This year’s Runway Red, Matthew 25’s signature event, will be dedicated to a patient who started coming to the clinic in its very early days and recently died.
Steven Anderson, an Owensboro native, began coming to Matthew 25 when the clinic was located in a detached one-car garage behind the Zion United Church of Christ on First Street, said Rachel Trout, the outreach and development coordinator for the organization.
Matthew 25 opened in 1996, and at that time, Anderson had to pass by protesters to get to the clinic, said Trout. Anderson died last year, Trout said.
During the Runway Red event on March 1 at the Preston Arts Center, Anderson’s family will be in attendance and there will be a formal dedication in his honor. Additionally, a seat will be kept open for him. An acapella version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” will be performed by Gina Moore for him, Trout said.
Information about patients isn’t typically shared, Trout added, but Anderson was open about his status and his family has said they are honored about the dedication.
Runway Red has grown into a major philanthropic event each year in Henderson, with the proceeds going to support all the services that Matthew 25 provides, including the organization’s sustainability. Two major goals of Matthew 25 are to assist in getting patient medication and to eliminate any barriers to healthcare for those who have HIV or are at-risk of getting HIV, Trout said.
Matthew 25 serves 835 clients in 25 counties in western Kentucky and 12 counties in southern Indiana, said Trout. It recently added a pharmacy in Evansville to serve its clients.
According to a past Hendersonian article, in 2022, 320 guests came to Runway Red and $22,000 was raised; in 2023, 371 guests came to the event and $27,000 was raised. Last year—the event’s first at the Preston Arts Center—640 guests attended and $45,000 was raised, Trout said.
Of course, the goal is for more this year. “That would be ideal,” Trout said.
As of Monday, 380 have signed up for tickets. But typically, ticket sales increase the last couple weeks, she said. Chad Benefield of WBKR will emcee the event as he did last year.
Of those sales, 220 VIP tickets—at $75 each—have sold, which is a sellout.
VIP ticket holders will arrive at 5 p.m. and experience a red carpet, paparazzi type experience, followed by a dinner put on by local restaurants, Farmer & Frenchman, Homers, Hometown Roots, Cap & Cork, Rookies and Thomason’s Barbecue, which is also the presenting sponsor for the event.
Doors open for general admission tickets at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. There’s also silent auction featuring nice bourbons, and dessert sampling from several area bakeries and individual bakers, Trout said.
The show includes 36 different local models strutting their stuff on the PAC stage. Twelve different boutiques will each outfit three models, Trout said.
To learn more about the event and order tickets, go to https://donorbox.org/events/704680
Additionally, Trout said models are in a “friendly fundraising competition” and she encouraged people to choose a favorite model when purchasing tickets. She said the model who raises the most money will be crowned King or Queen of the Runway.
The models this year are Dr. Amber Koon, Brit Van Laeken, Gelina Mascoe, Vera Williams, Swan Yarbrough, April Johnson, Chris Hartman, Lee Jordan, Coleman Tramill, Dr. Kate Baker, Tennille Oliver, Madison Vindhurst, Erin Spence, Dawn Schwindel, Kensington Eck, Nivea Carter, Gabriella Ludwig, Kamryn Trout, Paige Danks, Janet Todd, Tori Todd, Ely Sena-Martin, Riley Hamilton, Jada Hamby, Shawn Royster, Bianca Snyder, Meredith Powell, Gus Gentry, Isla Scheffer, Eloise Laramie, Elizabeth Tappan, Hailey Johnson, Carrie Gentry, Jamie Liles and Kendi Speakes.
Those 36 models will wear fashions from 12 different boutiques, ten of which are Henderson businesses. The stores are Elite Downtown, Tip Top Design, Beach Bum Farms, The Olive Leaf, Sweet Peas, Olive & Mae, Radiant Sun, Hattie James Bridal, William Gray Haberdashery and Landy Lane Boutique, all of which are located in Henderson. A Wild Hare Boutique from Morganfield and Catos Fashion from Evansville will also provide styles for the models, said Trout.
