Twelve years after the brutal murder of her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, the hurt hasn’t gone away for Denise Brown. She mourns the loss daily but stays strong through her work as perhaps the country’s most outspoken advocate for women caught up in the terror of domestic abuse.
She was here the other day to give 500 people “A Chance to Believe” by speaking at a fundraising luncheon put on by the Volunteers of America Guild.
Brown spoke not only of her sister’s death but of incidents as equally horrific, gleaned from women with whom she had met in her travels to shelters nationwide. The Denver luncheon, at the Grand Hyatt, was a benefit for VOA’s Brandon Shelter and Theodora House, both of which provide emergency lodging and other services for women in crisis.
Brown also described her efforts with legislators to enact laws that would result in stiffer penalties for abusers.
“A Chance to Believe” was chaired by Susan Barnhill, Terri Utecht and Kathy Klugman.
Among the guests: Guild founder Irene Zarlengo with her daughters Dianne and Rita; president Myrna Mourning; such past presidents as Maryann Yuthas, Herminia Vigil and Carol James; Jennifer O’Neill and Sarah Niemiec, who organized the Wishing Well drawing that added to the day’s profit; and decorations chair Kathryn Kaiser, who had to scramble when a last-minute surge in ticket sales almost doubled the number of centerpieces she needed.
Also, Sharon Magness Blake, Stephanie Riggs, Jo Dutton, Susan Mostow, Stacia Freimuth, Rita Walker, Pamela Adams, who had chaired the luncheon’s launch party with Heather Faircloth, and master of ceremonies Ed Greene from CBS4.
What else is new?
“Community on Board,” a take on the title of her newest book, “Daddy on Board,” is the topic when Dottie Lamm speaks to Friends for Families First today. The wife of former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm addresses a luncheon that begins at 11 a.m. at Denver Country Club . . . Also today: Act III of Women with Hattitude, a luncheon in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom that benefits the Denver Center Theatre Company Women’s Voices Fund. Janet Adams, Victoria Ashby, Audrey Quistorff, Susan Stiff, Winona Drake Thompson and Linda Thornton head the steering committee; cast members from “Three Mo’ Divas” will entertain . . . Colorado MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) is having its 17th awards banquet Thursday at the Wildlife Experience in Parker. The speaker is Brian Aglow from the University of Colorado. Colorado MESA is a statewide program formed to encourage women, minorities and the economically disadvantaged to attend college and study science, engineering and other math-based subjects . . . Community College of Denver president Karen Clos Bleeker spoke at a reception marking the 110th anniversary of Denver branch of the American Association of University Women.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson
