Cute kids selling grape and lime suckers on behalf of the Shaka Franklin Foundation’s Lollipop Guild weren’t the only sweet touch to the 14th Love Our Children Luncheon.
The other was a gift from First Data senior executive Fred Niehaus, who surprised founder Les Franklin – not to mention the 800-some guests – by presenting a $50,000 check from First Data/Western Union. The money, Niehaus said, is to “help close the gap” on the final payments due on an ice skating rink that the foundation is building at 51st Avenue and Broadway.
The Shaka Franklin Foundation was started following the suicide of Franklin’s teenage son. Its programs are dedicated to providing healthy alternatives to young people overwhelmed by life’s ups and downs.
Ice skating is a particular interest of Les Franklin’s, and he uses the sport to give youngsters the vigorous exercise that can help lift depression and the opportunity to set and achieve personal goals.
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Denver Post editor Gregory Moore chaired the luncheon held at the Marriott City Center. Mayor John Hickenlooper was the keynote speaker, and remarks were also delivered by Jose Silva, the foundation’s 1997 Chuck Stevinson Profile of Courage Award recipient.
CBS 4 news anchor Stephanie Riggs emceed the proceedings with Alexander Austin, a 17-year-old senior at Dakota Ridge High School. Both Austin and his mother, Dy, volunteer with the Franklin Foundation and Alex, a straight-A student, is a nationally ranked figure skater.
Their duties included introducing the 2005 award recipients: Sandra Seale, Overland High School’s assistant principal for instruction, Outstanding Educator and Volunteer; Rod and Amy Dupays, Volunteers of the Year; American Family Insurance, Outstanding Corporate Citizen; Hazel Whitsett, cofounder and executive director of the Northeast Women’s Center, Education for Women Award; Vincent Bricault, captain of the Colorado Rampage hockey team, Outstanding Leadership; and Denver chapter of the Links Inc., Service to Community.
Among the guests were Lollipop Guild cofounder Victoria Haynes; Franklin Foundation board members Bob Willis, Marietta Curtis, Dr. Ken Crichlow and Claudie Minor; national board members Evie Dennis, Reynie Ortiz and Skip Spensley; federal judge Wiley Daniel; former city attorney Wally Wortham; musician Charlie Burrell; Sylvester Talley, owner of Coffees, Etc.; Sarah Hite; Ruth Denny; Dora Lodwick; Janice Mirshab; Dianne Briscoe; Heather Martin, whose husband, Kenyon, plays for the Denver Nuggets; Nancy Sagar; Kay Cline; and the foundation’s heart and soul, Les’ wife, Marianne Franklin.
Also, Urban League president Sharon Alexander Holt; Wanda Beauman; Barbara Williams; retired Colorado State University President Al Yates and his wife, Ann; and Denver Housing Authority chief Sal Carpio.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-820-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
More online: Additional pictures from the Shaka Franklin Foundation Luncheon. www.denverpost.com
