The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado celebrated its 10th anniversary by staging a gala at which Lakewood Mayor Steve Burkholder was given the Outstanding Public Official Award for 2006.
In addition, the Pikes Peak Library District was honored as the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization and Lon Matejczyk, publisher of the Colorado Springs Business Journal, received the Outstanding Business Supporter Award.
The 200-some guests also were treated to the premiere of a video about the Gay & Lesbian Fund’s first decade of service. Since 1996, the fund has awarded some $18 million to hundreds of Colorado nonprofits devoted to increasing equality and quality of life through arts and culture, civic leadership, healthy families, and public broadcasting.
In addition to financial support, the fund also helps nonprofits achieve their missions by providing consulting services, workshops and seminars, networking services, community forums and meeting space.
Executive director Mary Lou Makepeace says “A lot has changed in Colorado’s nonprofit community over the past 10 years, and those changes have made (our) role more vital than ever. (We) Play a critical role in providing resources that support nonprofit services to communities around the state, and everyone who attended our anniversary event shares our commitment.”
Other good stuff
Kathy Falk Flores and her daughters have opened Le Petit Cadeau at 260 S. Downing St. It’s stocked with gift items for babies and children, including smocked clothing, blankets, baby bags and silver.
Jan. 18 is the date for the Denver Heart Ball’s John Atencio Patron Party; it begins at 6 p.m. in the St. John Boutique, 3170 E. Second Ave. in Cherry Creek North. Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons and her husband, Jack, are chairing it. The ball itself is at the Adam’s Mark on Feb. 10 with Lyn and Dr. Michael Schaffer leading a committee that includes Joe and Helenn Franzgrote (honorary chairs); Jim Conley and Jim Fullerton (sponsorships); Roxanne Marati and Jeff Brown (auction); and Stephanie Jackson (decor).
The Colorado Judicial Institute presented its Judicial Independence Award for 2006 to former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis. She is now executive director of the University of Denver’s Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. The court’s chief justice, Mary Mullarky, presented the award at the CJI’s fourth annual dinner; she also gave Judicial Excellence awards to 10th District Court Chief Judge C. Dennis Maes of Pueblo County; Weld County Court Judge Lynn Karowsky; and 18th Judicial District Magistrate Louis Gresh. Thomas Phillips, former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, was the keynote speaker for this event chaired by CJI board members M. Gordon Butz and Patricia Cordova, attended by 450 and held at the Marriott City Center.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.
