Tonight, local business and community leaders brought out their bowties, evening gowns…and tennis shoes…to stroll down the red carpet for the first-ever “Plain and Fancy Ball” benefiting Collin County Community College District (Collin). The fundraiser took place at the college’s new conference center at the Spring Creek Campus in Plano.

The buzz was all about the dress code, which challenged sponsors and benefactors to dress either “fancy”—meaning elegant “after five” eveningwear from head to toe—or “plain and fancy”—meaning comfortable, everyday-wear with at least two pieces of fancy eveningwear.

This nouveau twist on fundraising replaced the college’s annual “Evening of Monopoly®” event. According to college president Cary Israel, Monopoly® raised more than half a million dollars for the college and assisted nearly 800 students in its four-year run, thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses. In this first year of the Plain and Fancy Ball, proceeds topped $150,000.

“A college education is a must these days, but the cost is more than a student can earn through a part-time job. We strive to keep tuition low, but the number of students in need is climbing,” Israel said. “Our patron support helps educate the next generation of nurses, doctors, teachers and business executives. We are very grateful for their gift of education.”

As the evening began, sponsors cast award-winning smiles toward bright camera flashes from paparazzi as they stepped onto the red carpet. Then, they kicked-up their heels with tango lessons and relaxed to the musical stylings of a cool jazz band. Just after 9 p.m., mystery judges were unveiled to announce the “Most Fabulous,” “Most Elegant,” “Best Couple” and “Most Creative” attire.

“There is so much excitement in the air about this new event,” said Larry Eagan who chairs the foundation board of directors. Eagan is with Exide Technologies. “Everyone tonight is a star, and all for one of the best of causes imaginable: student education. Proceeds will go toward student scholarships and academic excellence throughout the district, which is important because requests for scholarships doubled in the last two years.”

Since August, the college has disbursed more than $11.3 million in financial aid, which is approaching the total for the entire previous year of $12.2 million.

Medical Center of Plano and Emerson Processing/Fisher Regulator are “High Society” sponsors, while Chartwells, Comcast, Countrywide Financial Corporation, Exide Technologies, Hall Financial, Mac and Sherry Hendricks, Medical Center of McKinney and the Wylie Economic Development Corporation are “Jet Set” sponsors.

“In-Crowd” sponsors include Atmos Energy, Milton and Mary Kate Buschbom, Collin Academic Deans, Dental Careers Foundation/Dr. Wayne Goodowitz, David and Genie Hammel, Hunt Construction Company Inc., MultiView Inc., New York Life/The Nautilus Group, Sam Roach Business Center, Tino Trujillo/Tino’s Restaurants.

“Hipster” sponsors include Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Joplin, P.C.; Allen Economic Development Corp.; Bank of America; Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano; Bob Tomes Ford; Collin Academy for Collegiate Excellence Fellows; Collin Continuing Education & Workforce Development; Collin Faculty; Collin Human Resources Team; Corgan Associates, Inc.; Course Technology/Thomson Learning; C & S Media, Inc.; Reeves & Maribelle Davis; Dell, Inc.; Pat & Rebecca DePole; Farmersville Economic Development Corp.; First Bank of Farmersville; First Southwest Company; City of Frisco; Frisco Chamber of Commerce/Frisco Economic Development Corp.; Gay, McCall, Isaacks, Gordon, & Roberts, P.C.; HRsmart; Ralph & Susan Hall;

Other contributors include AIG Valic Financial Advisors Inc., Experian Inc., Frisco Business and Professional Women, Gaylord Texan™, North Preston Properties, RoughRiders Baseball and Temporaries of McKinney.

For more information, visit www.ccccd.edu/plainandfancy/

“Most Elegant” winner Myrtle Hightower (at right) with Mary Jo Dean of High Society Sponsor Medical Center of Plano (center) and John Hightower (left) at the first-ever Plain & Fancy Ball at Collin County Community College on March 5. Photo: Nick Young
 

George Wong (left) was presented the award for “Most Creative” attire by college president Cary Israel. Photo: Nick Young