Right now, with fund-raising as dicey as all get out, no one would have blamed Jewish Family Service had someone decided to do away with numbers for its annual night at the movies, Reel Hope.
This was year 13, after all, and superstitious supporters could have made a case for leaving the digits out. But they didn’t, and in the end it probably didn’t matter because co-chairs Steve Kris and Ron Williams today are announcing it was a sellout that netted $340,000.
The success is even more amazing when you realize it happened not only at a time when people are increasingly cautious about spending, but despite the fact there were about 200 fewer tickets to sell, thanks to a major renovation in progress at the Regal Cinemas Continental Stadium 10 and Giant Screen. Or, as it’s more commonly called, the Continental Theatre.
The ticket price included a box supper and awards ceremony at which Nancy Gary and Dan Seff were saluted for their many community contributions. Gary, a psychologist also active with the Kempe Children’s Foundation, was given the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award. Seff, a prominent businessman, received the Kal Zeff Business Leader Award.
Reel Hope is staged in cooperation with Variety of Colorado, a children’s charity with roots in the entertainment industry. Variety Club not only helped secure the film, “Nixon/Frost,” and venue, it also donated $5,000 to Jewish Family Service.
Les Shapiro was master of ceremonies; Carla Garrity introduced Nancy Gary, and a video produced by JFS board member Lindsey Gutterman and Steve Pettit of Starwest Productions helped bring Seff to the stage.
JFS president and CEO Yana Vishnitsky described a seven-point economic response plan developed by Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado to help Jewish nonprofits cope with difficult economic times. She also thanked Rose Community Foundation for responding with a one-time grant of $75,000 to ensure that JFS can continue its present level of service to the community.
Making CHOICES.
Nearly 100 women have signed up to be table captains for CHOICES 2009, and a good number of them were at Arlene Stein’s home for lunch last week to learn more about the Feb. 12 luncheon chaired by Jodi Asarch, Patti Leftin and Kit Leventhal.
It’ll be at Colorado Convention Center and feature an address by the Today show’s financial editor, Jean Chatzky. Proceeds go to Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado.
The table captains were recruited by Mimi Pomeranz, Lisa Perlmutter, Kelly Trotsky Pfaff and Susan Brochstein.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson
