Happy campers? There were a lot of ’em Wednesday night when Ernie and Sharon Magness Blake opened their Cherry Hills Village home for a reception and Neiman Marcus fashion show promoting Janet’s Camp 2009.
Janet Elway started this benefit for the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver and had generously opened her Cherry Hills Village home for the “grown-up campout” that attracted hundreds and raised thousands of dollars for the Y’s summer day camp scholarship fund. But she recently moved, and her new yard isn’t nearly large enough to accommodate the crowd.
So she asked around and was elated when Kaye Lynn and Charlie Fote said they’d be willing to have the benefit at their home. “Their place is huge,” Elway told the 129 supporters gathered at the Magness Blake abode. “It’s going to be so much fun. We’ll have tons of games — even better ones than before — and I’m not just sayin’ that.”
A camp-style buffet from Epicurean Catering — sliders, hot dogs, pizza and popcorn — got the launch party off to a delicious start; dessert, if you will, came later when James Fedon, business development manager for PCL Construction Services, presented a $10,000 check to the YMCA.
“This is our third year for doing this,” Fedon noted, “and it brings our total contribution to $50,000.”
Christel Dikeman, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek, introduced the Janet’s Camp-appropriate fashions that were modeled by committee members and a couple of Denver apheerleaders.
One of the cheerleaders, Perry Jackman, is the daughter of Beth Jackman, who is coordinating Janet’s Camp ticket sales with Jane Buckley. Buckley and Beth Jackman also modeled, as did Monica Owens, Romi Bean and Sharon Magness Blake.
Monica Owens is co-chairing the Young Professionals committee, of which Wells Fargo vice president Vince Abrue is a member. Abrue, 31, credits Beth Jackman for getting him involved.
“She’s a friend of a friend and invited me to one of the initial meetings. I liked what I heard, and signed on. I also have a bunch of friends who are also looking to become involved, and I’m thinking this will be something they’ll like, too.”
Wells Fargo Bank is the presenting sponsor for Janet’s Camp, and regional president Tom Honig was at the kickoff with his wife, Dianne. Their son-in-law, Kevin Long, is another of the YP co-chairs.
Others pledging their support were live-auction chairpeople Susan Noble and Megan Dietz; PCL Construction president Al Troppmann; Rich Karlis, a former Denver Bronco now handling sports marketing for Qwest; 9News sports reporter Susie Wargin; Holly Hutto, high bidder on the Tory Burch tote that was auctioned after the style show, and her sister, Mary Dunahay; Kimball Howell; David Alexander; and event manager Nancy Lamb Thompson.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
