It’s like the age-old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg: Were David and Bonnie Mandarich asked to chair the 2005 Children’s Hospital Gala before its theme was chosen, or were the prominent homebuilder and his wife picked because Building for Children was the theme?
What matters is they said “yes” and were happy to share why at a launch party held at Elway’s in Cherry Creek.
David, president of MDC Holdings/Richmond American Homes, was a patient at Children’s 55 years ago after an accident that almost cost him an arm; nine years ago, the Gala was the first black-tie event that he and Bonnie attended as a couple.
“When you think of first-class events, the Gala is the template,” Bonnie said, while her husband remarked that the chairmanship of it was an honor the two of them will always cherish. The Sept. 17 dinner and auction stars the Blues Brothers and will be held at Adam’s Mark Hotel.
Approximately 100 people attended the kickoff, enjoying cocktails and hors
d’oeuvres on the patio of the popular steakhouse. VIPs included the hospital’s chief executive, Dori Biester; Steve Winesett, president of the Children’s Hospital Foundation; board of trustees chief Don Elliman; foundation chair Marcy Benson and her husband, Bruce; and dinner coordinators John and Nancy Sevo and Carl and Carol Vogel.
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Kate Sherman, national sales manager for Mpressions Inc., was there with fiancé David Snapp. They’re getting married at the end of this month and, after a honeymoon in Paris and London, will start work on the 34th – and final – It’s a Child’s World luncheon and fashion show.
Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority started the event as a benefit for cancer programs at Children’s, and the grand finale is slated for April 2006. Snapp, top toque at Randolph’s in the Warwick Hotel, was recently featured as Chef of the Month by Colorado Beverage Analyst.
Pam Ruschmeyer was introducing her beau, Corey Helm, who is in surgical sales, while attorney Ellen Stewart said she’ll celebrate her 50th birthday by taking 50 friends and relatives – including her senior-prom date and his wife – for a weekend filled with gourmet food and fine wine.
Other guests were John and Mary Osborn (she’s a member of The Children’s Hospital Foundation board, and their Osborn Family Foundation is a $1 million donor to the hospital’s Imagine the Miracles campaign); Dr. Richard Krugman, dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine; past chair Joy Johnson; Christel Dikeman and Nancy Sagar of Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek; Steve Rosdal, co-owner of Hyde Park jewelers; auction chair Valere Shane; Douglas Kerbs of Fuller Towne & Country Properties; Sylvia Atencio; Steve Chotin; Joe and Billie Silversmith; Bradley Joseph; Wayne and Debra Berger; Robbie Hahn; Grayson Walden and Craig Andrisen; Miles and Jan Cortez; Philip and Andrea Gray; Dan Brown; Judith Ann Newman and Jim Bien; and Mike and Patty Imhoff from the gala’s corporate committee.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-820-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
