Bill and Yvonne McCallum knew they had their work cut out for them when they agreed to chair the event. Even with a headliner as popular as Kenny Rogers, early indications were that both revenue and attendance would be down by 15 percent.
“It’s been tough,” Bill McCallum, the retired chief executive at Great-West Life, acknowledged. “But we worked hard and are pleased to have 950 guests and a net profit of $875,000.”
When Denver’s economy was booming, as many as 1,600 people would fill the National Western Events Center for an event that has netted $1 million-plus on more than one occasion.
A financial bright spot this year was the live auction, with five of the six items going for more than their stated value.
The sixth — a seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard a SeaDream yacht — might not have fetched full price, but with donor Rob Roche’s permission, the $18,800 trip sold for $13,500 to three bidders.
The $10,000 “Suite 16” sports fan package donated by Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Wells Fargo Bank and Levy Restaurants went for $13,000, and a weekend stay at John and Anna Sie’s vacation villa in Laguna Beach, Calif., went for $11,500 — $6,500 more than its stated value. John and Anna’s daughter, Michelle Sie Whitten, was high bidder on Brews and Baseball, writing a $6,000 check for a $5,100 package donated by MillerCoors.
Libby Brown, whose brother, Christian Anschutz, co-chaired the Western Fantasy corporate committee, came in with an $8,000 winning bid on a $6,000 trip for two to Las Vegas to see one of Brooks & Dunn’s final shows.
A surprise, and final, auction entry was a guitar autographed by Kenny Rogers; jeweler Ralph Klomp had the $5,000 winning bid.
In keeping with tradition, Western Fantasy began with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the chance to have a souvenir photo snapped by A Custom Look Photography.
Deb Smith thanked the three friends who’d invited her to sit at their table by buying each of them a chance at the Panning for Gold booth hosted by Hyde Park Jewelers. “And they all won something good,” Smith was happy to report. Cori Plotkin, there with boyfriend Tyler Streetman, also was a winner, snagging a gold and diamond bracelet that she wore the next night to Project PAVE’s Secret Chefs Dinner.
For the second year, support for Western Fantasy was bolstered by a Young Professionals committee, which brought in 21 donors.
While most of the young professionals live and work in Denver — Monica Owens, Vince Abrue, Katie Behnke, Michelle Davidson and Quinn Washington — even those who don’t were happy to honor their commitment. Parker Rothhammer had been transferred to Chicago, where he’s an analyst for MillerCoors. But he hopped a plane back to Denver to catch the fun.
Phyllis Coors, honored as VOA’s Humanitarian of the Year, was there with her son, Scott, and was seated at the family table with Peter, Marilyn, Ashley, David, Jeff, Joe and Lis Coors and Janet Elway.
Epicurean Catering did the food — grilled filet atop maple syrup mashed sweet potatoes — that was served at tables decorated in turquoise and brown by BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt of Bouquets.
Attorney Larry Martinez and his wife, Cheryl, were at the Berenbaum Weinshienk table with colleague Ellen Stewart and her husband, Donald Vancil.
New this year was the Patron Partners ticket level, a group supported by 25 couples and individuals, including Eula and Janet Adams, Craig Fleishman and Layne Hunt, John and Wendy Clayton, Bob and Lori Shaw, Richard and Jacquie Schultz and Charlie and Patricia Nelson. Charlie Nelson, president of Great-West Retirement Services, and his wife will chair the 2010 Heart Ball.
Gov. Bill Ritter is a big fan of both country music and Kenny Rogers, and was given the honor of introducing the headliner to a crowd that also included Dave Rye, chairman of the VOA board; Colorado State University Chancellor Joe Blake; Qwest chief Ed Mueller and his wife, Susan; developer Dave Ebbershoff; Bill and Taryn Edwards; and CBS4’s Ed Greene, who was master of ceremonies.
Rogers, 71, not only sang all of his greatest hits, he promised Western Fantasy co-founder Sharon Magness Blake that he’d be delighted to return for a third stint — “Even if you have to roll me out on stage.” Rogers’ first appearance at Western Fantasy was in 1996.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
