Baseball players are notorious for being superstitious, so please don’t roll your eyes when we point out how the Brass Ring Luncheon may have figured in the Colorado Rockies’ first trip to the World Series.
Come on, how else do you explain that in the midst of the National League Championship Series, the prettiest gown in the Escada spring collection – the one that received the most enthusiastic applause – was the perfect shade of team purple?
The Neiman Marcus-sponsored show was the centerpiece of the annual benefit for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. It was chaired by Gina Abou-Jaoude, a member of the Guild of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver and the mother of 10-year-old Dominic, who was diagnosed with diabetes as an infant.
“It’s because of him that I’m so proud to be here today,” she said.
Another proud mom was invitations chair Cheryl Lebsock, whose son, Jordan, bravely stood before the 700-some guests to deliver a prayer that a cure for diabetes soon would be found.
Guild president Debbie Gradishar followed Jordan to explain how the money raised would be spent. Insulin and other supplies run about $600 per month, Gradishar said, and since many of the Barbara Davis Center patients are from families who don’t have insurance, donations from the guild helps offset these costs. In addition, the guild’s education committee sends information packets to every school in Colorado to familiarize educators with symptoms and side effects of the chronic disease. The packets are so well done, Gradishar noted, that requests for them have come in from schools across the nation.
Who helped support the event? Judy McNeil, the 2008 Brass Ring chair, and her husband, Charlie, for starters. Also, Sally Newcomb, who will succeed Gradishar as president of The Guild, and at least half of the 31 previous Brass Ring chairs.
There may have been more, but those we saw were Barbara Altman Cook, Jill Behr, Tangy Buchanan, Lisa Corley, Vivian Guzofsky, Helen Hanks, Georgia Imhoff, Gail Johnson, Sharon Kamen, Carol Karsh, Cheri Meagher, Ginny Messina, Connie Pohs, Gretchen Pope and Diane Sweat. Former Guild presidents included Jamie Angelich, Linda Broughton, Bonita Carson, Nancy Cowee, Margy Epke, Sally Frerichs and Jane Weingarten.
Other familiar faces in the crowd: Neiman Marcus GM Christel Dikeman; Rachel Anger, Sharon Whiton Gelt, Sharon Kamen, Frieda Eisenbarth, Pat Lansing, Lynn Rooney and Patty Jenkins, who purchased both of the live auction items: a $1,000 Escada shopping spree and a Spa Connection vacation.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. She also contributes at blogs
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dp | See more pictures from the Brass Ring Luncheon & Fashion Show
