CHI O CHRISTMAS RETURNS

Spending Spending for a Cause for a Cause

A CHARITABLE MARKET SUPERCHARGES HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR FOUR DAYS EVERY NOVEMBER

By David Muscari

With origins that date back nearly half a century, the annual Chi Omega Christmas Market is a festive seasonal tradition for bargain hunters.

It’s a layer cake of shopping delights where consumers kickstart their holiday cravings with treasures ranging from snappy fashions and decorations to gourmet items and more.

Organized by alumnae of the collegiate sorority, the 45th edition of the Chi Omega Christmas Market runs Nov. 16-19 at Fair Park in the Automobile Building on the west side of the esplanade, with an expected 300 booths and some 220 merchants.

“You can find anything from a pencil to a fur coat,” says Karen Dower, cochair of this year’s event. “We have clothing for men, women, and children, jewelry at all price points, accessories, toys, books, and gifts for children, plus holiday decorations for all seasons.”

This year, Lucchese Boots will be among the vendors, she adds.

Jamie Hare, a sales executive and Chi Omega alum, has attended the market for a decade or more, collecting cute clothes, gifts for friends, personalized items, comical T-shirts, and stocking stuffers.

“Four of us go together every year to kick off the holiday season,” she enthuses. Similarly, sales representative

Shannon Dawson and a co-worker have been regulars on opening night for at least five years. “It’s a tradition,” Dawson says.

“We go together and try to knock out gifts for colleagues and clients, have cocktails, and always run into friends and compare finds. It’s like a party with shopping.”

Chi Omega alumnae Susan Portwood and husband Doug consider their visit as “together time.”

Some of Susan’s favorite finds have been embroidered Christmas shirts, gourmet chocolates, personalized children’s pillows, a wooden reindeer, handmade Christmas figures, and a Mrs. Claus costume.

It takes about four hours to walk the whole show, she estimates.

“If you see something you know you want, buy it immediately,” she advises. “It’ll likely be gone if you wait.”

The Chi Omega Alumnae of Dallas launched the market in 1978 at the Dallas Convention Center with fewer than 50 booths and raised $13,250 for charity.

It has since grown into Chi Omega’s largest annual philanthropic event nationwide.

“We have clothing for men, women, and children, jewelry at all price points, accessories, toys, books, and gifts for children, plus holiday decorations for all seasons.”

Over the years, the market has supplied $9.6 million to 136 local nonprofits, funding local neonatal rooms, a breast-screening van, women’s shelters, infrared listening systems for the hearing impaired, a poison-control center, scholarships, and much more.

It has reached impressive benchmarks, distributing $560,000 to charities in 2019 and $501,312 last year. The market was held virtually in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A generous spirit of volunteerism is what makes the event extra special.

“Our paid staff consists of one person who works about 15 hours a week helping on administration,” Dower points out.

The sorority alumnae plan, support, and operate the market each year.

They invite members of Chi Omega collegiate chapters in the area to help out, including students at Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, and Baylor University.

“This year, we have committee cochairs who range from 27 to 77 years of age,” Dower says. “Blending the talents of our entire membership into one event has allowed us to enhance our presence in the community.”

Dower believes the volunteers make inspirational connections over the years.

“We are definitely multi-generational,” she explains. “For example, our 2020 chairs were a mother and her two daughters. A pair of identical twins co-chaired back-to-back markets in 2018 and 2019.” The market has welcomed multiple mother-daughter duos as well as grandmothergranddaughter and mother-in-law-daughterin-law teams, sisters and cousins who work on committees, volunteer, and attend the market.

Merchants also get into the spirit. They all donate several $50 gift certificates for goods at their respective booths. Shoppers can buy the certificates for $25 and redeem them for $50 worth of merchandise.

General admission tickets are sold online at chiomegaxmas.org, at the door, and at Tom Thumb grocery stores. Valet parking is available along with complimentary tote bags. Carts and strollers are permitted.

“There is a mother’s room for those with infants,” says Dower. “And Santa will be available for pictures.”

This year’s beneficiaries are Bryan’s House, Cafe Momentum, Dallas CASA, Dallas Children’s Theater, Exodus Ministries, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Make-AWish North Texas, Metrocrest Services, Mosaic Family Services, Readers 2 Leaders, The Warren Center, and WesleyRankin Community Center.

Nationwide, Chi Omega has raised over $30 million dollars since 2002, supplied over a million volunteer hours, and granted more than 2,700 wishes for Make-A-Wish Kids and their families.