Big spenders flock to Las Vegas daily, hoping for a lucky roll of the dice or a good hand of cards. But when Vegas came to Denver in the form of Hospice of Metro Denver’s Mask Project Gala, Steve Chotin called on his worldwide circle of friends to illustrate how the biggest winners aren’t always gamblers.
His pals in Australia, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles and New York weren’t tossing dollars at a craps table or a roulette wheel April 22. They were on the horn to Chotin Group employees who had cellphones pressed to their ears and were shouting out six-figure bids for the mask their boss had commissioned for the gala’s live auction.
In the end, Chotin’s Tel Aviv representative emerged victorious by offering $141,000 for the framed work by artist Charles Wooldridge. That figure is believed to be a record-setter for a Denver auction; in fact, it’s more than some local benefits make in their entirety. It brought the live auction total to an astonishing $216,000 and the total gala proceeds to $800,000.
In addition to Chotin, the ones most blown away by the generous bids were Mask Project founder Mickey Ackerman and honorary chairmen Micky and Louann Miller. The Millers didn’t make a public statement, but Louann’s tears spoke volumes. Ackerman, who was helping Fox 31 anchors Libby Weaver and Ron Zappolo call the auction, was rendered speechless.
“I’ve been doing these for 30 years and have never seen a bid this high,” Zappolo said. “It makes you want to cry.”
The gala was held at Cherry Creek Shopping Center and attracted an estimated 1,100 guests. The chairmen were Ernie Blake and Sharon Magness Blake; Andrew and Denise Hudson; Meyer Saltzman and Geri Bader Saltzman; and John and Andrea Horan.
In addition to the live auction, there was entertainment by imported-from-Vegas Cher, Tina Turner and Elvis impersonators, with “Cher” calling on Wolf and drag queen Nuclia Waste to be her dance-and-vocal backups for “The Shoop Shoop Song” and enlisting opthalmologist Larry Spivak to stand in as “Sonny” for the duo’s “I Got You, Babe.”
Epicurean Catering prepared the food, and there also were vignettes where guests could have their pictures taken alongside “Liberace” at the piano in an Elvis-themed wedding chapel and with scantily clad showgirls.
A silent auction of 25 selected-for-the-occasion masks netted $26,125, with Donald Trump’s New York skyline going for $4,700 and the mask designed and donated by Denver Fire Chief Larry Trujillo fetching $2,500. Other stars of the live auction were Jay Leno’s homage to his 1937 Duesenberg, packaged with a mask from Las Vegas gossip columnist Norm Clarke; a new Vespa scooter that sold for $20,000; and a mask from Re/MAX Realty founders Dave and Gail Liniger that depicted their Sanctuary golf course, which also sold for $20,000. The package originally included three golf foursomes at the private course, but during the bidding Dave Liniger, who was in attendance, generously added two additional foursomes to help the package reach its final price.
Guests were encouraged to wear what they would have for a night on Vegas’ fabled Strip. Josh Hanfling obliged by donning his lounge lizard shirt – a woven metallic number that he left unbuttoned to the navel. Janet Elway, honorary chair for the Faces of Angels masks submitted by children, wore a strapless red gown, while Judi Wolf was a study in pink: sequins, satin and a feather boa. Hospice VP Steve Edmonds commissioned Pat Sauter to copy the signature mask for 2006, which had been done by artist Carleen Francis, onto a silk necktie that he wore to the gala.
Colorado first lady Frances Owens and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper dropped by for a bit, joining such other revelers as shopping center manager Nick LeMasters; Saks Fifth Avenue GM Kay Cline; former gala chairs Carl and Lisa Williams; KBNO Radio chief Zee Ferrufino; dermatologist Richard Asarch and his wife, Elaine; StorageTek’s master of global affairs, Eula Adams, and his wife, Janet; artist Darrell Anderson and his wife, Shawnee; Realtor Diane Huttner; Steve Behling of Collector’s Edge minerals in Golden; Les and Paula Shapiro; David Alexander; Kimi Porterfield and Mike Brown; Kelly Ford and Scott Patrick; Debbie Zucker; Holly Kylberg; Hyla Sloane; and Elizabeth Byrnes Crony and Shana Bastemeyer, founders of the new Hospice of Metro Denver support group, YP … Unmasked.
Hospice of Metro Denver, which began 30 years ago with just three beds, has grown to the point where 500 patients and their families are seen daily. It is considered one of the premier organizations of its type in the Rocky Mountain region, operating a 24-hour care facility and programs that range from teaching medical students about providing quality end-of-life care to preparing children and adults for loss.
Oldies but goodies
The Central City Opera also had a success on its hands with the Denver Antiques Show and Sale, which opened with a cocktail buffet held among the treasures set up at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Many of the guests made a return visit during the show’s weekend run to buy items that had caught their eye during the party.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
