It wasn’t just the decor that gave the Children’s Hospital Gala a whole new look this year. BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt of Bouquets worked their customary magic, giving the Plaza Ballroom of the Adam’s Mark an ethereal feel, but an influx of 20- and 30-somethings gave the benefit a fresh, new vibe.
Many of them are the children of Denver’s social establishment; others are recent transplants from both coasts and are eager to support worthy causes in their new community. Together, they added new energy to a benefit steeped in tradition.
Some had been invited by event chairs Scott and Virginia Reiman – or the 2007 leaders Kelly and Michael Kennedy – two couples leading the way for the next generation of philanthropists. Kelly Kennedy’s parents, Charlie and Diane Gallagher, are among Denver’s quiet philanthropists and Charlie helped boost the gala’s bottom line by placing a high bid of $9,500 for one of the live auction items, a Fashionista Fantasy package donated by Neiman Marcus and La Fontaine Aesthetics.
What the Future Holds was the theme for this dinner-dance that had 1,450 guests and a record profit of $2.3 million. Huey Lewis and the News provided the entertainment.
One tradition that seems to have taken hold has to do with the auction of a new Volvo. As he did last year, Ben Doud placed the initial winning bid ($46,000 for a 2007 Volvo C70 worth $46,070) and then donated the car back to the hospital. In the second go-round, Jerrel Armstrong was handed the keys after offering $39,500. Doud also paid $15,000 to give pal Jack Overstreet the chance to sing one song with Lewis, but Michael Whalen knew his daughter, Kelsey, also had her heart set on doing the same so he put up a second $15,000 so that she could. Elizabeth Milias and Sue Shaffer were the auction coordinators.
So who all was there? Hospital board chairman Don Kortz and his wife, Mary Lou, for starters, along with chief executive Dori Biester; Children’s Hospital Foundation chief Marcy Benson and her husband, Bruce; King Soopers president Russ Dispense and his wife, Debbie; and corporate committee chairs Lisa and Bruce Alexander, Bridget and John Grier, Patty and Michael Imhoff, Cindy and Steve Farber and Christie and Walter Isenberg.
Also, Steve Rosdal and Michael Pollack, whose Hyde Park Jewelers donated the sparklers that were auctioned at each table; Don and Suzanne Mackenzie; Roger and Dee Dee Parker; John and Martha Gart; Alex and Joanna Ringsby; Guy and Liz Arnold; Steve and Megan Shoflick; Richard and Pam Bard; Craig and Ann Strazza; Dick and Cathey Finlon; Rick and Janie Stoddard; Carol and Dr. Rick Abrams; Skip and Nancy Miller.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
