RHOD Star LeeAnne Locken to Chair PositiviTea benefiting Legacy's Grace Project

Pinky's up, ladies! I hope that you will join me on Sunday, October 21 for PositiviTEA, for a brunch full of inspiration and celebration, benefiting over 200 women of Legacy's Grace Project. This year's tea (there will also be a mimosa bar!) is Chaired by Real Housewives of Dallas star, LeeAnne Locken and will be held at the beautiful Martha Proctor Mack Ballroom at SMU. In addition to brunch, guests will enjoy wonderful entertainment, an exquisite silent auction and hear from inspiring speakers. All proceeds benefit Legacy's Grace Project, the largest conference in the World designed specifically for women living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets & Sponsorships Available at https://cbo.io/legacy/PositiviTea.

Standing Strong At PositiviTea

photos c/o Thomas Garza Photography


PositiviTEA benefitting Legacy Counseling Center took place on Wednesday, November 2nd at the Westin Dallas Hotel co-chaired by Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken and Heidi Dillion. PositiviTEA is Legacy’s way of raising awareness for the number of women in Dallas County living with HIV/AIDS, which currently numbers over 4,000. All proceeds raised through PositiviTEA benefit the Grace Project Conference, the largest conference in the world for living with HIV/AIDS right here in Dallas’ backyard. The conference seeks to support, educate and empower women living with HIV. Among those in attendance were Tina Craig, Jamie O'Banion, Jenny Anchondo, Gina Ginsberg, Carmen Surgent, and Alison Volk. Locken's #RHOD co-stars Brandi Redmond, D'Andra Simmons, and Kameron Westcott were also in attendance. Cameras were rolling so look for this event to be featured on Season Two of the Real Housewives of Dallas next year. 👍🏻

Save The Date: Legacy Counseling’s PositiviTEA

Legacy Counseling Center invites you to attend PositiviTEA, an afternoon of moving performances, important speakers and delicious refreshments sponsored by Galleria Dallas on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 1:30 – 3:30 PM at The Westin Galleria's San Antonio Room. This year's event will be chaired by RHOD's LeeAnne Locken and Heidi Dillon will serve as the Honorary Chair.

PositiviTEA will feature women from Legacy’s Grace Project, which produces the largest conference for women living with HIV/AIDS in the nation. Fans of RHOD will recall that this is the event where LeeAnne spoke publicly about her troubled past and encouraged those in attendance to share their stories to take away the shame and empower other women. This event is an opportunity to meet some of these incredible women and hear their stories and learn why LeeAnne calls the Grace Project and PositiviTEA “a HUGE part of my heart.” And if I had to put money on it, I would bet that there's a good chance cameras will be rolling at this year's event as well. Just sayin'...

Diane Reeve, featured on Oprah and 20/20, will share her riveting story of the betrayal of love transformed into powerful strength. Legacy Executive Director Melissa Grove will share how “all proceeds from this fully-underwritten event will expand and enable year-round, life changing programming for the Grace Project Program and Conference.” A general admission ticket costs $150, and tables are available starting at $1,500. Tickets and tables at www.legacycares.org or call Angela Huddy at (469) 767-6755.

Legacy Counseling’s Tea Party Inspires PositiviTEA

Tiffany Hendra with Helen Turner Goldenberg
photo c/o Tiffany Hendra 

Legacy Counseling held its annual PositiviTEA benefitting the Grace Project Conference on Sunday, March 22nd. The sun-drenched, Dallas afternoon completed the perfect afternoon of tea from The Cultured Cup, delicate bites from Eden Café, friends, and most importantly, empowerment. PositiviTEA is Legacy’s way of raising awareness for the number of women in Dallas County living with HIV/AIDS, which currently numbers over 4,000.

This year, Honorary Chair LeeAnne Locken, a local who recognizes the importance of education of HIV/AIDS education for Dallas women, was this year’s PositiviTEA chair. All proceeds raised through PositiviTEA benefit the Grace Project Conference, the largest conference in the world for living with HIV/AIDS right here in Dallas’ backyard. The conference seeks to support, educate and empower women living with HIV.

Melissa Grove, Ron Brady, LeeAnne Locken
photo c/o Legacy Counseling

Mimosas and champagne started off the event as guests, such as Tiffany Hendra, Cary Dueber, Amanda Ward, Erica Annise and Heidi Snadon, arrived followed by beautiful and delicious finger sandwiches hand made by Eden Café and a delicate and simultaneously bold PositiviTEA blend of tea, provided by Dallasite’s favorite, The Cultured Cup. Guests munched on cucumber, pimento cheese, and salmon sandwiches as women impacted from the Grace Project Conference shared how the Grace Project has changed their lives.

As scones and dessert were brought out, Diane Reeve, a woman who led the charge on securing the conviction of a serial HIV/AIDS infector who knowingly gave her and 12 other women HIV, spoke about how the Grace Project leads to an empowering break in the cycle of isolation for many women who realize their positive status. Diane has been featured on 20/20, and Oprah telling her story.

Helen Goldenberg, another Grace Project woman, shared her testimony at the event. Helen, a Dallas native, spoke passionately on why the Grace Project emboldens women to keep going and never give up. Melissa Grove, Executive Director of Legacy Counseling, had this to say about PositiviTEA and the Grace Project: “Many people do not realize that HIV can affect them, this wonderful event is not just a lovely day, but also an eye-opening experience to all who attend.” For $50.00 Legacy will create a scholarship in your name so that a woman with HIV may attend this life-changing conference. For more information about the Grace Project, or for information on how to donate a scholarship, please visit legacygraceproject.org.


Photos may be republished with credit back to the source as "Photos by Cynthia Smoot of OhSoCynthia.com"

Legacy Counseling gives HIV/AIDS patients in North Texas a new place to call home

The mission of Legacy Counseling is to provide affordable and quality mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and special care housing services to people in the North Texas area who are impacted by HIV/AIDS.

They were lucky enough to recently receive a grant that will help them house people in 24 apartments with HIV/AIDS who find themselves homeless after lengthy hospital stays. "This is really needed because we run into this problem frequently. The grant covers a tiny bit of furniture, but nothing else." said Melissa Grove, Executive Director for Legacy Counseling.  But that Melissa is one crafty gal.

There's a difference between a house and a home and Grove dreamed up a households good drive and competition that she called Ready Set Home! to get the other items needed for their first 10 apartments (sheets, frying pans, towels, etc.) and bring out the interior designer in us all.