The goal, he said, was for Moulin Rouge: The 2007 Beaux Arts Ball to beat the 1999 record of $1.5 million raised for National Jewish Medical & Research Center. And as David Engleberg continued speaking at the kickoff for this Jan. 20 event, it became increasingly clear that the whole thing was possible.
Engleberg, who is wrapping up his term as chair of the National Jewish board, said that $542,000 already is in the bank. This time last year, $350,000 was in hand. The money includes the sale of four $50,000 tables (to Rich Baer, Carol and Joel Farkas, Charlie Gallagher and Kristin and Don Provost); a gift of $37,500 from Kristin and Blair Richardson; and $25,000 donations from Mark King, Bill Hornaday, Marcia and Dick Robinson and Meghan and Evan Zucker.
Thirty-two other significant amounts have been received, including those from Mark Brown, Bob Kaufman, Michael Van Gilder, Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld, Don Kortz, Ellen Stewart, Sol Leftin, Norm Brownstein, Michael Pollak and Michael Cook.
“As anyone who has been to a Beaux Arts Ball knows, it’s not your usual night of rubber chicken and lengthy speeches,” Engleberg continued. “We have great food and fabulous entertainment in a spectacular setting.”
The kickoff party certainly provided a glimpse of what’s to come. The donors, committee chiefs and honorees gathered at one of Denver’s most elegant homes for cocktails, tenderloin and jumbo shrimp donated by Marc Steron of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, music by Rue Jazz and a cake in honor of Marcia Robinson’s birthday.
Marcia and her husband, Dick, are among the community leaders being honored as grand marshals of the ball. Other grand marshals are the Provosts (Alberta Development Partners); the Richardsons (Bow River Capital); and Kelly and K.C. Gallagher (Gallagher Industries).
The Richardsons also are donating one of the four big-ticket items being auctioned at the ball. It’s a trip to the Kentucky Derby that includes use of a private jet, limousine and six clubhouse tickets. Another auction item is a $10,000 Zandra Rhodes mink coat, donated by Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek. The store is showing further support with a window display and an evening gown fashion show on Nov. 1.
Guests at the kickoff included the hospital’s chief executive, Dr. Michael Salem; Bob and Kalleen Malone; Eddie and Susan Robinson; Dick Saunders; Bob and Paulette Brody; Don Kortz; Bill and Bei-Lee Gold; Josh Hanfling; and Steve Rosdal, who almost had heart failure when it was announced that his Hyde Park Jewelers would be donating a 17-carat yellow diamond for the auction. The store is giving a piece of jewelry for the auction, Rosdal said, “but it won’t be quite that big!”
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com. She also has a daily post at denverpostbloghouse.com/davidson.More online: Additional pictures from the Beaux Arts Ball kickoff denverpost.com/society.
