If everyone who came to the Cable Center to see Joe and Judi Wagner receive the 2010 Heart of Volunteerism Award did as they were asked, hundreds of metro area children have a new book to read.
Let me explain: Instead of distributing token gifts to commemorate the occasion, the folks at Metro Volunteers purchased copies of “What’s Up With Altitude?,” Lisa Gardiner’s book about effects high altitude has on the human body, and then asked guests to take a copy — not for themselves, but to place in locations where children gather. Like schools, churches and medical offices.
“How many of you have a drawer full of well-intentioned thank-you gifts? Me, too,” observed executive director Kristy Judd. “Because literacy and science education are important to Joe and Judi, we purchased this wonderful book that’s set in an elementary school and contains wonderful experiments for curious children.”
The Wagners are the fifth recipients of the Heart of Volunteerism Award, an honor created to salute those who embody the Metro Volunteers mission of cultivating and mobilizing volunteers as a vital force in the community. It was presented to them by former Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler, in whose living room they were married many years ago.
Even with demanding careers (Wagner Equipment for him and Wagner Investment Management for her) they maintained a strong presence in philanthropy and volunteerism, giving time and money to causes that include Colorado UpLIFT, the Colorado Trust, The Children’s Hospital, Mile High United Way, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Urban Peak, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Center for Women’s Health Research.
Event chairs Todd Bacon, Greg Geiss ler and Jackie Norris welcomed a group of Wagner friends that included former Colorado first lady Dottie Lamm; Betsy Mangone; Judith Regensteiner; Dori Biester; Eve Powell; Joe Barrows; Sally Rippey; Lauren Casteel; Nancy Petry; and Cindy Willard, chair of the Metro Volunteers board.
Coming right up
The Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Awards Dinner, honoring the Levin and Trueblood families, begins at 5:30 p.m. today at the Cable Center … On Thursday, members and invited guests gather for cocktails at the new locale (965 Santa Fe Drive) for Metropolitan State College’s Center for Visual Arts … Jungle Jubilee is the theme for the Children’s Museum Birthday Bash, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the museum. Mandi Hoffman and Halle Holmes are the co-chairs … Also on Friday, Tai Dan and Ding Wen Hsu open their home for a reception announcing plans for the Asian Pacific Development Center’s 30th anniversary celebration.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
