Last year’s deb class flanks last year’s queen Juan Pablo Zuluaga
Atlanta Cotillion welcomes belles and boys alike on Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Georgia Freight Depot, 65 MLK Jr. Drive. Check out the debs, purchase tickets, and make donations online at www.atlantacotillion.com.
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ROB BECK
| 9.12.2007
 
A SUMMER OF FUN-FILLED fundraising draws to a close Sept. 15 with Atlanta Cotillion VI, a fancy-dress drag extravaganza that will see one Atlanta man — who, for the evening at least, will walk like a lady — crowned Queen of the Atlanta Cotillion Ball.
For the past few months, seven dedicated Atlanta men — Jay Dempsey, Lance Elliott, Jeremy Faulkner, Rodney Hinote, Steven Igarashi, Ray Macon, and Chris Mayer — became Atlanta Cotillion debutants and hosted parties and events in the hopes of raising a total of $80,000 for AID Atlanta’s battle against HIV/AIDS. Saturday’s ball marks their drag society debut, and crowns as Cotillion Queen the deb who netted the largest donations.
THIS YEAR’S CROP OF DEBS IS smaller than normal, with the usual number running between eight and 12, but co-chair Edward Holifield notes that this is still a banner year for the Atlanta institution, noting larger-than-ever draws at a number of lead up events.
“We had a record Cabaret,” Holifield says, referring to and Aug. 25 cabaret and silent auction. “We brought in $26,000, and [that event] only brought in $20,000 last year. We were very pleased with it.”
The cabaret’s not the only thing Holifield and his co-chair, Greg Whitmire, are pleased with.
“This year for the first time we’ve had a group of debs that have chosen a lot of different ways in which to raise their money,” says Whitmire, noting that the creativity has paid off, with donations coming from new sources.
“A new group of debs every year provides us with an opportunity to reach out to a group that has not been contacted before,” he says.
AID Atlanta, the Cotillion’s benefiting organization, also appreciates the new blood and fresh take on fundraising Cotillion brings to the table each year.
“The event chairs have proven themselves with their past work,” says AID Atlanta’s special event manager Jon Santos, “and it’s really fun to work with the debutante class, because a lot of them haven’t done this kind of fundraising before. They’re very sweet and they’re well-intentioned.”
Santos says the relationship between AID Atlanta and the debs is mutually beneficial.
“We teach them some things, and they come and they help us grow,” he says. “And, honestly, it’s very humbling because their hearts are golden and in the right place, and they’re selfless.”
THOUGH THE FUNDRAISING methods may change, one thing that has not is the fun associated with the Cotillion itself.
“It’s the same, almost consistently every year,” says Holifield. “It’s just a huge, fun cocktail party with 400 of your closest friends, and it’s always exciting to find out how much money we’re going to be able to donate to AID Atlanta and then who’s going to be crowned Queen.”
Holifield says he and Whitmire expect the ball to break attendance records with over 400 attendees this year. The majority of those attending will arrive in drag, thanks to ticket sales requirements.
$150 escort tickets, which allow the guest to arrive in men’s fancy dress, are available, but sales are limited to 200. The remainder of the attendees purchase $75 Belle tickets, which require the bearer to attend the ball in ladies formal wear.
“It’s such an interesting event and so unique that each year it just builds on itself,” Whitmire says. “It’s so much fun and so different, and that’s truly what keeps the interest and keeps it going.”
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