There’s no place like home, not just for the holidays but for every day of the year. And no matter how humble it may be, even a temporary shelter is better than no shelter at all.
For 25 years, the staff and volunteers at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless have worked harder than probably anyone can imagine to put a roof over the heads of those who find themselves on the street, often through no fault of their own. To celebrate the coalition’s growth from a grassroots effort led by John Parvensky to a national model that operates 30 programs and serves an estimated 16,000 men, women and children a year, 500 supporters gathered in the East Club Lounge at Invesco Field for a gala dinner whose theme was Home for the Holidays.
The work the coalition does is important enough to capture the attention of President Barack Obama, who sent a letter of congratulations that board president Jay Brown read at the gala.
Jeremy Hotsenpiller from title sponsor USBank chaired the event that concluded with a concert by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. He also had the honor of introducing Parvensky, who remains at the helm today, and Karen Knight- Atencio, one of the agency’s success stories. Left homeless and in a wheelchair after an accident in 2006, the single mother of three now lives in CCH- sponsored housing while she studies for a law degree.
Former Denver Bronco Rod Smith emceed the gala that also recognized attorney Kathleen Mullen, a founder and first president of the coalition’s board. Mullen received the Mitch Snyder Memorial Advocacy Award for her efforts to honor the dignity and basic rights of those struggling with mental illness and homelessness.
Guests included Washington Post correspondent T.R. Reid, who also serves on the board, and his wife, attorney Margaret McMahon; Jay Brown’s wife, Allison, an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission; Patti Sandoval; dentist Jack Armstrong; Ann Sookswat and Russell Martin; Shari and James Holdman; Rachel Abeyta; Debbie and Tim Kelly; Tom Snyder, an attorney with Kutak Rock, and his wife, Lisa, general counsel for WildBlue Communications; and RBC Daniels chairman/CEO Brian Deevy and his wife, Caryn.
To learn more about the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, visit .
It’s interesting to know.
That Patricia Peterson, founding executive director of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, has been chosen to succeed Jesse Wolff as the Kempe Foundation’s president/CEO. . . . That attorney Dianne Briscoe, a member of Denver chapter of The Links Inc., will be sworn in as a Denver County Court judge on Dec. 14. . . . That the Denver Santa Claus Shop is collecting toys for its 80th holiday giveaway; donation bins are at King Soopers stores through Nov. 30.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
