A woman who has made great headway in helping the Latino community understand that mental illness isn’t something to be kept behind closed doors was one of those honored at Clinica Tepeyac’s annual fundraiser, Fiesta on the Plaza.
Barbara Ford, a marriage and family therapist and addictions counselor, received the Jim and Gloria Garcia Founders Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service; Rose Community Foundation was given the Outstanding Community Partnership Award during a dinner held at Glendale’s Infinity Park Event Center.
“Even today, mental illness carries a major stigma in our community, particularly among men,” notes Clinica Tepeyac spokesman Jeff Martinez. “Folks tend to keep it behind closed doors. But thanks to Barbara, watching for mental health issues has been integrated into our screening process and counseling programs.”
Client Oscar Padilla told the 350 guests how Clinica staff had diagnosed a previously undetected chronic heart condition. Padilla moved to Colorado 12 years ago from Durango, Mexico, and also credits the medical professionals at Clinica Tepeyac for helping him manage his diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Yolanda Ortega and Lucille Rivera chaired Fiesta on the Plaza, and for Ortega and Jesse Ogas, the occasion was bittersweet because it marked the end of their nine-year terms on the Clinica board.
“Oh, we’ll remain involved to one degree or another,” Ogas said. Ortega and Ogas are partners in Encantada Catering and actors at El Centro Su Teatro.
7News anchor Anne Trujillo emceed the event that was attended by such as Hope Salazar, wife of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar; Colorado Trust president Irene Ibarra; retired educator Patricia Baca; Artie Guerrero; Pat Cortez and Manuel Martinez; Mary Beth and Dr. Christopher Urbina; Donna Goldin, president of the Clinica Tepeyac board, and executive director David Lack; Sherry Edmond; Renee Lovato; and Nancy Sneath of HealthONE North Suburban Medical Center.
Coming right up.
Author Ira Byock (“Dying Well”) is in town to speak at a donor recognition dinner that The Denver Hospice is having tonight at the Brown Palace Hotel. . . . Dr. Ross Camidge shares advancements in the fight against lung cancer when Cancer League of Colorado meets for lunch Thursday at Cherry Hills Country Club. Call Elise Marks- Gruitch, 303-777- 9226. . . . Terrance Carroll, speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives; Swanee Hunt, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria; and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña are honorary chairpersons for Thursday night’s “roving dine-around dance party” to benefit Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at 119 Park Avenue West; call 303-295-1759. . . . On Friday, Friends of Nursing begins its new year by hosting a lunch for new and continuing members at Glenmoor Country Club. It begins at 12:30 p.m., and Cheri Bellamy of Greenwood Village is taking reservations.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter
