It just wasn’t right, Sue Allon and Andrea Pollack agreed, that there was no charge for guys to attend Allied Jewish Federation’s Men’s Event while women had to buy a ticket to get into CHOICES.
So they did more than just say “tsk-tsk.” They did what Larry Mizel does each year for the Men’s Event and picked up the tab for the luncheon that is now the largest annual gathering of Jewish women in Colorado.
The result was record attendance of 1,100 and a dramatic increase in the individual gifts made to AJF’s annual fundraising campaign. Both CHOICES and the Men’s Event require a minimum gift – $200 in the case of CHOICES – to the campaign.
“We hoped that our gesture would increase attendance,” Allon said, “and both Andrea and I were thrilled to learn that 400 of the women here today are attending their very first CHOICES.”
ABC News correspondent Lynn Sherr, perhaps best known for her reports for the news magazine “20/20,” was the featured speaker. Tammy Schiff and Lisa Belkov-Snyder chaired the event held at the Colorado Convention Center.
The luncheon theme was inspired by Sherr’s book, “Outside the Box.” Pollack was given the honor of introducing Sherr, who shared anecdotes from a career that was almost derailed before it began when newspaper editors to whom she applied dismissed her with a curt “We don’t hire girls.” Eventually she was hired for “the blond seat” on a New York City television newscast, and kept moving upward.
Colorado Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, first lady Jeannie Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper were at CHOICES with Arlene Hirschfeld. State Treasurer Cary Kennedy was there, too, along with AJF leaders Doug Seserman, Debra Weinstein, Dottie Resnick, Don and Debbie Silversmith, Vicki Trachten-Schwartz and Judy Robins.
Also, award recipients Krista Boscoe (Becky Topelson Leadership Award) and Ruth Toltz (Kipnis Wilson-Friedland Award);Joyce Zeff; Essie Perlmutter; Penny Drucker; Carol Karsh; Jackie Yost; Kim Goldstein; Lisa May; Sheila Rudofsky; Sharon Benton; Lenore Rosenblum; Susan Brownstone; Sharon Whiton Gelt; Vicki Agron; Sheila Gutterman; Erin Katz; Laurie Levy; Bei-Lee Gold; Judy Altenberg; Kathy Kaufman; Rita Sobel; Barbara Behrendt; Lisa Thomas; Marci Rosenberg; Gail Kassan; Sandy Vinnik; Ellen Beller; Jill Gold; and Candy Figa.
Denver Post society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.She also contributes at denverpostbloghouse.com/davidson.
More online: Additional pictures from CHOICES at denverpost.com/SeenGallery
