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www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
White Party bash to be its last at Vizcaya
The White Party, held at Vizcaya the past 25 years, will host its final party at the gardens
this year. Organizers say the HIV/AIDS fundraiser costs too much to produce at the
Miami-Dade landmark.
By Rene Rodriguez
The party's over for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and one of the most renowned
HIV/AIDS fundraisers in the world.
Care Resource, the organization that presents the highly regarded White Party each
November, said Monday this will be the last year the event is held on the grounds of the
historic villa, citing exorbitant fees and limited access to the property.
``We are being charged nearly $50,000 for a rental fee and we just think that's too
expensive,'' said Wade Patterson, director of finance and resource development for
Care Resource, a nonprofit that helps HIV-positive people get health care. ``When it
started to become a fundraiser for Vizcaya and stopped becoming a fundraiser for Care
Resource, we decided it was time to re-evaluate our locale.''
Another complaint: Vizcaya rules bar party organizers from entering the property to set
up lighting, stages and food and beverage areas until three hours before the first
partygoers arrive.
Now in its 26th year, the White Party draws a mostly gay and lesbian crowd of
White Party bash to be its last at Vizcaya
The White Party, held at Vizcaya the past 25 years, will host its final party at the gardens
this year. Organizers say the HIV/AIDS fundraiser costs too much to produce at the
Miami-Dade landmark.
By Rene Rodriguez
The party's over for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and one of the most renowned
HIV/AIDS fundraisers in the world.
Care Resource, the organization that presents the highly regarded White Party each
November, said Monday this will be the last year the event is held on the grounds of the
historic villa, citing exorbitant fees and limited access to the property.
``We are being charged nearly $50,000 for a rental fee and we just think that's too
expensive,'' said Wade Patterson, director of finance and resource development for
Care Resource, a nonprofit that helps HIV-positive people get health care. ``When it
started to become a fundraiser for Vizcaya and stopped becoming a fundraiser for Care
Resource, we decided it was time to re-evaluate our locale.''
Another complaint: Vizcaya rules bar party organizers from entering the property to set
up lighting, stages and food and beverage areas until three hours before the first
partygoers arrive.
Now in its 26th year, the White Party draws a mostly gay and lesbian crowd of
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1,500 to 2,000 who pay $150 for general admission tickets and
$225 for VIP treatment.
RENTAL FEES
Patterson said that the Vizcaya rental fee, which was increased last
year, usurped too large a percentage of the funds generated by
the event.
Joel M. Hoffman, executive director of Vizcaya, said he is
sympathetic to Patterson's complaints. But he said that the
Renaissance-styled villa and museum, which has been owned and
operated by Miami-Dade County since 1952, has stepped up its efforts ``to diminish the
wear and tear on the property and enhance the experience of visitors to the museum''
by progressively raising its rental rates over the past 10 years.
Hoffman also said a pricey fee for early set-ups was ``designed to discourage
complicated events here, because our goal is not to host events that disrupt the
museum experience.''
BASE RATE
The current base rate for a private evening event at Vizcaya is $12,750, which includes
125 guests. An extra fee of $25 per person is charged for crowds larger than that.
$225 for VIP treatment.
RENTAL FEES
Patterson said that the Vizcaya rental fee, which was increased last
year, usurped too large a percentage of the funds generated by
the event.
Joel M. Hoffman, executive director of Vizcaya, said he is
sympathetic to Patterson's complaints. But he said that the
Renaissance-styled villa and museum, which has been owned and
operated by Miami-Dade County since 1952, has stepped up its efforts ``to diminish the
wear and tear on the property and enhance the experience of visitors to the museum''
by progressively raising its rental rates over the past 10 years.
Hoffman also said a pricey fee for early set-ups was ``designed to discourage
complicated events here, because our goal is not to host events that disrupt the
museum experience.''
BASE RATE
The current base rate for a private evening event at Vizcaya is $12,750, which includes
125 guests. An extra fee of $25 per person is charged for crowds larger than that.
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Patterson says that despite the long-standing connection
between the White Party and Vizcaya, a change of location in
2011 may help revitalize the event. The nonprofit is
concentrating on November's event and has not considered
replacement venues.
``When you say `White Party,' the association with Vizcaya is
automatic around the world,'' Patterson said.
`TIME TO RETHINK'
``But 28 years into this disease, it's also time to rethink how to reach out
to a younger generation of people who have been impacted by AIDS. The change
presents new logistical challenges, but it does feel like it's time to move the event in a
new direction.''
The 26th Annual White Party Week in Miami is the Worlds Largest
and Oldest HIVAIDS Fundraiser benefiting Care Resource.
November 24-29, 2010.
www.whiteparty.org
Copyright © Miami Herald & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.
Do not reproduce without citing this source
between the White Party and Vizcaya, a change of location in
2011 may help revitalize the event. The nonprofit is
concentrating on November's event and has not considered
replacement venues.
``When you say `White Party,' the association with Vizcaya is
automatic around the world,'' Patterson said.
`TIME TO RETHINK'
``But 28 years into this disease, it's also time to rethink how to reach out
to a younger generation of people who have been impacted by AIDS. The change
presents new logistical challenges, but it does feel like it's time to move the event in a
new direction.''
The 26th Annual White Party Week in Miami is the Worlds Largest
and Oldest HIVAIDS Fundraiser benefiting Care Resource.
November 24-29, 2010.
www.whiteparty.org
Copyright © Miami Herald & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.
Do not reproduce without citing this source