For every child with hoop dreams or visions of a downhill run on a champagne powder day, there’s a whole lot more who don’t even dare to dream of sinking a shot or strapping on a set of K2 Luv Bugs.
Petur Workman aims to change that with FosterSports, the Denver-based nonprofit organization that he founded and heads. FosterSports was introduced to the community at large when Scott Coors and David Hurt opened their home for an early-evening reception attended by board members, volunteers and others interested in making a positive difference in the lives of Colorado’s at-risk, foster and displaced youth by providing equipment and sports-related opportunities for them.
A triathlete and former snowboard instructor who has owned his own advertising and marketing company, Workman moved to Colorado in 2000 with partner Tim Thein and their three adopted children.
Thein is president of the FosterSports board; other members are Claud Cloete, a modern pentathlon competitor in the 1996 Olympics; guardian ad litem Traci Streifer; psychologist Jennifer Gafford; and Cindy Liverance, vice president of programs for the American Lung Association of Colorado.
Workman shared how FosterSports identifies needs and then moves swiftly to obtain funding, establish programs, obtain equipment — even furnish transportation where need be. He admits that “Youth communities are risky by nature, and not all of our programming with lead to a positive outcome. But even negative outcomes are useful … everything we learn helps us prioritize our next areas of focus.”
He also said that FosterSports’ first fundraising gala will take place in the fall and will be built around kids and fashion. Learn more by visiting .
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If you like living on the edge, you might be interested in going Over The Edge to raise money for Cancer League of Colorado. Co-chairs Scott Richardson and Dr. Katie Richardson say that anyone who can raise a minimum of $1,000 in pledges is welcome to rappel down the 31-story 1600 Glenarm Place skyscraper on July 8 or 9. Learn more by visiting … Gov. John Hickenlooper, curator Rose Fredrick, artist Duke Beardsley and MillerCoors will be honored at Rock West, a July 16 shindig that Foothills Art Center is having in conjunction with its exhibit “Cowboys & Rock Stars: 65 Years of Rockmount Ranch Wear.” There’ll be tequila and whiskey bars, food and an auction; buy tickets at 303-279-3922, ext. 28 … The recent Party Peeps & Poker netted $50,000 for the Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust … Kristopher and Curtis Lincoln, owners of Willow Creek Restaurant in Evergreen, are hosting “Ellie’s Evening” on July 19 as a memorial to their two-year-old daughter who received hospice care before succumbing to a congenital heart defect. Admission is free and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served at the restaurant, 29029 Upper Bear Creek Road, from 5-9:30 p.m. Proceeds from a silent auction and the sale of alcoholic beverages will go to Mt. Evans Hospice & Home Health Care … Former Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter was the special guest at a breakfast prepared by the girls of Excelsior Youth Center’s culinary arts program for 30 friends of EYC’s after-care program. Board members Lois Paul and Mary Shay, along a group that included Marti Awad, Tammy Brislin, Lynn Stang, Laura Wegscheid, Dana Berry, Sara Hill, Aquilla McKnight and Jocelyn Murphy contributed $2,000 to a fund that provides emergency assistance to EYC grads who need help with things like rent and groceries.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost.com/davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter
More online: Additional pictures from the FosterSports launch party at
