For this thought alone, Alfre Woodard deserved a standing ovation:
“You need to look into their eyes and let them know you’re expecting something from them.”
Speaking at the 23rd annual luncheon put on by the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, the Academy Award-winning actress validated the foundation’s belief that without someone who can instill values, give them a clear sense of direction and the tools to make dreams come true, girls — especially those born into unfortunate circumstances — are likely to make poor choices or simply get left behind.
“Your presence in these girls’ lives is just as important as your big checks,” Woodard said. “They need to see you so they can more easily envision themselves as the successful women you are, not as someone whose goal is to be Miss New Booty or Miss Freakalicious.”
Piper Billups, Cathy Hart and Susan McIntire chaired the event that raised $800,000 and brought a crowd of 1,800 to the Colorado Convention Center last Thursday afternoon.
Woodard stars as Lt. Tanya Rice on TNT’s “Memphis Beat.” She received the Oscar for best supporting actress in 1984’s “Cross Creek” and turned in Emmy-winning performances on such TV shows as “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law” and “The Practice.”
Guests at the event emceed by CBS4’s Karen Leigh included Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper and his wife, Helen Thorpe; former Colorado first ladies Dottie Lamm and Frances Owens; and two of Woodard’s childhood friends, Suzanne Arkle Wilson, wife of CU-Denver chancellor M. Roy Wilson, and Carolyn Foster, an executive assistant at the University of Denver.
Also, bankers Tammy Keffeler, Pat Cortez and Margaret Brown; Dr. Dean Prina; Libby Anschutz Brown; Caz Matthews; Jamie VanLeeuwen; Mary Ann Franklin; Jeanne Saunders; Sharon Magness Blake; Gloria Neal; Mary Lou Makepeace; Shari Shink; Terry Nelson; Susie Dews; Michele Bergner; Barbara Grogan; JoKatherine Holliman Page; Letty Bass; Marie Belew Wheatley; and Julie Ryczek, who had moved to Denver just two days before the luncheon from Florida, where she had served on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. Later this month she will marry Christopher Hill, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq who is now dean of the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, GetItWrite on Twitter
Four Seasons opening gala: A picture-perfect affair
The phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words” seems to have been invented for occasions like the benefit grand opening of the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Pictures are the only thing that do justice to a red-carpet occasion where 1,300 people were greeted with flutes of chilled champagne and sent home with gift bags overflowing with chocolates, gift certificates and spa products. Society editor Joanne Davidson and photographer Steve Peterson offer an exclusive look at the aerialists, stilt-walkers, OneRepublic concert and food in an online slide show that can be viewed at .
