Maybe compassion fatigue hasn’t hit Denver yet, or maybe the city’s givers are immune to it. Whatever the reason, a slowdown in giving was nowhere in sight at the 28th Children’s Hospital Gala.
In fact, the auction, dinner and Blues Brothers concert chaired by David and Bonnie Mandarich was the most successful to date, raising $1.75 million (or $100,000 more than last year) and attracting a record crowd of 1,500-plus. That brought the cumulative total to $20 million.
Live auctions often are the first to suffer when charitable giving begins to wane, but not last Saturday night.
The centerpiece item, a 2006 Volvo XC90 valued at $54,890, was sold not once but twice. After a lively give-and-take between several guests who could see themselves behind the wheel of the vehicle donated by the Colorado Volvo Retailers, Ben Doud offered a winning bid of $54,000.
He then donated the car back to the hospital and it sold again, this time to Liz and Blaine Rollins for $52,000.
The high bids didn’t stop there. Fashion Fantasy, one of three items donated by Neiman Marcus, was an $8,000 package that included 12 pairs of shoes from such top cobblers as Manolo Blahnik, Ferragamo and Giuseppe Zanotti, a dozen pairs of designer sunglasses and a Bottega Veneta handbag. A most generous Rob Ganger snapped it up for – are you ready for this? – $16,000.
That more than made up for the bargains that Richard Helppie and Phil and Kathleen Hicks got on the other Neiman goodies. Helppie paid $9,000 for a $10,000 Caribbean cruise aboard the 138-passenger Yorktown Clipper while the Hickses took home the $8,000 ranch mink coat by Feraud of Paris for $7,000.
David Mandarich, the chief executive at Richmond Homes, seemed to state the obvious when he said chairing the gala had been an “amazing experience” for him and his wife, Bonnie.
Others on the leadership team were dinner coordinators John and Nancy Sevo, and Carl and Carol Vogel; auction chairs Beth Hornstein and Katy Bante; and corporate chairs Lee and Debbi Alpert, Steve and Cindy Farber, Mike and Patty Imhoff, Walt and Christie Isenberg, and Scott and Virginia Reiman. The Reimans will chair the event in 2006.
CBS4 anchor Molly Hughes was mistress of ceremonies and noted that three children from families evacuated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina were among the gala’s special guests. She also said that Children’s has pledged to provide medical treatment to any evacuee children needing it while they are in Denver.
Hughes also introduced the hospital’s 2005 Ambassadors: 13-year-old Joshua Baeza of Greeley; Galen Batson, 12, of Boulder; Whitney Boyce, 7, of Akron; Jordan Davis, 8, of Aurora; Molly Kirk, 13, of Bozeman, Mont.; Jessica Kramer, 11, of Greeley; and Liam Orlando, 5, of Boulder.
The youngsters have undergone successful treatment for conditions ranging from polycystic kidney disease to sickle-cell anemia at Children’s and are willing to share their stories with the public.
The Blues Brothers – in real life, actors Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd – rocked the house, and inspired the sunglasses given as party favors.
Several guests, including Wayne and Debra Berger, their daughter, Sarah, and her date, David Doerner, wore the Brothers’ trademark hats, dark suits and shades, while others opted for haute couture.
Neiman Marcus vice president Christel Dikeman was in champagne-colored silk by Carmen Marc Valvo Couture; past chair Joy Johnson was enveloped in Roberto Cavalli gold; Valere Shane chose Dolce & Gabbana; and Donna Crafton’s navy blue and applique gown was custom made by Gabriel Conroy. Conroy also made Phillip Gray’s tuxedo.
Stockbroker Paul Esserman had attended the 45th reunion of his East High School graduating class the night before the gala; Pam and Ed Diamond were congratulating John and Mary Osborn on the marriage of their son, Mark, to Meredith Coors; and David and Wendy Lee were talking about the Denver Art Museum’s annual wine auction, which she is chairing with Virginia Reiman. It’ll kick off Oct. 5 with an announcement party at Carol Moore’s home.
Others adding to the gala’s festive atmosphere were hospital president Dori Biester; Steve Winesett, who heads the hospital foundation; banker Donald and Susan Sturm; Elaine and Dr. Steve Berman; Molly Broeren and Bill Mosher; Ted and Marsha Alpert; Norm and Sunny Brownstein; Dick Saunders and Judy LaPoint; Steve and Robin Chotin; Rick and Shelly Sapkin; Miles and Jan Cortez; Dr. Jack Cochran of Kaiser Permanente; George and Carolyn Fancher; and Michael and Shereen Pollack, whose Hyde Park Jewelers donated an assortment of jewelry and gift certificates that were auctioned at every table.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
