What Jeannie Ritter has done to bring a voice to mental illness by seeing that the mentally ill in Colorado receive the level of care and compassion as do those with a physical illness, is nothing short of remarkable, and for that she was given the 2014 Hildegard Messenbaugh Award at signature fundraiser, True Grit.
Messenbaugh, a psychiatrist, founded Third Way Center in 1970 as a shelter for runaway teens. Today it provides a continuum of care to boys and girls age 14 to 19 who have experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment.
“Jeannie Ritter may be most well-known as our state’s former first lady,” noted artist William Matthews, president of the Third Way Center board. “However, we believe her greatest impact is through her continuing efforts to bring a voice to mental health and serve as a champion for those with mental illness, including residents of Third Way Center.
“As first lady,” Matthews added, “in her current role as ambassador for the Mental Health Center of Denver, through her work with severely emotionally disturbed children in the Denver Public Schools and as a family advocate, Jeannie has seen firsthand the need for greater awareness and understanding of mental illness and better access to services for those in need.”
Pete and Marilyn Coors were the honorary chairmen for True Grit, which brought 400 people to the Seawell Ballroom on Saturday night for a chuckwagon supper, auction and dance.
Matthews joined the Third Way Center board in 2001 and has been its president since 2004. “Once you’re in and committed, it’s hard not to be,” he said of his longstanding service. Matthews also recalled that he attended his first True Grit 24 years ago when it was held “in a horse barn in Littleton with dirt floors. Pete and Marilyn were the chairmen that year, too.”
Guests included state Sen. Mike Johnston; Maggie and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey; Annie Eastman and Davis Coombe from Denver-based , an Academy Award-winning company (best documentary short in 2011) that produced a video about Third Way Center and one of its success stories, Realtor ; the owners of , Bob and Suzanne Fanch; Kerri and David Greenberg; Arlene and Don Shwayder; Robyn and Bob Loup; Patty and Brian McConaty; Annalee and Dr. Wag Schorr; Barbara and David Sheldon; Connie and Gary Levine; Sheri and Gary Gray; Vanessa and Matt McCormick; David Eisner and Renee Johnson; and filmmaker Amie Knox.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
