You can’t judge a book by its cover:
In a world where assumptions are too often made without knowing the facts, it would be soooo easy to look at Victoria Aguilar, Lannie Garrett, Denise Stephenson-Hawk, Christine Soto or Glory Weisberg and figure that success came easy if for no other reason than they’re good-looking women who present themselves well.
Guess again.
Each of them has overcome significant challenges to emerge as the five Triumphant Women honored at Love & Laughter, a dinner and comedy show that also marked the 35th anniversary of Excelsior Youth Center. Excelsior, at 15001 E. Oxford Ave., Aurora, is one of the nation’s largest residential treatment centers for troubled girls between the ages of 11 and 18.
Janet Elway was the honorary chairwoman of Love & Laughter, lending support in such ways as opening her Cherry Hills Village home for the patron party and assisting master of ceremonies Steve Saunders and development director Kathy Gravely in presenting the awards. Cindy Hansen, Susan Vick and Wendy Warren were the gala chairs.
Growing up poor in rural North Carolina, Stephenson-Hawk attended segregated schools through the ninth grade and dropped out of high school before graduation. She eventually graduated from Spelman College, got a master’s from George Washington University and became the first African-American and second woman to earn a doctorate in geophysical fluid dynamics from Princeton. She’s been associate director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder since 2007.
As a child, Aguilar, general counsel and VP of human resources for American Civil Constructors, suffered physical abuse from her father but persevered to win scholarships that enabled her to attend Boston College and the University of Michigan Law School.
Garrett, a popular entertainer and owner of Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, lived on TV dinners, Hostess cupcakes and other junk food before leaving home at 16 to escape the violence wrought by her alcoholic parents.
Soto, a native of Puerto Rico, married young and soon discovered her husband’s volatile temper. After their divorce, the single mother spent 10 years working full-time in the nonprofit sector and attending college in the evening. Her 35-year career includes being an executive director, volunteer manager and program manager. The challenges Weisberg faced were health-related: repeated bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis, along with asthma and osteoporosis.
What’s ahead
Drs. Beth Ballen (The Healing & Wellness Center of Cherry Creek) and Tahl Humes (Vitahl Medical Rejuvenation Spa) are hosting the next installment of Dining in Denver, a series of five-course dinners sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Westminster and Bombay Sapphire Gin. It’s at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Second Home in the JW Marriott and a portion of the $50 admission goes to the Junior League of Denver. Sign up at … On Wednesday, Elsa Holguin and Christiano Sosa are expecting a crowd of 200 for a reception they’re staging to welcome Mi Casa Resource Center for Women’s new executive director, Christine Marquez. It’s from 5-7 p.m. at 360 Acoma St.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
