![<B>BJ Dyer,</B> left, and <B>Guenther Vogt</B> chaired The Adoption Exchange's 23rd Fantasy Ball. <!--IPTC: [CUT1]BJ Dyer, left, and Guenther Vogt chaired The Adoption Exchange’s 23rd Fantasy Ball. [CREDIT]Joanne Davidson, The Denver Post-->](/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20101201__20101203_D16_FE03DAVIDSONp1.jpg "20101201__20101203_D16_FE03DAVIDSON~p1.JPG")
Sure, blame it on the dog(s): They make it a cute story.
It was maybe three years ago when Carol McNealy walked into the LoDo location of Bouquets to ask owners BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt to bid on doing decor for the Adoption Exchange’s signature fundraiser, the Fantasy Ball, that McNealy was chairing with her husband, Brad.
But before she could say a word, she received an enthusiastic greeting from the shop’s mascots, a pair of Italian greyhounds named Milano and Macchio.
“As it turns out, she has Italian greyhounds, too, so right away we knew this was going to be a match made in heaven,” Dyer said this week as he described how he and Vogt, his partner of 35 years, came to support the Adoption Exchange, a matchup so successful that the couple didn’t hesitate for a moment when asked to chair the 2010 Fantasy Ball, which took place Nov. 20 and raised $420,000.
“This organization is dear to BJ and me because it focuses on the placement of older children here in the United States who, unless adopted, may wind up on the street,” Vogt explains.
The theme, “Piece of My Heart,” continued the mood set with last year’s “You Are the Missing Piece.” The gala also was the occasion for the Adoption Exchange to present its Wednesday’s Child Award to Pam Kiker, operating principal at Keller Williams Realty DTC and an 11-year member of the Adoption Exchange board. She has also chaired the Fantasy Ball.
Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons was the decor and logistics chair and attended the gala with her husband, Jack. Quinn Washington and Kate Sutton headed the young professionals committee; Jamee Smith coordinated the auction and raffle; and Janet Perlstein headed the sponsorship committee. Emcees were Brooke Wagner and Ed Greene of CBS4.
Executive director Dixie van de Flier Davis helped board chair Ray Nutt welcome the 410 guests, a crowd that also included Jeremy and Angie Flug; Chris and Laura Boggs; David and Kay Brewick; Fred and Barb Fielder; Monica Owens and Jake Vanderslice; Don and Judi Butt; Ben and Marlene Krell; Matt and Denise Rivera; Paul and Bonnie Zueger; and Larry and Jill DiPasquale, whose Epicurean Catering did the dinner of bistro coffee-spiced short ribs and poached pears.
What’s happening?
Vintage timepieces and historical documents from the Webster Ball collection are on display at the Swiss Chalet, 1642 Pearl St., Boulder, and in conjunction with the exhibit, a two- day silent auction is being held to raise money for HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; refreshments from Laudisio and Augustino Winery will be served. . . . Also on Saturday, the Sheraton Denver Downtown offers a drop-in Breakfast with Santa in its 15/Fifty Restaurant from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. There’ll be food, cookie decorating with pastry chef Sky Goble and appearances by costumed characters from Colorado Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children up to age 12, with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House. . . . At 8 p.m. Saturday, the Hi-Dive is hosting an event to benefit Eyelab, which provides vision services and glasses on a sliding- scale fee. The $6 cover includes entertainment by the Overcasters and Porlolo & Charly “the City Mouse” Fasano. Learn more by visiting .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
