Tell me about the white Party at glen echo tomorrow night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Yes. Plus the money you spent during the raise the paddle portion of the live auction (whatever that is).

But the truth is that I would not likely give nearly as much. If I get a letter in the mail asking for money, I might give a check for $100. But at the event I gave over $1000. Part of it is showing appreciation to your hosts at the party. They invite you to their table hoping you will give in a big way. And we gladly do not just because it is a great cause, but also to thank our host for including us in their party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year is the 5th annual White Party to benefit the Don Bosco Cristo Rey, a free Catholic high school for under-privileged kids in DC. The party is for 7th and 8th graders, typically its attended primarily by the private school crowd. There is a host committee with kids on it this year from Holy Child, Mater Dei, Blessed Sacrament DC, Holton, Landon, St Pats. Its huge and fun and tickets sell out every year - this year within one hour. Its heavily chaperoned. There is a band. Worst thing that goes on is grinding on the dance floor. Dress code is white dresses for girls and white collared shirts and khaki pants or shorts for boys. Its the party of the year for the 7-8th grade private school social crowd

For the Catholic private school crowd, especially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An expensive french dinner and dance with a themed dress code, attended by exclusive private schools.

Yeah, let’s get real. How many people of color will there be?

It’s not all “exclusive” private schools.

[Anonymous]

What schools were the boys and girls from that were drunk in 7th and 8th grade? That is kind of shocking.

[Anonymous]

They raised $100,000 for charity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They raised $100,000 for charity.

A middle school dance raises $100,000. I can't imagine.

[Anonymous]

I think the website should post how much they raise.

[Anonymous]

There were sponsorship level tickets. So let’s say 700 Kids purchased at 50 dollars and 300 did the silver sponsorship, which we did, that’s over 100k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Yes. Plus the money you spent during the raise the paddle portion of the live auction (whatever that is).

If you just gave, these organizations would be much healthier financially, although the same can't be said for the venues, event planners, caterers, etc. they need to pay to put on these events.

Do they all get paid full freight? I had assumed there was usually some type of discounting due to the nature of the charity. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it when people throw money at a societal issue and think they are having meaningful impact without actually engaging the community they purport to support.

I’m a former DBCR teacher and this whole thread is intriguing to me. On one hand, I totally get that raising money (and a substantial amount at that) is extremely necessary to keep the school running (the students working only earn about half of what a school-running tuition would cost—the rest needs to be made up through donations, endowments, charity events like this party, etc.).

But, man, the juxtaposition of wealthy (majority white) middle schoolers going to a party called a “white party” (I know... attire... I know...) to raise money for DBCR students (who are of color) is jarring. I mean the DBCR uniform is even black!

What the pp said above really resonated with me while reading though this entire thread. While obviously the school and the students need funding (I mean hey thanks for paying my $38,000/year salary! Also weird that I got paid due in part to middle schoolers attending a party), doing so in ways like this seems... detached? Tone deaf? Alienating? Weird? How many people concerned about this “charity” actually step foot in the school and interact with the students and teachers there? And the few that do (DBCR becomes like a pet project for some wealthy people) can be nauseatingly tone deaf. Examples: A group of young women gigging nervously saying things like, “awww, these students are so CUUUUTE!” (to students’ faces, of course), a wealthy white man literally PATTING A STUDENT ON THE HEAD and saying, “well aren’t you something?”, a white women asked a student giving a tour if he learned how to speak “such proper English! Wow!” at the school, etc.

I think another pp used the word “icky” to describe what this kind of a fundraiser feels like. I tend to agree—it makes the students into a “feel good” project but it does little to teach empathy or—really—just normal social behavior/decency when we’re around people that don’t look like us (or are of the same socioeconomic class). I think that’s an even more important take away than just feeling good about helping “poor kids,” right?

I don’t know. Donate and party if you want, but I do think the other side of this thing is something worth considering.

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Is the difference that you paid for the tickets and that many of the kids at the White Party did not? Do they go because the event is for "a great cause?" or because it's the party to be seen at? I have no idea, but it doesn't feel like a 1:1 comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Yes. Plus the money you spent during the raise the paddle portion of the live auction (whatever that is).

But the truth is that I would not likely give nearly as much. If I get a letter in the mail asking for money, I might give a check for $100. But at the event I gave over $1000. Part of it is showing appreciation to your hosts at the party. They invite you to their table hoping you will give in a big way. And we gladly do not just because it is a great cause, but also to thank our host for including us in their party.

Then that makes it all ok, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Yes. Plus the money you spent during the raise the paddle portion of the live auction (whatever that is).

But the truth is that I would not likely give nearly as much. If I get a letter in the mail asking for money, I might give a check for $100. But at the event I gave over $1000. Part of it is showing appreciation to your hosts at the party. They invite you to their table hoping you will give in a big way. And we gladly do not just because it is a great cause, but also to thank our host for including us in their party.

Then that makes it all ok, right?

DP. Yes, charity galas and parties are ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it when people throw money at a societal issue and think they are having meaningful impact without actually engaging the community they purport to support.

I’m a former DBCR teacher and this whole thread is intriguing to me. On one hand, I totally get that raising money (and a substantial amount at that) is extremely necessary to keep the school running (the students working only earn about half of what a school-running tuition would cost—the rest needs to be made up through donations, endowments, charity events like this party, etc.).

But, man, the juxtaposition of wealthy (majority white) middle schoolers going to a party called a “white party” (I know... attire... I know...) to raise money for DBCR students (who are of color) is jarring. I mean the DBCR uniform is even black!

What the pp said above really resonated with me while reading though this entire thread. While obviously the school and the students need funding (I mean hey thanks for paying my $38,000/year salary! Also weird that I got paid due in part to middle schoolers attending a party), doing so in ways like this seems... detached? Tone deaf? Alienating? Weird? How many people concerned about this “charity” actually step foot in the school and interact with the students and teachers there? And the few that do (DBCR becomes like a pet project for some wealthy people) can be nauseatingly tone deaf. Examples: A group of young women gigging nervously saying things like, “awww, these students are so CUUUUTE!” (to students’ faces, of course), a wealthy white man literally PATTING A STUDENT ON THE HEAD and saying, “well aren’t you something?”, a white women asked a student giving a tour if he learned how to speak “such proper English! Wow!” at the school, etc.

I think another pp used the word “icky” to describe what this kind of a fundraiser feels like. I tend to agree—it makes the students into a “feel good” project but it does little to teach empathy or—really—just normal social behavior/decency when we’re around people that don’t look like us (or are of the same socioeconomic class). I think that’s an even more important take away than just feeling good about helping “poor kids,” right?

I don’t know. Donate and party if you want, but I do think the other side of this thing is something worth considering.

How is this party different than the thousands of galas thrown throughout the DC area raising money for many great causes. I attended one a few weeks ago and over $100,000 was raised for the NIH Children's Inn. I purchased an expensive dress and my husband wore his tux. We all drank and ate and had a great time. All to raise money to help families of sick people. Should I have declined this invitation and just donated the money I would have spent on my dress? My table was already paid for. But if I declined, I would not have been there to purchase the auction items or make my large donation during he raise the paddle portion of the live auction. You see how these parties work to raise money? Like another PP said, why can't it be a win win? If it weren't for all of these parties, these organizations would be severely struggling. So get over it!

Is the difference that you paid for the tickets and that many of the kids at the White Party did not? Do they go because the event is for "a great cause?" or because it's the party to be seen at? I have no idea, but it doesn't feel like a 1:1 comparison.

As with many charity events, people go for both reasons. There is nothing wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a white party?

Ironic name for an event held at a place that was famous for it's history of segregation.

OMG get a life. It refers to tire - guests only wear white.

Liberals always pull out the race card.

Not effective anymore but they keep trying.

White us the new curse word for them.

Pathetic.

Another right wing Victim In Her Own Mind off her meds. SAD!

[Anonymous]

How on earth did this go on for 12 pages?

Diner en Blanc is a longstanding tradition.