The way to a supporter’s heart is through his or her stomach. Don’t believe me? Then check in with any of the 520 who attended the Invest in Kids Gala at Exdo Event Center.
I’m willing to bet that most everyone will say the food is what made this event memorable. Co-chairwomen Catherine Goodwillie and Diane Reed believe variety is the spice of life, so they engaged chefs from seven of Denver’s top restaurants to present not a buffet but a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner that showcased their respective talents.
As folks like U.S. Attorney John Walsh, Robert Hill and Sean Waters perused the silent auction, they could sample lobster shu mai from ChoLon, diablo rolls from Sushi Sasa and tomato-wild mushroom bites from Barolo Grill. TAG’s caramelized South African ruff was the dinner’s first course. It was followed by lamb crèpinette from Olivea and Vesta Dipping Grill’s petite tenderloin. Things came to a sweet conclusion with Rioja’s signature Whopper Torte and cupcakes from Happy Cakes.
The event raised $241,000 for the nonprofit agency dedicated to what executive director Lisa Merlino describes as “Getting kids off to the best start possible.”
Gov. John Hickenlooper was there to congratulate honorary chairs Betsy Crane, Lindsey Gutterman, Amy Middlekauff and Dr. Dean Prina. He observed that, “A lot of people talk about how important it is to help kids. Invest in Kids actually does.”
“In tough times like these, it is incredibly humbling to see such an amazing amount of support,” Merlino added. “We are currently serving 1,000 children, or 20 percent more than we ever have had before.” Invest in Kids was founded in 1999 and serves children in 50 Colorado counties.
Other attendees were Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey; Don Quick, district attorney for Adams and Broomfield counties; former CNN analyst Bill Schneider; and 7News anchor Anne Trujillo, the mistress of ceremonies.
This and that.
On Sunday, Greeley native Reed Doughty, a Washington Redskins safety, will be the special guest at the 10th annual Kidney Walk put on by the National Kidney Foundation of Colorado, Montana & Wyoming. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Infinity Park in Glendale; learn more by visiting . . . . The young professionals supporting Janet’s Camp, a fundraiser that Janet Elway hosts every year for the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver, will discuss plans for their involvement in the June 18 event at a cocktail reception that starts at 6 p.m. May 19 at Ocean Prime. RSVP to vince.abrue@wellsfargo.com. . . .The recent Dining Out for Life netted $350,000 for Project Angel Heart and its mission of providing nutritious meals to low-income individuals with life-threatening illnesses.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter
