Had he been, like the Judy Gorman song, an “Analog Girl in a Digital World,” Paul Polsky never would have won the 2007 Porsche Boxster that was raffled off at the seventh Power of Pink Gala.
After his sister, University Hospital staffer and 12-year cancer survivor Patty Polsky, told him about the giveaway, the retired United Airlines pilot fired up his computer, went to the Pink Ribbon Foundation Website (thepinkrib
) and bought one ticket for the drawing.
Only 1,000 chances were sold for the car donated by Porsche of Colorado Springs, and Polsky’s purchase, No. 945, was drawn by Baby Einstein founder Julie Aigner-Clark right after she described her own triumph over breast cancer for the guests at this $150-a-ticket dinner-dance held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center.
So how did Polsky, who lives in Foster City, Calif., take delivery of the car? Turns out he was coming to Denver, anyway, to attend the Oct. 4 Men for the Cure dinner at Invesco Field. So he canceled the return portion of his flight and drove home in the Porsche.
His interest in raising money for cancer research and programs stems not only from his sister’s battle with the disease; their mother is a 50-year cancer survivor.
The Pink Ribbon Foundation was started by AnnMarie Foonberg of Greenwood Village after her grandmother, Virginia Kuhlemeyer, died from breast cancer in 2000. Foonberg’s good friend Laurie Hicks, now president of the foundation board, was an early recruit, as were Foonberg’s sisters, Erin Zahradka of Broomfield and Jessica Roe of Centennial.
“While finding a cure is foremost, it is also important to not forget the patients as they negotiate each day,” Foonberg says, adding that all money raised by the PRF is dedicated to assisting cancer patients at Anschutz Cancer Pavilion in Aurora. Seventy-five percent of the money is earmarked for breast cancer patients, with the remainder going to those battling other forms of cancer.
The money is distributed via grocery and gas coupons, childcare assistance, transportation to and from therapy, and alternative medicines that aren’t covered by insurance. Since 2004, the PRF has given some $300,000 to the hospital and helped over 1,200 cancer patients.
9News personalities Kim Christiansen and Kirk Montgomery emceed the gala and Opie Gone Bad provided the dance music. Shortline Automotive, owned by Hicks’ husband, Don, was the presenting sponsor. He also owns Porsche of Colorado Springs.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or
jdavidson@denverpost.com. Davidson also contributes at
