Some folks really got into it; others needed plenty of coaxing before agreeing to suit up in bell-bottoms, leisure suits, go-go boots and other accouterments of the 1970s and boogie on down to the Westin Tabor Center for SafeHouse Denver’s 30th anniversary party.
In the end, though, busting out the retro gear was worth it because the 430 disco dandies raised a record $268,000 for the shelter established in 1977.
The money, says agency spokeswoman Natalie Wilkins, makes it possible to start an eight-year project to double the size of the shelter, increase capacity at the SafeHouse Counseling Center, and to strengthen the agency’s community education program.
Sponsorships, Wilkins continues, contributed $150,000 to that total. Rita Bass Coors was the $25,000 Diamond Sponsor while Alan and Katie Fox, whose daughter, Katie, is a member of the SafeHouse board, were $15,000 Platinum Sponsors. Great West Life & Annuity and Susan and Howard Noble came in at the $10,000 Gold Sponsor level, and the Anschutz Foundation gave a gift of $20,000.
Good stuff and a talented auctioneer, longtime supporter Norm Early, resulted in some big sales. Paul and Carol Rose went home with two of the items: a four-night stay at Canyon Ranch, for which they paid $10,000, and a golf and dinner package donated by Red Rocks Country Club, which they got for $2,000. Howard Noble and Brian Ross each paid $3,000 for a ride on the Denver Police Department helicopter.
A $3,000 bid netted a diamond pendant from Jay Feder Jewelers for District Attorney Mitch Morrissey; Karen Lubert paid $5,000 for the chance to be in the audience during a taping of the Oprah Winfrey show. Ray Decker scored a Colorado Avalanche package for $3,000; Mark Giordano offered $1,300 for a lesson in beer making with Pete Coors Jr. and Patrick Wieland put up $3,500 for a catered dinner for eight prepared by the Westin’s chef.
The gala also paid tribute to Steve Siegel from the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the Junior League of Denver. The Junior League furnishes volunteers to work with the children whose mothers are being sheltered at SafeHouse.
Boogielicious provided the dance music, taking such guests as Anson and Ces Garnsey, Jack and Wendy Trigg, Bart Bansbach, Fred and Nancy Wolfe, John and Mary Osborn, Mark and Sarah Williamson, Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld and Courtney and Matthew Ferer on a musical memory tour.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. She also contributes at
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