With no apologies to F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley changed a letter in the title of his classic novel and ended up with a best-selling edition of its signature fundraiser, Puttin’ on the Leash.
One thousand people attended “The Great Catsby,” raising $300,000 for homeless and abandoned animals.
Catsby and Daisy, two shelter kitties, served as greeters for the 18th edition of this auction and walkabout supper chaired by Boulder residents Renee Shires, Patty Young, Amanda Ford and Linda Oliver. Emcees were 7News meteorologist Mike Nelson and Dr. Lee Woods of Broadway Animal Hospital. Don Martin was the auctioneer, and 200 shelter volunteers were on hand to make sure all ran according to plan at Coors Events Center on the University of Colorado campus.
Not to be outdone by their feline friends, several shelter dogs helped make the live auction a success by walking across the stage with something that represented the particular item up for bid.
“We are so inspired by the generosity and commitment of our community to our organization,” said CEO Lisa Pedersen. “Puttin’ on the Leash is truly a celebration of the amazing relationships we share with our pets and the enrichment they bring to our lives.”
In keeping with the theme, guests were encouraged to wear Roaring Twenties attire, and quite a few showed up in flapper-style dresses, feather boas, fedoras and zoot suits. Dancers from “Watch Your Step!” entertained.
Three hundred Boulder-area merchants donated the 626 silent- and live- auction items. Twenty restaurants and caterers provided the food.
As good as it gets.
If food and travel writer Diana Armstrong and her husband, David, are smiling a lot these days, it’s with good reason.
Her second book, “Somewhere South of Tuscany,” is receiving favorable reviews, and their son, Anthony, a graduate of Littleton High School and Colorado State University, just represented the Qatari royal family in its bid to buy London’s storied specialty store, Harrods. In its report on the transaction, The Guardian described Anthony as “A top USA dealmaker.”
Diana’s book is a memoir based on the couple’s purchase, and subsequent restoration, of an ancient stone house in Lubriano, Italy, a village of 800 between Tuscany and Umbria. Its first-person narrative is followed by recipes that Diana prepares for friends and neighbors in both Littleton and Lubriano. It’s available on .
“In Lubriano,” she says, “abundance comes from nature . . . the delicious food, the olive groves, the vineyards, the fabulous scenery and the inspiring, time-honored ways of the anziani, or ancients. Money has nothing to do with happiness (t)here.”
Before she and David boarded the Queen Mary in late April for an Atlantic crossing that would take them to Italy for an extended stay, Diana hosted a signing party for her Denver-area friends. She prepared seven dishes that are mentioned in the book and donated proceeds from the day’s sales to Momawethu, a South African mission that provides medical care for impoverished families. Her daughter, Heather, is a volunteer there.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
