How good is it to have so many relatives that when you need to fill a hotel ballroom for a charity fundraiser, all you have to do is send invitations to everyone in the family address book? Pretty sweet, actually.
Whether by birth, marriage, friendship or business connection, everyone was a Zarlengo earlier this month when the Zarlengo Foundation staged its sixth annual dinner-dance to benefit programs for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
Actor Henry Winkler, who is dyslexic, was the special guest and Channel 2 morning anchor Natalie Tysdale emceed.
Where to have it? The Grand Hyatt Denver, where Maryann Zarlengo Yuthas is public relations director. Which charity should it benefit? Havern Center, where some Zarlengo children have been students. Who to conduct the auction? Paul Borrillo, who, while not a Zarlengo, is the next-best thing: Italian.
A majority of the 32 tables in the Imperial Ballroom had at least one Zarlengo at them, often more.
Kathryn Zarlengo is the foundation’s executive director, and works with a board of directors made up of Anna Marie, Robert, Tim, Vincent and Dr. Gerald Zarlengo, plus Dr. Andy Tucker, Ed DeCicco, Jerry Caruso and Paula Hanson.
Dr. Karen Zarlengo filled her table with a group that included Faye and Dr. Reginald Washington, Jim and Gina Lorenzen, Brian and Cindi Foster and Chris Zarlengo, while Maryann Yuthas and her daughter, Danielle, were joined by such relatives as Irene Zarlengo, Steve and Robyn O’Dorisio and Marc and Kristin Zarlengo.
Others there to hear Winkler’s talk and dance to the music of Heartbeat were Drs. Thomas and Sue O’Dorisio; Lee and Dr. Jessica Johnson; Bob and Patti Zarlengo, Anna Zarlengo; Tim and Tracy Zarlengo; Vince and Peg Zarlengo; Chris and Ruth Millensifer; Christy and Gregory Zarlengo; Garth Tebockhorst and Dr. Honey Onstad; Dennis and Paula Hein; and Mike and Hilary Zarlengo.And, there’s more.
The Denver Santa Claus Shop has begun its 78th annual holiday toy drive, and donations of new or gently used toys and clothes appropriate for children up to age 11 can be dropped in specially marked containers at area King Soopers stores until Nov. 30. . . . The Denver Ballet Guild is having a wine tasting and holiday auction Dec. 11 at Pamela and Doug Adams’ home in Cherry Hills Village. The $75 tickets are available at . . . . Indulge Wine Bar opened in Highlands Ranch on Wednesday night with a party that raised money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Colorado. . . . Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos, and his guardian, Sharon Magness Blake, paid a visit to Loyola Elementary School on Wednesday to help Volunteers of America promote student literacy. The kids also got to take home an age-appropriate book donated by Scholastic. The youngsters weren’t the only ones excited by the visit. “I’m a long- time Broncos fan, and this is the first time I’ve gotten to meet Thunder,” admitted the school principal, Sister Mary Ellen.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, .
