Shiver me timbers: Beacon Center’s 2006 Cherish the Children Gala is heading toward the Caribbean – with a band of pirates in hot pursuit.
Well, maybe “in hot pursuit” isn’t the right way to describe it, because the May 30 event will have a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme and every Capt. Jack Sparrow wannabe that comes aboard in support of the center and its efforts to put troubled teens on the right path will get an enthusiastic welcome from chair Sharon Sweeney and her crew.
Plans for the gala were announced at a recent brunch hosted by guild founder and president Annabel Bowlen at her Cherry Hills home. The guild board also thanked continuing members and greeted those new to the fold. The 100-plus guests were treated to brunch catered by Epicurean and the opportunity to shop from a dozen or so specialty vendors who pledged 20 percent of their sales to Beacon Center.
Women with visions of Keira Knightley dancing in their heads (the British actress was Elizabeth Swann in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”) could choose from sparkling accessories from Designs by Effie; glam dresses and gowns by Chun Ards of Chun’s Custom Designs; or pink chinchilla wraps from Andrisen Morton Women’s.
Beacon Center’s executive director, Anne Robinson, announced that Edie Marks will be honored at the gala, receiving the guild’s Golden Cherub award. A Realtor with The Kentwood Co., Marks, along with her husband, Mort, and daughters Lori Connors and Elise Gruitch, have attended almost every fundraiser that the guild has sponsored. In addition, she has been known to take the microphone – in the days before uber-auctioneer Gary Corbett came aboard – to help run the prices higher when bidding in the gala’s live auction simmered instead of sizzled.
The 2005 award recipients, Marc Roth and Jim Pfister, also attended the brunch, as did Bowlen’s three daughters, Brittany, Christianna and Annabel Jr. Shelly DeHaven, the gala’s immediate past chair, was there too, along with Diane Huttner, Kathy Rubin, Holly Kylberg, Gail Doby, Shellie Munn, Stephanie Doss, Gayle Novak, Melly Kinnard, Ruth Beriault and Pam Duke.
Names in the news
Jim Garcia, director of admissions at Arrupe Jesuit High School and a founder of La Clinica Tepeyac, has received the first Archbishop Jose H. Gomez Amistad Award for Social Justice. … Joan Gabrielson is the new executive director of Excelsior Youth Center, replacing Bill Gregory, who retires Dec. 31 following 32 years at the helm of this Aurora-based residential treatment facility for girls.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
