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A Melo Summer Evening was just that: One of those easygoing kind of functions where laughter echoes, tropical libations and a fabulous buffet are served, and everyone luxuriates in the splendor of a lush backyard bordered by mature trees, flowers in full bloom and a tennis court.

It was on that tennis court, though, where five of the 100-plus guests at this benefit for Family Resource Centers worked up quite a sweat.

Wait a second! How does working up a sweat synch with something so elegant and laidback?

For starters, it had nothing to do with tennis.

Photo 1: Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and fiancee La La Vasquez teamed up to host this benefit for Family Resource Centers. Photo 2: The al fresco dinner and auction was held at the Cherry Hills home of Mark and Ellen Schwartz. Photo 3: Walt DeHaven, left, general manager of CBS 4 compliments artist Malcolm Farley as he completes a painting of Carmelo Anthony that was auctioned at the benefit. Photo 4: Hal and Ann Logan were among the 100-plus supporting Family Resource Centers, a charitable organization with 23 facilities across Colorado that promote familiy stability and self-sufficiency. Photo 5: Former District Attorney Norm Early, who brought his son, Kendall, served as the evening’s auctioneer.

Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony and fiancée La La Vasquez were the hosts for this event held at Mark and Ellen Robinson Schwartz’s home in Cherry Hills Village and once everyone had finished an Epicurean Catering feast that featured everything from ribs to sushi, Melo adjourned to the tennis court with Landri Taylor, Arnie Meranski, Syd Downs and brothers Ben and Zachary Schwartz for a friendly game of horse.

The game involves shooting baskets from different positions on the court; for each miss, the player earns a letter in the word “horse” and the first person to earn all five letters is declared the loser. Since A Melo Evening was a fundraiser, each of the contestants paid a minimum $2,500 to go up against the Nuggets forward.

A Melo Evening also was the first time that Anthony and Vasquez, an MTV personality, had teamed up for the same charity. Anthony’s mother, Mary, a member of the Family Resource Centers board, flew in from her home in Baltimore, bringing three of her son’s nieces: Kiyonna, 13, Briyonna, 12, and Iyonna, 10.

Vasquez’s mother, Carmen Surillo, was there too, along with Gaye Weiss, chairwoman of the Family Resource Centers board. Weiss lives in Durango, where she is executive director of the LaPlata Family Center Coalition.

FRC executive director Bill Michaels was joined by board members Charlene Hill, a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Team on Early Childhood Education and the Denver Public Schools Task Force on Early Education and School Readiness; Pat Cortez, senior vice president for Wells Fargo Bank and community vice chair of FRC; and Ellin Keene, a former teacher and literacy consultant.

Others putting their money toward a good cause: Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe and his wife, Peggy; Scott Hastings of Altitude Sports; Dick, Marcia and Eddie Robinson; Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld; Hal and Ann Logan; Sylvia Atencio with pal Lisa Herzlich; Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Nancy Sagar; attorney Bob Kaufman and his wife, Wendy; Devany McNeill; restaurateur Billy Tancredo; Rollie Jordan; Wendy Levine; Kathleen Kortz; and former District Attorney Norm Early with his son, Kendall.

Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.

More online: View additional pictures from A Melo Evening. denverpost.com