My topic today is Kempe Takes Manhattan, and I know that many of the 700 who attended aren’t going to be reading it. Well, not until much later in the day.
That’s because they’re so dedicated to supporting the Kempe Foundation’s work on behalf of abused and neglected children that they were willing to get up at the crack of dawn to be among the 10,000 expected to run or walk in the 28th Cherry Creek Sneak.
This year’s Sneak is a benefit for Kempe.
The April 16 Kempe Takes Manhattan, chaired by Gail Johnson, secretary of the Kempe Foundation board, and her husband, George, was a huge success that brought the sights and sounds of the Big Apple to Denver’s Marriott City Center Hotel.
Hot dog and pretzel carts were set out during the social hour that preceded dinner; later, students from Denver School of the Arts performed songs from Broadway hits ranging from “Hairspray” to “Hair.” Those who like to dance to a disco beat closed out their night in a rocking “Studio 54,” and the piano-bar crowd settled in at the “Stork Club.”
Honorary chairpersons were Gov. Bill and Jeannie Ritter, Jamie Angelich and Walt Imhoff. The Ritters are longtime child-welfare advocates; Angelich, a 20-year Kempe volunteer, had witnessed instances of emotional abuse; and Imhoff along with his late wife, Georgia, founder of the Kempe Alliance, is considered one of the best friends the Kempe Center has ever had.
Foundation president Jesse Wolff helped the Johnsons welcome a crowd that included corporate chairs Ren and Maureen Cannon; board chairman Jon Kruljac and his wife, Teri; Kempe Alliance president Ryta Sondergard and her husband, Steve; Mike and Julia Donnelly; Steve and Wendy Cohen; Tim and Libby Brown; Bill and Melissa Mackiernan; Ron and Miriam Abreu; Dick and Jeanne Saunders; and John Faught.
Attorney Beth Klein, a new member of the Kempe board, and her husband, Boulder District Judge James Klein, were hosts to a group that included state Rep. Daniel and Faye Kagan; Rick and Debbie Hill; Ann Sookswat and Russell Martin; Charles Goldstein and Holly Kylberg.
Others there: Frances Owens; Bradley Joseph and Jill Hodges; Sue McFarlane; Judith Ann Newman and Jim Bien; Deb Smith; Valere Shane and her daughter, Bayley; Arlene and Don Johnson; Sandee Walling; Lisa Williams and Dr. Larry Spivack; Roselyn Saunders and Dan Sharp; and Pam and Ed Diamond
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Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
