Love is in the air, what with Valentine’s Day and all. So save Tuesday for some quality couples time, but in the meantime, show some love for a worthy cause or two by considering the following benefits:
The 10th anniversary Denver Jewish Film Festival opens today at Mizel Center for Arts and Culture, 350 S. Dahlia St. Festivities begin with a 6 p.m. reception at which former Mayor Federico Peña presents the center’s Cultural Achievement Award to Susan Barnes-Gelt. A screening of “Isn’t This a Time,” starring Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Peter, Paul and Mary, follows. Call 303-316-6360.
A program and book-signing by Jackie Calloway (“Love That Would Not Let Me Go”) hosted by Single Working Mothers of Color begins at noon Saturday at Maggiano’s restaurant in the Denver Pavilions. The $25 admission includes Valentine-themed refreshments.
Bridgeway to Hope, a dinner and auction with entertainment by Chris Daniels and the Kings, begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Belmar Center in Lakewood. It’s a benefit for Bridgeway, a not-for-profit agency serving pregnant teens. CBS 4 anchor Molly Hughes is the honorary chair; Jo Meyers and Murphy Huston of KOSI Radio will emcee; and Gary Corbett will auction such items as a football autographed by John Elway, Frontier Airlines tickets and Jay Feder jewelry. Tickets are $100 at 303-969-0515.
The Swedish Medical Center Auxiliary is having a benefit high tea and fashion show Saturday at Pinehurst Country Club. Styles from Talbots will be modeled; there also will be a boutique. Lynn Bunnell is the chairwoman, and tickets for the 1 p.m. event are $45.
Family HomeStead’s 11th annual fundraiser, For the Love of Denver, begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lakewood Country Club. Dinner, a live auction and dancing to the music of the Delta Sonics follows. Lakewood Mayor Stephen Burkholder is the honorary chairman, and the Apartment Association of Metro Denver will be honored for supporting HomeStead efforts to find permanent homes for homeless families with children. Frederic Lewis will emcee.
Love Is in the Air is the theme for the Denver Heart Ball, a black-tie/red dress dinner, dance and auction that begins with cocktails and a VIP champagne reception, hosted by jeweler John Atencio, at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Dr. Robert Eckel, the American Heart Association’s national president, will attend. Call Clem Connolly, 303-996-8690.
Academy Award-nominated actress Debra Winger delivers the keynote address at CHOICES, the annual outreach luncheon by Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. Also speaking is Bizu Riki Mullu, an Ethiopian-born jewelry designer and president of Chassida Schmella, which helps Ethiopian Jews assimilate into the U.S. Jewish community. She will discuss Operation Promise, a national initiative to bring the remaining Jews in Ethiopia to Israel over the next three years. Operation Promise also cares for elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union. Nancy Gart and Carol Self are chairing CHOICES, which begins at 11 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Colorado Convention Center. Tickets are $50, plus a minimum $200 gift to AJF’s 2006 fundraising campaign. Call Jennah Montag at 303-316-6480.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
