With a reputation as The City Beautiful’s most outrageous black-tie event, the Headdress Ball is shaping up to be the glitziest event to date. The Oct. 3 Hope & Help fundraiser is at the brand new Orlando Hilton and will have the theme “Red Carpet, Red Ribbon, Red Lipstick.”
The $355,000 that the ball raised last year has assisted Hope & Help in providing case management, HIV testing, education and prevention programs, food pantry, pharmacy and support groups and youth prevention programs. Even with the hit that the economy has taken in the last year, organizers are optimistic that this year’s ball will bring in enough funds to continue the work that needs to be done.
“The economy is tough and our hearts go out to our many donors who are up against tough times,” says Maggie King, Hope & Help’s Director of Development. “I am thrilled to say that folks are still giving, just in smaller increments. Many of our donors have called to say they will donate money or an auction item and when we are thanking them they inevitably say, ‘Hey, times are tough, but at least I have my health, that’s more than most of your clients can say.’
“We feel so fortunate. Our goal this year is to celebrate our 20th anniversary in style and to raise as much as we can for our Central Florida neighbors in need,” says King.
Guests can expect a gourmet dinner, Las Vegas-style show, live and silent auctions, world-renowned entertainment and the always-anticipated Headdress competition.
Along with host Darcel Stevens and a cast of 100 performers, the entertainment lineup will include Tony and two-time Grammy award winner Jennifer Holliday from the original cast of Broadway’s Dreamgirls, international recording star Kristine W, TV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist and winner of the Viva Glam screen test challenge Ongina Ryan, and a special performance by the Orlando Ballet. Celebrity judges for the headdress competition portion of the show will include philanthropist Harriet Lake, Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell, Jim Philips, host of 104.1 FM’s The Philips Phile, John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, and Tony Jenkins, market president, Central Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida.
Producers of this year’s event are Greg Brown, Director of Costuming and Design for Hardrive Productions, and Emmy award winning producer John Best, president of JM Best Entertainment. Together, Brown and Best, along with a host of other vendors, are donating more than $300,000 in in-kind services for the production.
Since its inception in 1989, the annual fundraiser has raised more than $3 million benefiting those in Central Florida who are infected with HIV/AIDS by providing necessary and life saving services such as an insurance continuation program and assistance with life-saving medication. The resource began two decades ago with only a handful of volunteers who worked out of a donated room at the Unitarian Church in Orlando. 
Do I hear a bid?
One of the biggest moneymakers for the event is the live and silent auction portion of the evening. This year guests will have the opportunity to bid on items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to week-long stay at a house in Key Largo that sleeps 10 to a summer kitchen designed by Phil Kean. Many venues throughout Central Florida have played host to Headdress in the 20 years since its debut at the Beecham Theater on Orange Avenue, including Loews Royal Pacific Resort and The Omni at Championsgate, which was the setting for last year’s ball.
“We loved the Omni at Championsgate because they were so good to us and made us feel like family,” says King. “The Omni was not available on the necessary dates this year so we had to seek out a new venue.”
The brand new Hilton Orlando opened on Sept. 12, 2009, and is connected to the Orange County Convention Center off of International Drive.
“We want Central Florida to know that we support the community,” says Hilton Orlando General Manager Doug Gehret.
The Hilton Orlando is offering special rates starting at $99 per night for Headdress Ball attendees seeking accommodations during the event weekend.
“The partnership with Hilton Orlando couldn’t be more appropriate,” says King. “The Hilton Orlando will be breathtaking—it’s only appropriate that it house such an awe-inspiring and charitable event.”
For ticket and event information visit HeaddressBall.org or call 407-645-2577, ext. 112.
