La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas hosted the end of year Check Presentation Party Thursday evening, September 1st with La Fiesta Board members, donors, parents and representatives from the 15 selected beneficiaries in attendance to celebrate the gift of $458,325 to the community. 2015-2016 La Fiesta Co-Chairs Eloise Meachum and Missy Rothwell announced final funding numbers and gave the checks to each beneficiary in the Mockingbird Room in the Highland Park Village. The event was co-chaired by Lori Bannon and Amanda Davison. Recipients of funds raised by La Fiesta this year are:
- C.A.R.E. (Chemical Awareness Resources & Education)
- Connecting Point of Park Cities
- The Elisa Project
- The Family Place – HPISD Be Project
- Friends of the University Park Public 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
- Park Cities Heritage House at Dallas Heritage Village
- YMCA HPHS Youth and Government
La Fiesta hosted its 31st annual Presentation Gala on June 18 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel as 40 Duchesses, all Park Cities residents having just completed their freshman year in college, bowed to an audience of over 900 guests and escorted by 40 young Escorts. The Gala followed a week and extended season of parties honoring the Duchesses, Escorts, their families and hundreds of donors. La Fiesta was founded in 1986 as “The Park Cities Festival Meeting Community Needs” to provide for educational, charitable, and civic needs. Founders of La Fiesta were Lindalyn Adams, Pierce Allman, and Jennie Reeves.
Hundreds of La Fiesta Committee members are credited with raising the critical funds from generous businesses and philanthropic community residents. Families of the presented young women and men selected as the season’s Duchesses and Escorts also contributed to the year’s successful fundraising undertaking. Founder Patrons ($15,000+) included the Hilton Anatole Hotel, James French Photography, Pauline and Austin Neuhoff, and the Waters Family/Park Cities News. Heritage Patrons ($10,000-$14,999) were Allie Beth Allman & Associates A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate, Coquerel Family Wine Estates /Brenda and Clay Cockerell, The Godo Family/Avon Cleaners, Highland Park Village, Emily and Bruce Robson, and the Stemmons Foundation in honor of Jack Gosnell. Arts Patrons ($5,000-$9,999) were Bachendorf’s, Stephanie and Bennie Bray, Kathy and Harlan Crow, The Garden Gate Creative Floral Design, G Texas Catering, Natalie and Mike McGuire / Andrews Distributing, Napier Foundation, RosanneBECK Collections. Education Patrons ($3,000-$4,999) were Booth Brothers Homes, Tavia and Clark Hunt, Land Rover Dallas, Lori and Cory L. Martin, Origin Bank, Park Cities Events, Debra and Lewis Ropp, Kelli and Joe Schmidt, Mary and Joe Taylor, Tom Addis Productions, Michelle and Ronald Weisfeld.