OK, so not everyone is gonna admit they love Chelsea Handler’s comedy. It’s off-color, cringe-inducing, politically incorrect— and funny as all get-out.
Just what you’d want for a fundraising gala.
Well, yes, actually. Especially when your supporters are ones who stay up late to watch Handler’s “Chelsea Lately” show on the E! Entertainment network.
Comedy Uncork’d, chaired by Donna Crafton and Bradley Joseph, was an instant sellout that raised $80,000 for New Genesis, a transitional community for the homeless.
For the past three years, New Genesis (panhandlingsucks.com) has done a big date auction to raise funds, but, says Crafton, “We want to keep things fresh and thought a comedy event would be a fun, new direction.”
So she and Joseph, an executive with Kroenke Sports, signed Handler, recruited their pal Kelly Ford from KYGO Radio to emcee and then issued invites to every person they could think of who’d get a kick out of seeing Chelsea live.
Among those who responded: Steve Farber, Sunny Brownstein, Holly Kylberg, Sarah Siegel Magness, Andrea and Phil Gray, Bill Ward, Jesse Moreale, Jerri Theil, Georgia Gallagher,Jill Hodges and Mike and Cathy Meyrick, who were high bidders on a New York getaway with tickets to see Chelsea perform at Carnegie Hall.
“Bradley and I get more proud of this event each year,” said Crafton, the owner of Prima Donna Public Relations. “We never thought, four years ago, we’d still be at it — especially with such wonderful support.”
All around town.
Another funny lady, Joy Behar of “The View,” is coming to town Thursday to speak at the Women’s Foundation Luncheon, and procrastinators are in luck. Arlene Hirschfeld, who is chairing the event at the Colorado Convention Center with Caz Matthews, called to say that a couple of table-buyers have donated their seats for re-sale; if you want in, call 303-285-2960. . . . After 10 months of preparation, Rocky Mountain Active 20-30 Club has received its charter and is in business. President Sara Duke says membership is limited to 30 (22 are on board so far) and that the primary charity is Smart-Girl. Other charter officers are Annie Persson, Christi Coors-Ficeli, Whitney Brown, May Desaire, Carrie Wymore and Tera Haselden. . . . Hooray for Cherry Hills Country Club! It has effectively silenced the annoying few who can’t ever put down their cellphones by instituting a strictly enforced $200 fine. . . . And congratulations to Dick Saunders and Jeannie Portmann, who are engaged to be married. Traditionalist that he is, the Saunders Construction chief got down on one knee to pop the question during dinner at Potager. He even wore the same shirt he’d bought for their first date 2 1/2 years ago, a lunch at the Wellshire Inn. “I was hoping she’d say ‘yes’ fast because that floor was mighty hard,” Saunders told us. They’re planning a summer wedding, but first it’s off to Japan for a celebratory vacation. “I thought that’s where he might propose,” Jeannie said. “He caught me totally by surprise at Potager.”
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
