La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas continued its support of Park Cities charitable organizations with a donation of $462,750 to 15 selected beneficiaries. The year-end contribution brings La Fiesta’s giving total over $8.4 million since its founding. La Fiesta Chairs for 2016-2017 Rebecca Gregory and Nancy Monning presented checks to each of the community charities at an end-of-season celebration in the Mockingbird Room in the Highland Park Village. The Chairs recognized and thanked the contributions of the hundreds of donors, volunteers, and the families of the season’s presented Duchesses and Escorts.
Recipients of 2017 La Fiesta funds were: CARE (Chemical Awareness Resources & Education), Connecting Point of Park Cities, The Elisa Project, The Family Place HPISD Be Project, Friends of the University Park Library, Habitat for Humanity (HPHS Campus Chapter), Highland Park Education Foundation, Highland Park Literary Festival, HP Arts, HPHS Community Service Council, HPHS Counseling Department and Student Council, HPHS Science Festival, HPHS Student Emergency Fund, Moody Family YMCA/ HPHS Youth and Government, and the Park Cities Heritage House at Dallas Heritage Village.
La Fiesta hosted its 32nd annual Presentation Gala, “La Fête Royale” on June 10th at the Fairmont Dallas. Following a packed week and an extended season of parties and events, 40 Duchesses made full presentation bows in French themed costumes to an audience of 1,000 guests, escorted by 40 Escorts. La Fiesta was founded in 1986 as “The Park Cities Festival Meeting Community Needs” to provide for educational, charitable, and civic needs.
Mary Hubbard served as La Fiesta Board President this past year. Anne Besser and Michelle Johnson served as Presentation Gala Co-Chairs. Pam Stegenga and Megan Saustad served as Social Co-Chairs. Kathy Sockwell and Pauline Neuhoff were Preview Luncheon Co-Chairs, Kim Quinn and Laurel Page were Underwriting Co-Chairs, and Emily Robson was Corporate Underwriting Chair.