Maybe it was the royal wedding, the Kentucky Derby or simply because people like the way they look. Whatever the reason, hats seem to be taking their place as a wardrobe staple for those attending fundraisers in Denver.
Seven hundred women wore them to the Denver Center Alliance’s Women With Hattitude, for example, maybe half of the 160 guests at the Denver Art Museum’s Luncheon by Design chose a chapeau as the finishing touch to their spring ensemble.
And, two recent Alice in Wonderland/ Mad Hatter-themed events were record- setters for Hospice of St. John and Dani’s Foundation.
The hospice fundraiser was a family- oriented afternoon tea, and organizer Sharon Cooper says the Denver Design Center was “packed to the brim” with 200 supporters of “every age and hat preference.” Realtor Edie Marks reigned as the Queen of Hearts and helped Cooper’s husband, Steve, who is Hospice of St. John’s chief executive, welcome a group that included Janice and Wally Weckbaugh, Vickie Dow, Sandee Walling, Gayle Novak, John Horan, Peter and Gillian Drummond, Candis Hewitt, Don and Arlene Johnson, Ms. Petite Colorado Pam Smith and Miss Mile High Hannah Porter.
Dani’s Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric sarcoma, had its Mad Hatter’s Ball at Mile High Station.
The 325 guests raved about the food — a walkabout supper with selections from restaurants that included Bayou Bob’s, Strings, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Happy Cakes and Cows Gone Coconut — and the tunes spun by DJ Brian Howe.
But hands-down, the most memorable element was a fedora fashion show starring patients from The Children’s Hospital. The youngsters shared the runway with Denver Broncos cheerleaders Krystal Archer and Michelle Sommer; Keith Dauper, Matt Doubeck and Matt Page from the Glendale Raptors rugby team; former Denver Bronco Jim Jensen; and Denver Nuggets ambassador Ervin Johnson. Everyone wore hats from Goorin Bros. in Larimer Square.
A flash mob, featuring 30 members of the Rocky Mountain School of Dance, was pretty special, too.
Michele Ashby started Dani’s Foundation after losing her daughter to pediatric sarcoma and with her husband, Keith, helped executive director Martha Simmons thank such friends as Bob and Carolyn Barnett; Guy and Nicola Lansdown; Briana Blaisdale and Tim and Lynn Simmons.Coming right up.
The Nuggets’ head coach, George Karl, and his life partner, Kim Van Deraa, are honorary chairmen for the Children’s Museum of Denver’s 38th Birthday Bash, an event that goes on rain or shine outdoors at the museum on June 3. An Evening in Magical Madrid is the theme and co-chairs Merrill Smith and Jenna Stapleton promise “a party under the stars that will be filled with all kinds of surprises.” Tickets can be purchased by calling 303-561-0104. . . . The Cat Care Society celebrates its 30th year by hosting Tails of the Painted Cats at Green Gables Country Club on June 5. KOA’s April Zesbaugh will emcee the 4 p.m. dinner and auction of 16 fiberglass kitties that have been painted by such artists as Jane Dorsey, Claudia Roulier and Irlene Owada. See them at .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also. See more pictures from the Mad Hatter events
