Not just anyone can brag about having appeared on stage at Denver’s gorgeous new Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Sopranos and tenors, yes. Ditto for actors, musicians – and several hundred friends of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, otherwise known as The Center.
They weren’t there to perform – unless, of course, you count some of the moves we saw at the dance that followed – but to help The Center celebrate its 30th anniversary by presenting the Phil Nash Community Service Award to Tim Gill. The founder, former chairman and chief technology officer of software giant Quark was recognized for his longstanding commitment to equal rights.
Becky Randolph and Dr. Dean Prina chaired the sold-out event; Kevin Taylor at the Opera House catered the dinner; and the exquisite centerpieces were courtesy of Bouquets.
The Center was the support agency for gay and lesbian Coloradans, and was established in 1976. It hosted Denver’s first gay pride parade that year, attracting a crowd of 200. Today, The Center has a staff of 12, a $1 million budget and has expanded its services to include the transgender community. The parade is now a two-day Pridefest attended by an estimated 200,000.
Phil Nash, the award’s namesake, was one of the founders and attended the celebration with such other VIPs as Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and his wife, Maggie; Denver City Councilwoman Carol Boigon; County Court Judge Mary Celeste; and state Senate candidate Chris Romer.
Others lending their support were Planned Parenthood CEO Vicki Cowart; Janus Foundation chief Casey Cortese; Mile High Red Cross president Christine Benero; Rose Community Foundation execs Sheila Bugdanowitz and Elsa Holguin; Scott Coors and Dr. David Hurt; Project Angel Heart director Erin Pulling; interior designers Marc Roth and Jim Pfister; Small Business Administration director Patricia Barela Rivera; Holly Kylberg; Mitchell Right; Douglas Kerbs; Ben Aguilar; Charlie Price; Lance Vigil; Ed Bronfin; Bud Hill; Fred and Jana Bartlit; Kathi Brock; Barbara Jones and Ann Dunnewald; Morris Price; Kimi Kondo and Carol Avery; Ted Trimpa; Jeff Julin and Mike Gaughan; and The Center’s executive director, Judy Calhoun.
Just the facts
Sign-ups are now being accepted for the second annual Michael S. Jacobs Memorial Golf Tournament July 28 at Fossil Trace in Golden. It’s hosted by Slammers Baseball and the Meningioma Mommas, with Highlands Ranch residents Mark and Liz Holzemer, attorney Craig Silverman, the Ed Berman family, John Elway Dodge and former Denver Police Chief Ari Zavaras and his wife, Kathy, included as sponsors. Proceeds fund the college baseball and golf scholarships awarded by the Michael S. Jacobs Foundation, and go to help meningioma brain tumor patients. Call 303-988-7426 or visit msjfoundation.org … Elizabeth Byrnes Crony, formerly president of Blacktie-Colorado.com, is the new executive director of The Greatest Generations Foundation and will introduce her Denver friends to the organization July 20 at a cocktail reception at the Wellshire Inn. KOA Radio’s Steffan Tubbs emcees the 6:30 p.m. event; RSVP to 720-272-5868 … Allied Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Center sends word that Robin Chotin is the recipient of the 2006 Golda Meir Award and will be feted at a luncheon Aug. 23 at Green Gables Country Club.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
