Party Time with Joan Lloyd

No one throws a party like Joan Lloyd. 

This became abundantly clear in 2016 when she organized Town Square’s inaugural White Hot Party, Town Square’s biggest annual fundraiser. Since its inception, the White Hot Party has raised funds to keep the commercial kitchen thriving, build Mill Pond Terrace and get us through the pandemic. In addition, it supports programs for kids, the arts, food and markets and health and wellness.

The idea for the fundraiser was inspired by a similar charity event Joan had attended in Milwaukee. 

“All I knew was everyone was supposed to wear white and it was held at an elegant, wonderful home. And it was packed. People were having a great time for a great cause,” Joan said. “I came back thinking we should do an event like that at Town Square because it brings people together which is what we are all about.”

As a volunteer member of Town Square’s Weed Team who had also assisted with the Town Square/Green Lake Renewal merger, Joan believed the time was right to host a “friend-raiser and fundraiser” for the growing community center. She pitched the idea to the board of directors and they decided to take a chance. 

Although she had never planned events before, Joan had spent her career as a management consultant and facilitator specializing in executive and team development, so coordinating a large fundraiser felt natural.

The first White Hot Party was held at the Maplewood spec home of Dave Armstrong and welcomed about 100 guests, all dressed in white. 

“When people arrived at the first one, they commented on how elegant it was, yet not fussy, and how simple it was to just wear white,” Joan remembered. “It was level-setting, egalitarian. It didn't matter who you were or where you were from, everyone was in white from tuxedos to t-shirts.”

The event, which is organized by a team of volunteers, has served as a way to showcase people connected to Town Square. Culinary entrepreneurs who have launched from the commercial kitchen have catered the party. Board members serve as bartenders which allows them an opportunity to interact with the community. 

Over the years, the White Hot Party has been hosted at the homes of various Town Square supporters. It has grown since its first year to host more than 200 of Town Square’s most dedicated supporters. This year, the party is coming back to where it all started - Town Square. 

“We are having it here at Town Square because we are celebrating 10 years of making this place special, the heart of the community. Where better than right on Mill Pond Terrace which the White Hot Party helped raise money for just a couple years ago? It all comes full circle,” Joan said.

Town Square is 100 percent community-supported, which means it is completely funded by donations like those raised through the White Hot Party. 

“The real outcome from all this is it really helped this community come together to build something together. When you can tangibly see what's being built, that's pretty exciting,” Joan said. “It feeds the success and grows the momentum. We would not be here without that kind of community involvement. This is something we wanted and we built.”

White Hot Party Hosts Through the Ages

2016 - David Armstrong

2017 - Rip and Sue Suster

2018 - Joe and Tina Pregont 

2019 - Peter and Nancy Vandervelde

2020 - Boat Party

2021- Mike and Jean Regan

2022 - Town Square at Mill Pond Terrace. Get tickets!