After five years in Dallas, the Botham Jean Foundation Red Tie Gala will be hosted in Saint Lucia for the first time. The event is set for 6 p.m. on September 28 at Sandals Grande, one day before what would have been Botham Jean’s 34th birthday.
Botham Jean, a Saint Lucian who worked as an accountant in Dallas, died in 2018 when an off-duty police officer entered his apartment and fatally shot him.
The gala, often framed as a birthday celebration, is the foundation’s chief fundraising event and supports its philanthropic work. The foundation carries forward Botham’s legacy of giving back, a value he embraced from a young age.
Funds raised through the gala go towards outreach initiatives in Saint Lucia and the United States. Beneficiaries include organisations such as the Saint Lucia Boys Training Centre, New Beginnings Transit Home, senior citizens’ homes, homeless shelters, and non-traditional skills training programmes for students across the country. The foundation also awards scholarships and provides food donations in the U.S.
“This year we provided assistance to the Council for People with Disabilities and we also hosted a retreat for mothers who lost their children. It was under the theme ‘Hearts United in Loss’,” said Allison Jean, mother of the late Botham.
While the Dallas galas regularly drew hundreds of attendees, the gala will make its debut in Saint Lucia this month.
“In Dallas, we’ve had in excess of 300 people attend,” Jean said.
“So far, I could say we’ve had successful years. So, I’m hoping that Saint Lucia doesn’t let us down and really give us the same energy we’ve gotten from Dallas.”
Jean noted that people from the United States and across the Caribbean have already confirmed their attendance. Guests can expect an evening of fine dining, networking, and live performances by Deland St. Jules, Steffi Ann St. Clair, Aldin “Elmo” Norville, and Chazzi Desrivieres.
For Jean, seeing people gather in her son’s memory is deeply moving.
“It is quite heartwarming for me because, as you know, losing Botham has been a very painful experience, so, people who attend the gala, I see them as supporters,” Jean told St. Lucia Times.
“I really appreciate them getting dressed up and coming in celebration, because this is a celebration of his birthday as well.”
Jean added that the foundation continues to welcome sponsorships to offset the high costs of hosting the gala.
Donations can also be made year-round at bothamjeanfoundation.org.
Tickets to this year’s gala can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-botham-jean-foundation-2025-red-tie-gala-tickets-1467408942649.
