The ever-increasing economic ties between Colorado and South America are cause for celebration; in fact, they helped determine the theme for the 2007 Diplomats Ball.
A benefit for programs of the Institute of International Education’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center, Aventura Sudamerica: A South American Adventure began with the silent auction of over 100 items and continued with dinner, tributes to Gil Cisneros and Morgan Smith, and dancing to the Denver salsa band Quemando.
Chairmen were Mark Savit, managing partner of the Denver office of Patton Boggs, and his wife, Kim Kavrell Savit, former majority senior professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She is now the international business manager for Science Applications International Corp.
Cisneros is the founder of Chamber of the Americas, which promotes trade, understanding, education and business relationships with Latin America for U.S. businesses and citizens. Smith spent 33 years in public service to Colorado before retiring as the state’s director of international trade.
Cisneros was given the Global Colorado Award while Smith received the Citizen Diplomat Award.
Many members of the Colorado Consular Corps were on hand for the ball, as were several South American dignitaries who had taken part in an IIE-sponsored seminar on energy and natural resource partnerships that had been held earlier in the day.
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The second annual Dragon Boat Gala, honoring Dr. Susanna Choi and Linda and Jimmy Yip, is June 28 in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom. It’s the social centerpiece of Denver’s Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place later this summer at Sloan’s Lake. Tickets for the gala are $125; call 303-722-6852.
Cancer League of Colorado had a net profit of $260,000 from its spring gala, Hollywood 1940: A Black and White Ball. Chairwoman Jane Mayberry says the money CLC raises each year goes to local cancer researchers and a host of agencies providing patient services, including Clinica Tepeyac’s breast cancer program, Baca County Hospice and the Raymond Wentz Foundation.
Plans for what promises to be the big splash of summer, the premiere of “The Little Mermaid,” will be announced June 26 at a reception held at the Four Seasons Private Residences, 1080 14th St. Ernie Blake and Sharon Magness Blake are the opening night chairs and are hosting the kickoff party with the Four Seasons developers. Call Christopher Goetz, 303-446-4815.
That same night, plans for yet another major event – Dancing for the Kids – will be announced at a reception held at Cherry Creek Country Club. Dancing for the Kids, part of the Guild of Mount St. Vincent’s Silver Bell Ball, features about a dozen of Denver’s “fabulous and generous” kicking up their heels with pros from Colorado Dancesport, a la television’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Chris Kelley, Roselyn Saunders and Karen Bye are chairing the Nov. 29 benefit that will be emceed by TV-types Ed Greene and Tom Green. On a sad note, prayers would be appreciated by Sister LaVonne Guidoni, who was to have been honored for her 45 years as a child advocate. She was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma, and was admitted this week to Lutheran Medical Center’s Collier Hospice.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. She also contributes at
