The Orlando Margarita Society was founded in 1983 when 25 Central Florida business and community leaders came together with a simple idea: create an unforgettable holiday celebration where friends could gather while making a meaningful difference in the lives of children who are often overlooked by larger holiday toy drives. What began as a small gathering of just a few hundred guests, featuring little more than potato chips and dip, has grown into one of the Southeast’s most recognized and successful charitable black-tie events.
For more than four decades, the generosity of our invited guests and the dedication of the Orlando Margarita Society Directors have provided well over 100,000 gifts to children throughout Central Florida.
The Directors of the Orlando Margarita Society represent a diverse cross-section of Central Florida’s business and community leaders. While the Ball has grown significantly since its beginning, the mission remains exactly the same as it was in 1983: to host an extraordinary evening of celebration while bringing joy and hope to children who need it most.
The idea behind the Orlando Margarita Ball is unique. The Directors personally fund the cost of producing the Ball each year, allowing every dollar generated through guest participation to directly benefit children in need. With thousands of guests attending and each guest bringing a high-quality gift, a single evening of celebration is transformed into thousands of gifts valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars for children throughout Central Florida.
The morning after the Ball, the Directors gather to sort and organize the gifts before distributing them to carefully vetted children’s organizations throughout Central Florida. As part of our commitment to making sure every gift reaches the children it was intended for, Directors personally attend the charity toy distribution events. This allows us to see firsthand the joy these gifts bring to children during the holiday season.
The Orlando Margarita Society is grateful to every guest, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who has helped make this mission possible for more than four decades. Without your generosity and commitment, this tradition of giving would not continue.
The Orlando Margarita Society is led by a dedicated group of volunteer Directors who donate their time, talents, and leadership throughout the year to organize the Orlando Margarita Ball and continue its mission of helping children in need throughout Central Florida. The following individuals proudly serve as the current Directors of the Orlando Margarita Society.