We’ve all gotta eat, which by itself would be reason enough to spring for a ticket to the dinner that Jacqueline and Frank Bonanno have thrown five years running at their Luca D’Italia restaurant.
Guests know the food will be fabulous, but what truly fires their passion is knowing that the money they’re contributing will keep Judi’s House up and running for the hundreds of Denver-area kids needing help as they grieve the loss of a parent, sibling, friend or other close relative.
Judi’s House was founded by former Denver Bronco Brian Griese. It’s named for his mother, who lost her life to breast cancer when Griese was 12 years old.
“Out of his life experiences of being lonely as a kid, feeling that no one understands, came Judi’s House,” explained executive director Karmen Carter.
The need for the kinds of peer support services Judi’s House staffers provide is demonstrated by the ever-increasing number of children and young adults who find their way to the agency located at 1741 Gaylord St. Since it opened in 2002, Carter said, “2,600 people between the ages of 3 and 24, and their adult caregivers, have found support, safety and a place where they could grieve at their own pace.” An estimated 500 more will be helped in 2009, she added.
Griese is president of the Judi’s House board and once again had pediatrician Dean Prina, a fellow member of the board, chair the fundraiser everyone calls “the Luca dinner.”
Even in tough economic times, it remains a sellout, with every seat in the intimate Grant Street restaurant filled. A few “overflow” guests took seats at the bar to enjoy the five-course meal that began with roasted organic beet salad with housemade goat cheese, progressed to braised rabbit atop Anson Mills heirloom polenta. That was followed by cavatelli mixed with pancetta and wilted arugula and sliced beef ribeye. Things reached a sweet conclusion with the arrival of chocolate torta topped with vanilla gelato.
Happy diners included founding board member Bill Mosher, who called the auction with KHOW’s Denise Plante; Rick Sapkin; Ken Larson; Cate Dobson with daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Greg Weaver; Rhonda Knop; Suzanne Arkle Wilson; Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake; Kathleen and Phil Hicks; Laura Barton and artist William Matthews; Joaquin Dulitzky with girlfriend Ana Mejia, an anchor/reporter for Azteca Colorado; Dawn Horvat; Don and Mary Elliman; Jean and Dr. Ben Galloway; John Wickliff; and Doug Chapiewsky.
Coming right up.
Patrons of the 2009 Cherish the Children Gala: The Red Hot Ruby Ball receive their thank-yous Tuesday at a cocktail party that Sharon Sweeney is putting together at Jing. The gala itself, at which Michael and Pamela O’Neal, Vance Wagner and American National Bank receive the Golden Cherub Award, is May 9 with proceeds going to Beacon Youth and Family Center … Craig Hospital’s eighth PUSH Dinner comes down Thursday at the Marriott Tech Center; chairman Denny O’Malley is making it happen with help from a committee that includes attorney Peter Burg, commercial Realtor John Fuller, Dr. Alan Weintraub and event founder Art Seiden. An image of the Great Wall of China by photographer — and Craig alum — Andy Marquez graces the invitation.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
