The women who chair the Brass Ring Luncheon have a habit of repeating themselves. And that’s OK.
Because whether it’s Florence Ruston, Lisa Corley, Helen Hanks or Georgia Imhoff at the helm – or Jill Behr, Carol Roger, Connie Pohs or Gretchen Pope, for that matter – their announcement that it was another record-breaking year always brings thunderous applause.
It was Sharon Kamen’s turn this time, and on Thursday she maintained tradition by noting that the 840 who had paid a minimum $75 each to attend this benefit for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes had helped raise about $250,000. The money goes to research and patient services at the world-renowned facility started in 1977 by then-Denverites Barbara and Marvin Davis.
Kamen was introduced to the Barbara Davis Center by her friend, Suzy Love, when Love was president of its guild. Kamen got her feet wet by creating specialty baskets to be auctioned on behalf of the center and increased her involvement in guild activities to the point where she was asked to chair its signature fundraiser. Kamen’s husband, Charlie, joined her at the show, as did her daughter and son-in-law, Nicole and Lee, and her sisters Roz and Marcia. Cheri Meagher, along with co-chairs DiAnn Marcotte, Amy Sage, Love and a 19-member committee, rounded up 400 one-of-a-kind items for the silent auction that preceded lunch. Many of the items went for more than their stated value.
Carol Karsh, there with Essie Perlmutter and Gwen Schatz, had her eye on an $895 Gucci handbag, but went on to something else after bids topped $1,000. The eventual winner was Patty Jenkins, who also paid $7,500 for a Celine Dion Las Vegas package (air, hotel, show tickets and a backstage meet-and-greet) that former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers auctioned at the luncheon’s start.
Also generating a lot of attention was Jewels for Hope, a fixed-price sale of costume jewelry donated by guild members and others. Pam Murdock of Mile Hi Tours coordinated this effort.
David Squires and Jessie Ketter of Design Works used red roses to create a welcoming scene in the Marriott City Center ballroom, where guests lunched on butternut squash soup, chicken and berries topped with whipped cream. “I can’t think of anything better on a cold, snowy day than to be inside with your girlfriends having a nice lunch, looking at beautiful fashions and raising money for a very good cause,” said emcee Anne Trujillo of 7News.
The audience wasn’t 100 percent female, though. Presenting sponsor Dick Saunders, attorney Jack Fitzgibbons and John Epke were among the men present. Saunders escorted Judy LaPoint; Fitzgibbons and his wife, Adrienne, headed the corporate committee with Cathy and Peter Culshaw and Judy and Charlie McNeil; and Epke’s wife, Margy, is the guild president.
Others joining in the fun were Katie Stapleton, Cleo Parker Robinson, Lyn Schaffer, Faye Washington, Sally Frerichs, Helenn Franzgrote, Margot Gilbert Frank, Cindi Burge, Nancy Lockspeiser, Wendy Aiello, Nancy Cowee, Ginny Messina, Jean Shepperly, Christel Dikeman, Sharon Whiton Gelt, Dr. Adrienne Stewart, Debbie Gradishar, Herminia Vigil, Joe and Angela Alexis, Roselyn Saunders, Valere Shane, Wanda Fanning, and Edie Marks.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
