Before Vanna Whiteshoot, even before Pat Sajak took over for Chuck Woolery — Susan Stafford was the letter-turner on the popular TV game show “Wheel of Fortune.”
She joined the show when it began in 1975, earned an Emmy nomination and left in 1982 to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and became an ordained minister specializing in crisis counseling.
Stafford was here to speak at the Shaka Franklin Foundation’s Love Our Children Luncheon. She talked about her experiences as a member of the emergency response teams for both the Columbine and Virginia Tech tragedies, her current focus on senior citizens and patient advocacy, and her book, “Stop the Wheel, I Want to Get Off.”
Former IBM executive Les Franklin started the Shaka Franklin Foundation in 1990; it is devoted to the prevention of teen suicide.
A crowd of 350 attended the event that also honored Lu Vason, founder of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo; Urban Spectrum publisher Rosalind “Bee” Harris and Vivian Epstein, founder of the Parents of Suicides support group.
It’s all good.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation raised $600,000 at its 12th Dream Gala. The event chaired by Karey and Michael Finch featured entertainment by Super Diamond and a salute to Edward M. Brown, president/chief executive officer of the Patron Spirits Co., whose support of the JDRF began when his niece, Addie Finch, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes … A Derby Day party at Invesco Field that honored Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl and his life partner, Kim Van Deraa, netted $150,000 for the cancer foundation … The Mizel Museum (303-394-9993, ext. 5011) presents its 2011 Community Enrichment Award to Sharon Magness Blake at a dinner that begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum … The Eating Disorder Foundation soon will have a headquarters location, something that will be celebrated on May 31 when Jonathan and Toni Saiber host a wine and cheese reception at their home May 31 … University of Colorado Hospital president Bruce Schroffel has been elected to the board of directors at Project C.U.R.E. … It won’t be “official” until Tuesday, when an announcement is made at a luncheon held at Jennifer O’Neill’s Cherry Hills Village home, but we just received confirmation that Judi Wolf is to be the Fine Arts Foundation Citizen of the Arts for 2012, succeeding 2011 titleholders Don and Arlene Johnson. Their last official duty is to be part of the receiving line at the June 18 Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
