That date night stapledinner and a movie — works well as a fundraiser, too, as evidenced by the Colorado screening of “Nine” for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
The musical starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson and Fergie doesn’t open until Christmas Day, so being able to see it now was both a big deal and a hush-hush occasion.
Guests were strongly encouraged to keep their opinion of it to themselves, as “any reviews, professional or amateur, will damage the relationship between the foundation and The Weinstein Co.”
The screening came about because Cherry Hills Village resident John Sie has been friends with producer Harvey Weinstein since Sie’s days as founder and chairman of Starz Entertainment Group.
They got to talking about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation several months ago and Weinstein offered a special screening of “Nine” as a way to raise some extra bucks. John and Anna Sie started the foundation shortly after their daughter and son-in-law’s first child, Sophia Whitten, was born with Down syndrome. Michelle Sie Whitten is the executive director.
There were three ticket levels for the event chaired by Lisza Gulyas and Betsy Leighton: VIP, with dinner at The Palm first; movie only; and movie and after-party at Kevin Taylor’s restaurant at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
The VIP level sold out quickly to a group that included Lisa and former Denver Bronco Ed McCaffrey, who is planning to start another benefit for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, football summer camp for special needs children; Annabel Bowlen, whose son, John, chaired the benefit’s young professionals committee with Kien Arnold and Michael Gold; Dick and Marcia Robinson; Trisha Lewis; Steve Brett and Linda Shoemaker; Norm and Sunny Brownstein; Dr. Larry Chen; Steve and Cindy Farber; Debra McKenney; Dick and Jeanne Saunders; Mary Buntmann; Gary and Gayle Ray; Matt Keeney; Michael and Shereen Pollak; Barbara Grogan; Nancy Sagar; John Head and Piper Vitale; Sylvia Atencio; and Michele Ashby and Martha Simmons, founder and executive director, respectively, of Dani’s Foundation.
Small is good.
Nouveau at Night 2009 wasn’t the largest fundraiser of the season; it was, however, one of the most fun.
Chaired by Kim DeLashmit, Nicole Mulvany and Rene Adema and held at the Westin Tabor Center, the benefit for the Broomfield-based Ballet Nouveau Colorado began with a silent auction of 200-plus items that included fine wines, weekend getaways and some amazing photographs taken of BNC dancers in auction.
The party ended on a sweet note, with root beer floats served in glasses adorned with the BNC logo.
The 250 guests included Erie Mayor Andrew Moore; Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s chief of staff, Roxane White; City Councilman Paul Lopez; Dr. Dean Prina; and jewelers Melissa and Jeremy Oster, who donated a $3,575 pair of Jamie Wolf earrings for the evening’s prize drawing.
Ken Reinig, president and co-owner of Lakewood’s Association Insurance Group, was master of ceremonies. BNC executive director Lissy Garrison said that $35,000 was raised.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter
