All the purring going on at Cat Care Society headquarters today isn’t just because another kitty has been adopted to a loving home.
It’s the result of a report handed to executive director Shari Shiffer-Krieger that indicates the inaugural Tails of the Painted Cats fundraiser exceeded expectations, raising $40,000 instead of the anticipated $30,000.
Tails of the Painted Cats was an ambitious undertaking that began when 18 local artists agreed to paint an equal number of larger-than-life Fiberglas cats that would be displayed in galleries and other locations throughout the metro area in the weeks leading up to the CCS’s 30th-anniversary gala at Green Gables Country Club. A jury headed by Linda Goto chose five of them to be sold in a live auction called by Don Martin; the others found their permanent home via silent bidding.
If guests Christina and Harold Taylor seemed to be grinning like, well, a Cheshire cat it’s because they not only emerged as high bidders on their favorite — Desert Cat — but won the drawing for Georgia O’Kitty, a feline homage to artist Georgia O’Keeffe, complete with a steer skull on her chest and bright red poppies circling around her black and white body.
Mistress of ceremonies April Zesbaugh of KOA Radio drew Bonnie Dreblow’s name for the consolation prize, a poster of Georgia O’Kitty.
Mike Krieger paid $1,300 for Bluesy, whose coat was a tile mosaic by glass artist Karole Sharpe, and June Travis gave $1,100 for Memphis, inspired by artist Greg Marquez’ own cat by the same name.
Veterinarian Linda East and Lynn Rowe started the CCS in 1981 to provide cage-free shelter to 45 homeless, injured or abused cats at 5787 W. Sixth Ave. in Lakewood. It is funded via private donations and income from the Cajun’s Closet Thrift Shoppe and the Meow Mart.
Coming right up.
The 12 African-American men to be honored by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at its Sept. 17 M.O.D.E.L. celebration will be revealed at a reception held at 6:30 p.m. today in the Curtis Ballroom at Comedy Works South. . . . Registration for the sixth annual Mentors Walk, a benefit for the Women’s Vision Foundation, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Denver’s City Park. The $30 fee includes breakfast in the park, with a talk by Lori Bachman, who directed the due diligence and transition efforts that led to the formation of United Launch Alliance, a $2 billion joint venture between LockheedMartin and Boeing. Learn more at . . . . Greg Moore, editor of The Denver Post, delivers the keynote address for Breakfast of Scholars, a June 23 benefit for the Summer Scholars program. Sign-in begins at 7:15 a.m. at Ridgeline restaurant in the Pepsi Center; tickets can be purchased by calling Coleen Truax, 303-381-3746. Summer Scholars began in 1994 as a response to Denver’s “summer of violence” and provides after-school and summer activities for 2,000 elementary school children in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
