The promise of driving off in a 2006 Porsche Boxter helped make the Pink Ribbon Foundation’s sixth fundraising gala a record-breaker, but it took a long-distance call to Georgia to give the winner the good news.
When none of the 250-plus guests responded to the ticket number called out by emcees Susie Wargin and Kirk Montgomery during this dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center, the 9News colleagues took a closer look at the stub and discovered it belonged to a fellow who lives in Georgia. He’d purchased the chance from a relative who works at the University of Colorado Hospital’s Anschutz Cancer Pavilion.
So hospital staffer Ben Meyerhoff hauled out his trusty cellphone and dialed. It was midnight in Georgia when the call was placed, but when “Jim,” the winner, picked up, Meyerhoff punched the speaker phone button so everyone could listen in. “You’re kidding! You’re totally lying,” Jim exclaimed to an eruption of laughter and applause from the crowd. He also said he’d fly to Colorado and drive his new wheels home.
The Pink Ribbon Foundation raises money to improve the quality of care for patients undergoing treatment at the University of Colorado Hospital’s Anschutz Cancer Pavilion.
Founder Ann Marie Foonberg and president Laurie Hicks were pleased with the number of high-profile Coloradans turning out for the gala. Supporters included Hicks’ husband, Don, the owner of Shortline Automotive and Porsche of Colorado Springs; Joe Nunnery of Subaru; Lonnie Porter, Regis University’s head basketball coach and founder of the Porter Billups Leadership Academy; Joe Haddow of Key Bank Auto Finance; oil moguls John and Mariann Martin; Wargin’s husband, Mike Best; and Mad About Fitness owner Jane Hastings.
John Clatworthy and Bill Smyth called an auction that sent guests diving into their wallets to buy such big-ticket items as jewelry from Cartier and Hyde Park; a car donated by Subaru Southwest Region; trips to the Hamptons and Bahamas; and a Lasik eye procedure by Dr. Rich Davidson of the University of Colorado Hospital.
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Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, formerly of Denver, returns to the Mile High City today to take part in an awards dinner named for him. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Centro San Juan Diego, 2830 Lawrence St. Juan Carlos Hernandez, Salvador Varela and the Catholic Foundation will be honored at the $100-a-ticket event that will be presided over by Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput. 7News anchor Anne Trujillo is the emcee; Ransoli y Camacho will provide the entertaiment. Call Virginia Longoria, 303-295-9470, ext. 104 … A “bling auction” at 6 p.m. Saturday provides a sparkly beginning to the annual Cleo Parker Dance Gala. The dinner-dance takes place in the Colorado Convention Center’s Korbel Ballroom; Denver Post editor Greg Moore and his wife Nina are the chairmen. Call 303-295-1759, ext. 14.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. She also has a daily post at denverpostbloghouse.com/davidson.
