For more than 65 years, The Links Inc. has dedicated more than 500,000 hours of community service annually and donated over $25 million to charity since 1946.
The Links Inc. is an international, not-for-profit organization, consisting of 12,000 professional women of color in 276 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
As one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer organizations, its mission is to ensure the cultural and economic well-being of African-Americans. Their programs focus on five areas, including: (1) national trends and services, (2) the arts, (3) services to youth, (4) international trends and services, and (5) health and human services.
Debra Simmons Wilson, Home for the Holidays chairperson, said, “I have been looking for ways our local organization could do what our international organization has done. We want to impact lives and transform lives, so that also determined who we reached out to.”
In conjunction with the Indiana Design Center and Christian Theological Seminary, the Circle City Chapter of the Links will host the 15th annual A Home for the Holidays at the historic O’Neal home located at 1040 W. 42nd St. on the CTS campus.
This year’s theme is “A Vintage Holiday” and will feature Central Indiana’s most talented designers, including McNamara Florist, Steve Foxx with John Kirk Furniture, Alpha Blackburn and more. All event proceeds will be contributed to Coburn Place.
The Links will hold a media day onsite Nov. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. On Nov. 21, they will host nationally acclaimed interior designer and guest judge, Sheila Bridges. Recognized by CNN and Time Magazine as “America’s Best Interior Designer,” Bridges will greet visitors and sign copies of her memoir, The Bald Mermaid, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person.
On Nov. 23, an invitation only gala will kick off the official Home for the Holidays opening to acknowledge sponsors and designers at the CTS Commons. Tickets are $50 per person.
As the longest standing holiday house, built in 1929, the English colonial home will be open to the public Nov. 23 through Nov. 26; and Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person.
“I am hoping that all of Central Indiana and beyond will come see this house and be amazed at what designers have done to transform it,” said Wilson. “Ultimately, we want to really be able to bless Coburn Place with part of the proceeds.”
For more information, contact Debra Simmons Wilson at hfh@circlecitylinks.org. Visit the Circle City Chapter of The Links Inc. Facebook page to stay up to date on Home for the Holidays.
