIV and AIDS, and for children who were affected by AIDS. 325 guests attended that year and organizers donated $3,200 to the Kid’s Connection Program at Cascade AIDS Project.
The 2004 party was dubbed "Red Square," and 575 patrons created a run on red dresses throughout the city in anticipation of the 4th annual event. Guests traveled from Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver B.C. and New York, and net proceeds totaled $10,000. $5,000 was donated to the Kid's Connection Program at CAP (Cascade AIDS Project), and $5,000 was donated to the Sexual Minority Resource Center (SMYRC).
For 2005, the party organizers formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and secured a larger venue, the Meow Meow Club (now known as the Loveland), a two-story live music venue in Industrial SE Portland. 1,118 guests attended the "Red Light District," with all the fun and decadence of Amsterdam itself.party and raised $20,000 in proceeds for Our House of Portland and SMYRC.
Organizers chose the theme "Red Planet" for the 6th annual Red Dress, and 1,598 revelers participated in a party of intergalactic proportions held at the Kalberer industrial warehouse in NE Portland, and $23,000 was donated to three local charities -- Our House of Portland (Whom I work for), Camp Starlight and the Q Center.
In 2007 the theme was "Velvet Rope," a tribute to Hollywood glamour. Staged at a smaller venue in Industrial SE (AudioCinema), the sold-out event was attended by 1,025 guests and and raised $26,000 for Q Center, Swan House (Also Where I work), and Friends of People with AIDS Foundation.
Returning to the Kalberer Warehouse in 2008, organizers staged the biggest event in the party's history -- 1,950 partgoers took a Poseidon adventure on the "Red Sea." For the first time, Red Dress featured a live concert courtesy of Storm and The Balls, and former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton was among the guests in attendance. $35,000 was raised for Esther's Pantry, SHARE, and Outside In.
The 2009 ~ 9th Annual Red Dress Party is dubbed "Red Eye," and will take partygoers on a late-night flight to exotic places. The event is presented by Red Dress PDX, a charitable not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which is managed by a 6-member board of directors and supported by an army of volunteers and donors. Over 2000 party goers attended.
Due to the popularity of the Portland Red Dress Party, new Red Dress Party's are popping up in Seattle, San Francisco.........with more to come.
