Ask any of the 600 guests what inspired them to attend the Bridge Project’s annual fundraising gala and you’re likely to receive 600 different answers.
Maybe it was because Meyer and Geri Bader Saltzman were being honored, or perhaps it was because they know that without Bridge Project tutors and mentors, 100 young people from Denver public housing neighborhoods would not have earned the scholarships that enabled them to graduate from college and become gainfully employed in fields that include accounting, engineering and teaching.
Or, maybe they just wanted to enjoy a nice dinner and rub elbows with such civic leaders as Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper.
In the end, all that mattered was that by buying a ticket, they helped raise $400,000 for scholarships and other costs associated with keeping kids in school and pointed in the right direction.
The Inspiration Gala was chaired by Bridge Project advisory board member Jeff Andrews and his wife, Julie, and was held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. The traditional pre-dinner festivities — cocktails and a silent auction — were followed by a cavalcade of international music that included Japanese koto drummers, the Bataki African Drummers and Middle Eastern belly dancers.
The Saltzmans have been involved with the Bridge Project since its founding 18 years ago by developer Phil Winn. They are also active in numerous other charitable causes, including the Denver Zoo, National Jewish Health, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, Jewish Family Service, Denver Film Society and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
Winn, who attended the gala with his wife, Elle, presented them with the 2009 Community Service Award, then relinquished the microphone to Charles Jordy, chair of the Bridge Project Advisory Board, who gave a Special Recognition Award to Marcy Loughran of Saunders Construction for its work in renovating the Bridge Project site in the South Lincoln housing complex.
Guests included former Colorado first lady Frances Owens; University of Denver Chancellor Robert Coombe (the Bridge Project is part of DU’s Graduate School of Social Work) and his wife, Julanna Gilbert; DU social work dean James Herbert Williams; Bridge Project executive director Mary Krane; Saron and Daniel Yohannes; Mile High United Way CEO Christine Benero; Dana and John Blumberg; Marie and Marty Herzog; Terri and Gary Yourtz; Lani and Alan Dill; Krystie and Eric Bush; Sandy and Rich Laws; Lisa and Dr. Lynn Taussig; Jeanne and Don Friedman; Sandy Arnold; Amber and Mike Fries; Julie and Brent Morse; Leslie and Gary Howard; and CBS4 anchor Jim Benemann, who emceed.
The Bridge Project, serving 500 children in after-school and summer programs, currently has 45 alumni attending college on scholarships they earned after completing the program.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter
