In local and national music circles, the words “opera” and “Ellie Caulkins” go together like ” ” and ” .”
As her friend Nöel Cong-don explains: “There are others who support opera, but no one has shifted the sands like Ellie has.”
So it might come as a surprise to learn that Caulkins, after whom the is named, has used her favorite art form to cover up for what used to be a guilty pleasure.
Caulkins, a three-time chair of the board who is now serving on the board of directors, confessed what it was when she accepted the 2014 Award for Arts and Humanities.
“Until opened a store in Denver, I used to fly my Cessna to to shop at the Trader Joe’s there. I let people think I was going there on opera business but it was really to shop at Trader Joe’s.”
Caulkins was one of three prominent Coloradans honored at the foundation’s 29th Awards Celebration Luncheon held at the .
David Greenberg, founder of , received the Community Service Award. Dr. David Schwartz, chair of the department of medicine at the and a world expert in the genetics of pulmonary disease, accepted the award for Science and Medicine.
Each award is accompanied by a $35,000 grant, which the recipient can use for personal or professional gain.
The luncheon also was the occasion for J. Landis “Lanny” Martin, chairman of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation board, to introduce Gary Steuer, who has succeeded Dorothy Horrell as president/CEO, and to present the 10th class of Livingston Fellows.
Named for the foundation’s late chair emeritus, Johnston Livingston, the fellowship program gives $25,000 to five leaders of nonprofit organizations to enhance their skills and “move from success to significance.”
Lisa Brown, CEO of the ; Jacob Gould, executive director of ; Glenna Norvelle, president/CEO of ; David Ryan, CEO of ; and Erin Yoshimura, executive director of the , are the Livingston Fellows for 2014.
Steuer joined the foundation last October, coming to Denver from Philadelphia where he had served as chief culture officer and director of the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
In addition to applauding the 2014 honorees, guests enjoyed a lunch of sea salt-roasted beet salad, smoked beef tenderloin and grilled Alaskan halibut. Dessert was chamomile panna cotta with lemon-oat crumble, poached Mandarin oranges and tangerine gelée.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seengallery
Friends of Nursing scholarships
Twenty-eight Colorado nursing students receive $72,500 in scholarships at a luncheon held at Lakewood Country Club. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog blogs.denverpost.com/style
