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Denver Botanic Gardens Fete des Fleurs
Photo 7: UMB Bank Chairman and CEO Mariner Kemper and his wife,
Photo 13: Former University of Denver Chancellor Dan Ritchie
The Children’s Hospital Buckaroo Ball Photo 19: Children’s Hospital Ambassador Liam Orlando gets a twirl on Photo 20: Lauren Bocci, left, and her sister, Hannah Wiens, sing the
Photo 26: Country music star Clint Black performs.
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It didn’t take long for Fete des Fleurs to grow in popularity; any doubts it would become a perennial favorite of summer were weeded out after its initial planting almost 10 years ago. The benefit is now in full bloom, with the 2005 edition once again helping supporters of the Denver Botanic Gardens mark the transition between summer and fall.
Mary Elliman and Bonnie Grenney chaired the fundraiser, which began with cocktails among the blossoms and blooms. Later, the 400 guests sat down to dinner and an auction in a giant, festively decorated tent.
Elliman’s husband, Don, chairs The Children’s Hospital board of trustees and, with Ron Williams, is heading its $250 million Imagine the Miracles campaign; Grenney’s husband, Paul, is a DBG trustee.
Like so many other organizations, the DBG is making a concerted effort to cultivate young supporters, and the effort seems to be paying off handsomely. Several – including UMB Bank vice president Heather Kemper Miller, Jill Dines and Diana Mead – accepted bids to serve on the event committee while many others purchased tickets for the al fresco affair.
Melinda Couzens was on the Fete committee too, and with her husband, John, the head of Trinity Capital and a DBG trustee, extended an invitation to her cousin, Sarah Anschutz Hunt, and Sarah’s husband, Chris.
Other “next generation” guests included Marcie and Dave Prokupek (he is chief executive at Geronimo Partners); Stephanie and David Tryba (David Owen Tryba Architects); the former owners of Stuart-Buchanan Antiques, Suzanne and Don MacKenzie; Carolyne Hyde, founder and president of Carolyne Hyde & Associates; Liz and Guy Arnold; Caroline and Joe Rassenfoss; Annie and Craig Strazza; Carolyn and Bruce O’Donnell; Mark Miller; Bruce Dines; and Hudson Mead.
Heather Miller’s brother, Mariner, is the chairman and CEO of presenting sponsor UMB Bank, and hosted the benefit’s kickoff party in June at the bank’s art-filled lobby.
Others taking part in An Elegant Night in the Gardens were the chairman of the DBG board, Hal Logan, and his wife, Ann; Lorraine and Harley Higbie (she had chaired the thank-you party for patron-
level supporters held in mid-August at Ann and Vernon Taylor’s Lakewood estate); John and Toni Scully (he is the
DBG’s chief executive); last year’s Fete des Fleurs chair Carol Gossard; lifetime trustee Dick Kirk and his wife, Susan; Gold Sponsors Bruce and Marcy Benson; Buck and Janie Hutchison; Walt and Georgia Imhoff; Steve Edmonds; Ed and Pam Diamond; Margaret and Dr. Rick Garbe; George and Gail Johnson; Paul and Patricia Dudzic; Terri and Dr. John Biddinger; Meg Armstrong; Marty and Dr. Ole Jensen and Bill and Sally Harvey.
Supporters saddle up
While long gowns and tuxedos were de rigueur for Fete des Fleurs, cowboy boots and jeans were the choice for those who moseyed on down to Wiens Ranch for the 2005 Buckaroo Ball.
This benefit for The Children’s Hospital was Western through and through, from the late-afternoon, cutting-horse demonstrations to the barbecue-and-
beans Footers Catering prepared for the buffet supper that preceded a Double D Ranchwear fashion show and Clint Black concert.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
