Eleven teenagers who turned to Project PAVE for help in moving past abuse, extreme poverty, relationship violence or the murder of a family member were awarded college scholarships at a luncheon co-chaired by a community leader who shared that he, too, had walked a mile in their shoes.
Michael Kennedy surprised nearly everyone in the Seawell Grand Ballroom when, during his congratulatory remarks, he spoke candidly about having grown up with an alcoholic parent and how living in an abusive environment led to other problems he has since overcome. “I know first-hand the toll it can take on a child,” Kennedy said, “but I’m at peace now, and I hope all of you are, too.”
Kennedy chaired the luncheon with his wife, Kelly, and also announced that their Kennedy and Gallagher Family Foundations would match the first $25,000 donated in the afternoon’s special appeal.
The 11 students helped by Project PAVE each received a $5,000 scholarship that day; a 12th, Will Wytias-Sobel, also received one for his work in bringing awareness to the burgeoning problem of teen dating violence.
Mike Johnson, Project PAVE’s executive director, helped the Kennedys welcome a record crowd of 700, a group that included Kelly Kennedy’s parents, Charlie and Diane Gallagher; PC Crown; former Colorado first ladies Jeannie Ritter and Frances Owens; Ellen Scott; Cori Plotkin and Tyler Streetman; Cheri Kirschbaum; Marti Awad; Bruce DeBoskey; Sue McFarlane; Pam Diamond; Elaine Gampel; Kalleen Malone; Cindy Halaby; Marc Levine; Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld; Kathleen McCall-Thompson; Hanne Lichtenfels; Michelle Kales; Kayleen Hollines; Joe Hubbard; Kelli Kindel; Dr. Catherine Carretero-Ferrufino; Bob Serotta; Vince Boryla; Heidi Hammell; Marc Spritzer and 7News anchor Anne Trujillo, the mistress of ceremonies.
Coming right up.
The Asian American Heroes of Colorado Awards will be presented Saturday at a brunch held at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast. Recipients are John Yee, Drucie Bathin, Ding-Wen Hsu, Linda and Jimmy Yip, and Drs. Ben Konishi and Alok Sarwal. . . . Also on Saturday: the Officers’ Ball, a dinner-dance at the Hyatt Tech Center that Sharon Magness Blake is chairing on behalf of the Denver Police Officers Foundation, and MAD About DAM, a cocktail party and auction inspired by the television show “Mad Men.” Tickets for the Officers’ Ball can be purchased from J.C. Tyus Jr., 303-940-1424, while reservations for MAD About DAM, a benefit for the modern and contemporary departments at the Denver Art Museum, are being taken at 720-913-0152.
Congratulations.
Former KHOW personality Marti Martin Waneka has received Vail Valley Medical Center’s Outstanding Service Volunteer of the Year Award; the former co-host of the Charley and Marti Show has lived in Vail for the past five years. . . . Denver Area Panhellenic has named Scottie Taylor Iverson its Woman of the Year for her longstanding service to sorority life. Iverson pledged Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Cincinnati and remains active in its local alumnae chapter.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
