Riding a mechanical bull to impress John Travolta in “Urban Cowboy” might have prepared Debra Winger for the thrills and chills she experienced as a passenger in a taxi being driven at breakneck speed through the streets of Calcutta. Or so you’d think.
Speaking to the 1,100 who paid a minimum $200 each to attend Thursday’s CHOICES luncheon at the Colorado Convention Center, Winger described a visit to India in her role as an ambassador for Sight Savers International, an organization working to prevent, cure and provide aid for the visually impaired around the world. She recalled that she calmed her nerves as she sped along by concentrating on a figure of the popular Hindu god Ganesh mounted on the taxi’s dashboard.
Trouble is, she was mistaken about what Ganesh represents. When she remarked to the driver how happy she was to have such a revered protector looking over them, the driver informed her that Ganesh wasn’t a savior god, he was a remover of obstacles. And then he floored it.
CHOICES is the annual fun-and-friend raising event of the Allied Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy Center. It was chaired by Jill Gold, Elin Robbins-Geman and Dottie Resnick, and sponsored by Mercedes-
Benz of Littleton and Wells Fargo Bank. In addition to Winger’s speech, CHOICES included an address by Bizu Riki Mullu and presentation of the Becky Topelson Leadership Award to Sherri Goldstein.
Goldstein co-chaired The Golda award luncheon from 1995-1997, served on the CHOICES steering committee; co-chaired the Super Sunday fundraising effort and served on the Jewish Women’s Philanthropy board. She has also given to Jewish Family Service of Colorado, the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, American Cancer Society, National Jewish Hospital, Rose Women’s Organization, Brokers for Battered Kids, Women’s Interest Network, University Park Elementary School PTA and Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives. In 1995, Goldstein and her husband, Peter, founded a nonprofit called “A Group of Friends.” During each holiday season, it provides students at Fairmount Elementary School in Denver with new toys, books, special holiday meals, clothes and professional entertainment. For this, Sherri and Peter were recognized as Everyday Heroes in 2003 by 7News.
AJF’s Young Women’s Initiative used the occasion to solicit donations for its Mitzvah Project, encouraging guests to donate items essential to daily living that cannot be purchased with food stamps – stuff like diapers, shampoo, baby wipes and laundry, dish and body soap – that will be distributed to local low-income families who are clients of Jewish Family Service of Colorado. Lisa Biederman and Kim Goldstein were the Mitzvah Project chairs.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
