- No admission charge. Your gift is your admission
- Bring one new, unwrapped toy or gift per guest, $50 minimum value
- Gifts should suit children ages 4 to 18, boy or girl
- Gifts for teens, especially teenage girls, are needed most
- Include batteries or accessories if the gift requires them
- Gift cards to major retailers are acceptable as a last resort
Unlike most black-tie galas, the Orlando Margarita Ball has no admission charge. There are no tickets to purchase and no fundraising auction to participate in. Instead, your admission is simply a new, unwrapped toy or gift for a child in need.
Each guest is asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift with a minimum value of $50. That’s your admission to the Ball. An evening like the Orlando Margarita Ball, featuring live entertainment, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and an elegant black-tie atmosphere, would typically cost $200 or more per person. Rather than purchasing a ticket, your $50 gift goes directly to a child in need, making your contribution far more meaningful than paying an admission fee.
We ask that gifts be appropriate for children 4 to 18 years of age, either for a boy or a girl. Gifts for older children, teens, and especially teenage girls, are consistently in the shortest supply and are especially appreciated. Please do not bring used items or inexpensive novelty gifts. If you’re unsure what to purchase, gift cards to major retailers or general-use Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift cards are acceptable as a last resort.
Please choose something you would be proud to personally give to a child in your own family. Remember that the gift you bring may be the only present that child receives during the holiday season. Consider the quality of the event you’re attending and let your gift reflect the generosity of the evening.
The morning after the Ball, every toy and gift is sorted and distributed to carefully vetted Central Florida charities that serve children who are often overlooked by larger holiday toy drives. Every organization that receives toys from the Orlando Margarita Ball is thoroughly reviewed before being selected, and many applicants are not approved. A member of the Orlando Margarita Ball Board of Directors personally attends the distribution, allowing us to see the gifts placed directly into the hands of the children. We are proud to be one of the few charitable events that can confidently say every donation reaches the child it was intended for.
Finally, please keep the child in mind when selecting your gift. If it requires batteries or other inexpensive accessories to operate, please include them by attaching them to the package. Gifts that require the family to make additional purchases or ongoing financial commitments should be avoided. Simply ask yourself, “Would I be excited to give this to my own child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or another child I love?” If the answer is yes, you’ve chosen well.
