Add Beacon Center’s Cherish the Children Gala to the top-shelf benefits getting a face-lift in 2008.
With founder Annabel Bowlen‘s blessing, a committee headed by Jamie Angelich is keeping the trademark destination theme but transitioning the “locale” from the tropics to the desert.
In years past, guests have journeyed to Cuba circa 1950, Hawaii and the Caribbean; this year, it’s Vegas, baby, Vegas. Complete with a headline entertainer.
Gone, too, will be the Champs on the Ramp fashion show starring members of the Denver Broncos and the dance routines performed by team cheerleaders.
“They’ll be in attendance, I hope, but not on stage,” Angelich says, adding that there’ll be the traditional 6 p.m. cocktail hour, a conga line of Vegas showgirls to lead everyone into the ballroom for dinner, which will be served with Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin-type music in the background.
There’s also a new auctioneer — Jake Jabs succeeding Gary Corbett — and a much shorter list of items; perhaps only five. They’ll include a Super Bowl trip and the barrel that just-retired Barrel Man Tim McKiernan wore to home games.
Patron-level supporters will be thanked at a party Feb. 28 at Ruth and Jeff Bennis’ home; it formerly belonged to her parents, Rella and Monty Rifkin. The gala itself, the main event, is May 17 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center.
More good stuff.
Membership & Margaritas, the annual “fun fiesta” put on by the Girls Inc. Alliance, begins at 4 p.m. Thursday at Neyeska and Stephen Mut’s home in Cherry Hills Village. Chairwomen Dee Dee Parker and Ann Stern say this is the occasion for prospective members to learn more about Girls Inc. and its signature fundraiser, Girls Night Out. Call 303-893-4363, ext. 109 . . . The Oxford Hotel’s grand ballroom becomes Club Rouge on Jan. 31 for the Volunteers of America benefit, Red Wine and Seafood. Tickets are $50 (call Clare Compton, 720-264-3321) and includes seafood dishes prepared by the chefs at McCormick’s Fish House & Bar and wines courtesy of Southern Wine & Spirits. Roseann Niemeyer and Jacquelyn Watters are the chairwomen; their committee includes Chyre Hitt, Stacy Jensen, Katherine Koch, Lindsay Olson Bernum and Trudy Brancucci. . . . Pitcher Nolan Ryan earned his reputation for throwing high heat; too bad he didn’t bring warmer temperatures with him when he came to Denver to help kick off the 102nd National Western Stock Show by serving as grand marshal in the stock show parade.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
