Once upon a time, benefit luncheons appealed exclusively to women of leisure. They wore hats. They munched on salads, light entrees and an array of desserts. They might watch a fashion show or hear from a culturally enriching speaker.
As early as 1970, Stephen Sondheim saluted them in the song “The Ladies Who Lunch,” which was punctuated by sodden question: “Doesn’t anyone still wear a hat? I’ll drink to that!”
Shree Bose and Julie Shannon
These days, many luncheons have achieved gender parity. Men and women enjoy the break from work. The women are as impressively employed as the men, often more so.
For charities, luncheons offer a lower-cost alternative to more formal evening galas. Another plus: For a long time, there wasn’t much competition. You gave a lunch to avoid the weekend dinner crunch during the social high seasons (spring and fall).
Lorena Alvarez and Gina Ryan
That, however, is changing, along with everything else in Austin.
On Tuesday, five luncheons slammed into one another. Foundation Communities, Salvation Army, Girlstart, American Institute of Architects and Relevant Radio all decided Oct. 23, 2012 was the right midday to raise a little change and/or awareness.
Dawn Jones and Michelle Poindexter
My lunch companion, Austin Parks and Recreation architectural historian Kim McKnight, made the choice for me. And it turned out just right. Along with Girlstart word-spreader Phil West, we sat with the American-Statesman’s Nicole Villalpondo and four lively women from the Texas Film Commission, who filled us in on the campaign to draft girls into gaming.
The conversation never flagged. The highlight on the dais, however, was Shree Bose, the first winner of the Google Global Science Fair. Now 18, the Texan is a freshman at Harvard University. She started researching ovarian cancer at age 15. And her bubbly personality won over the AT&T Center crowd, which including area elementary school girls.
Her remarks reinforced the good work Girlstart is doing with after-school and camp programs that make science, technology, math and engineering fun for girls.
How to avoid the luncheon jam up? Planners for 2013 should reserve a spot on the digital calendars at I Live Here I Give Here and Austin Social Planner.