There was no need for Paula, Randy and Simon to show their smilingor smirky — faces when the 11 acts entered in Intergenerational Idols 2008 stepped onto the Grand Hyatt Denver’s Imperial Ballroom stage to sing, dance and play music for 400 friends of Rainbow Bridge.
Passing judgement wasn’t part of this gig. Having fun and raising money was.
As the name suggests, Intergenerational Idols lets entertainers of all ages do their thing in a supportive atmosphere while doing some good for a very worthy cause.
Over the years, the event has grown from a relatively casual talent show at the Teikyo Loretto Heights University theater to this year’s carefully orchestrated sit-down dinner and show chaired by two of the city’s more formidable fundraisers, Irene Zarlengo and LaFawn Biddle.
Denver’s go-to gal for charity auctions, Mary McNicholas, was in charge of the night’s silent and live bidfests; CBS4 meteorologist Ed Greene emceed the show, introducing such talents as a barbershop quartet from Lutheran High School; Phoenix Rising, a rock band whose members include Zarlengo’s grandson, Tony; the David Taylor Dance Theatre; and Biddle, who delighted the crowd by singing “Music, Music, Music.”
Her song was a good choice, in that it reflected the ambience of the night: In addition to the “Idols,” there also was music by pianist Barbara Rembe during cocktail hour; a call to dinner by the Mile Highlanders pipe and drum band; and background sounds by a string ensemble from Gavagno Studios during the dinner that ended with desserts decorated with white chocolate rainbows.
The big news, though, came from Rainbow Bridge co-founders Linda Holloway and Sharron Brandrup, who announced that the agency’s name was being changed to Bessie’s Hope and that the first satellite office will open later this year in Aachen, Germany. The new name honors the inspiration for Rainbow Bridge, the late Bessie Stephens, and emphasizes her dream of enhancing the lives of those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities who have no regular visitors.
Guests that night included the Rev. Nancy Markham Bugbee, founder with LaFawn Biddle of the Institute for Life and Care, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening caregivers faced with compassion fatigue and burnout as they serve in health care, eldercare, hospice care and family life situations.
Linda Holloway serves on its board, and Bugbee and hubby, Peter, hosted a table for Intergenerational Idols, filling it with board members Charlotte and Jim Gillespie; faculty members Dr. Barbara Dalberg, Dr. David DeBord, MaryAnn VanBuskirk and Janet Iona; and communications officer Debi Davis.
Also there were Nancy and Keith Boldiszar (she chairs the Rainbow Bridge board); Anita and Dr. Joe Becky; Nancy and Dr. John DeLauro; Steve Edmonds; Jack and Adrienne Fitzgibbons; Sue Goodin; Mary Kreutzer; Norm Kausky; Dianne and Rita Zarlengo; Drs. Joel and Leslie Peacock; Antigone Vigil; and Dr. Kay Takeoka.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
