The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary is gearing up for its 74th Annual Christmas Luncheon and Fashion Show on December 1, bringing together Tulsa volunteers, local news personalities, and families in need of holiday support. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, located at 6808 South 107th East Avenue, with tickets starting at $100.
A Tradition Nearly Three-Quarters of a Century Old
According to KOKI FOX 23, the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary hosts the annual luncheon and fashion show as a way to bring the community together in support of families who need help during the holidays. The Auxiliary describes itself as a volunteer group that works year-round, putting the funds it raises back into the community. A past FOX23 report on the event's 73rd year had similarly described the fashion show as a tradition that helps unite Tulsans around the cause.
Amanda Curtis, who is serving as event chair for the show and its silent auction, said the luncheon is a fun way to kick off the holiday season and that this year's event will differ somewhat from years past, per the station's report. Curtis also said the Angel Tree program holds personal importance to her. The Angel Tree, a Christmas tree displaying paper slips bearing a person's information and wish list, will be set up at the event so attendees can select a slip and purchase gifts for someone in need.
Local Anchors Trade the News Desk for the Runway
This year's fashion show will feature a lineup of familiar faces from Tulsa television. Evening anchor Shae Rozzi will emcee the event, while fellow evening anchor Nathan Thompson, Tulsa's News Pulse anchor Brenna Rose, sports director Camryn Johnson, and certified meteorologist Laura Mock are all set to model in the show, the same report notes.
Where the Money Goes
Major Charlotte Gargis, area commander with the Salvation Army, said proceeds from the Auxiliary's fundraising go toward meeting community needs, with this year's event proceeds directed to the Women's Auxiliary program. Gargis has also said the organization's Center of Hope serves over 1,000 meals per day, though a separate account from GTR Newspapers put that figure at nearly 1,000 meals daily, or more than 357,000 meals a year — a discrepancy the available reporting does not resolve.
In 2025, the Women's Auxiliary paid for a full month of food at the Center of Hope, underscoring the kind of need the luncheon's proceeds are meant to address. That need has been documented elsewhere: GTR Newspapers reported that 17 percent of all Tulsans live in food-insecure homes, and that meals served at the Center of Hope rose 16 percent in the prior year and 56 percent over the previous decade. The same outlet reported that the Salvation Army partnered with Reasor's on a Freedom from Hunger campaign, during which customers could buy $15 or $25 gift cards between June 21 and July 4 to benefit people using the feeding program.
How This Year Compares to Past Luncheons
The scale of the Auxiliary's fundraising has varied across past events, based on available reporting. A luncheon held Dec. 2 drew 650 guests to the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, where attendees bid on more than 500 silent auction items, according to Tulsa People. That event raised more than $290,000 for Salvation Army programs in Tulsa, and was chaired by Tiffany Egdorf and co-chaired by Amanda Curtis, with modeling duties handled by local news anchors and staff, including KOTV's Jonathan Cooper and Lori Fullbright.
Other FOX23 reporting on the 69th annual version of the luncheon described a fundraiser that typically brings in roughly $175,000 to $220,000 each year, with proceeds going toward programs outside the organization's operating expenses. That same report noted the Tulsa-area Salvation Army serves 30,000 to 33,000 people annually. The available evidence does not establish how much this year's 74th luncheon will raise or whether its proceeds are earmarked for a specific program beyond the Women's Auxiliary program itself.
Getting Involved
Those interested in supporting the cause beyond buying a ticket can look to the Women's Auxiliary itself, which, per the Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command, raises funds for and supports Salvation Army programs across the city and welcomes new members to join its mission. With the luncheon and fashion show now in its 74th year, the Auxiliary's volunteers are hoping Tulsans once again fill the Renaissance Tulsa ballroom and the Angel Tree slips find generous takers before Christmas arrives.
