How many times have we entered a contest, bought a raffle ticket or run a race only to be told, “Close, but no cigar”?
It’s a polite way of saying, “Sorry, Charlie” — and it did not apply at Havana Nights, a Cuban-themed gala benefiting Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center.
That’s because everyone who paid $25 for the chance to win any number of cool prizes also walked away with a cigar. And no, not one smuggled in from Cuba. One made from chocolate.
Auction chair Mary McNicholas cooked up this delicious variation on the mystery balloon or pick-an-envelope draws that occur at so many other fundraisers. “We have 100 great prizes,” she said, “but there’s nothing like chocolate to tide the winners over until they can redeem their restaurant vouchers, movie passes or hotel stays.”
Michi Theis, Christine Agosta and Regina Heurter chaired Havana Nights, which brought 400 people to Glendale’s Infinity Park Event Center for a night that began with a muddle-your-own mojito bar and the opportunity to view “Assignment: Havana,” an exhibit of photographs by The Denver Post’s own Cyrus McCrimmon.
Later, there was a Gourmet Fine Catering buffet that included such Cuban staples as slow-roasted pork loin and shrimp first sauteed in lime and coconut milk then served on sugar-cane skewers. Too many calories? Away they went once the salsa dancing to Diosa Cabaret began.
The Latin theme was fun, to be sure, but it also highlighted the arrival of Dr. Augusto Miravalle, a neurologist and native of Argentina. He spent the past year as a multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology fellow at Harvard and is now one of five neurologists providing specialized care at the Rocky Mountain MS Center, on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
Having a successful event was especially important this year, executive director Karen Wenzel reminded guests. “The economy may be in a recession, but our mission is not,” she said. “We have made giant strides, and it takes money to keep the momentum going.”
Wenzel also helped chairman of the board Derek Sevier present the MS Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Donald Gilden and the Humanitarian Award to Adam Writer.
Gilden, whose mother has MS, is chairman of the University of Colorado’s neurology department and is recognized worldwide for his cutting-edge research pertaining to the disease.
Writer’s late father, N. Daren Writer, also had MS and co-founded the Rocky Mountain MS Center in 1978. Adam Writer joined the center’s board in 2000 and chaired it from 2006-09.
Guests included the honorary chairmen, Jeannie and Gov. Bill Ritter; the center’s medical director, Dr. Timothy Vollmer; Paul Wisor; Michele Maxfield, president of the MS Center Guild; Liz and David Frawley with daughter Kathleen Ferrara; Sherrye Berger; Charleen and Jerry Dunn; Tom and Dorothy Kowalski; Layne Hunt and Craig Fleishman; Nancy and John Stamper; Sally and Larry Olsen; and Mary and Dr. Richard Krugman.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com and GetItWrite on Twitter
