The award-winning musical was the inspiration for a fundraiser that is always one of Denver’s most opulent: Beaux Arts Ball.
And although it wasn’t planned that way, “wicked” also was a good way to describe the weather on Saturday night when 1,050 of the 1,200 who’d purchased tickets braved the elements to frolic with Elphaba, Glinda the Good Witch — and even flying monkeys — while raising $1.9 million for National Jewish.
The doctors and scientists at this independent, research-based facility in Denver are committed to never saying never to the patients who arrive from around the world in search of treatment for what president/CEO Michael Salem describes as “some of the toughest medical conditions and most challenging cases.”
Snow began pounding the metro area about an hour before the 5:30 p.m. start, leaving streets in anything but Yellow Brick Road condition. Yet after firing up their broomsticks — or four-wheel drives, as the case may be — folks like Jamie Van Leeuwen, John and Debi Medved, Tim Jackson, Evi and Evan Makovsky, and Nanette and David Kikumoto were able to land safely at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center, where decor in shades of green, black and pink gave the party area an Oz-like feel.
The Kikumotos were there with Judy and NexGen Resources CEO Charlie McNeil, Charlie having flown in from a Utah ski trip earlier in the day. Lisa and former National Jewish president Lynn Taussig arrived by way of Cancun, where they’d vacationed with their grandchildren.
Six couples — Kathy and Ted Brown, Faye and Steve Demby, DiAhndra Diamond and Alex Topelson, Robin and Cole Finegan, Diane and Doug Robinson and Shelly and Rick Sapkin — chaired the event, presented by the Morgridge Family Foundation.
Four other couples — Lindsey and Stanton Dodge, Dianne Eddolls and Glenn Jones, Leslie and Noel Ginsburg and Elaine and Kevin Kauffman — were the evening’s grand marshals, honored for their longstanding support of National Jewish.
Rich Schierburg, chair of the National Jewish board, extended a special welcome to Bain Farris and Dr. Reginald Washington, who were representing two of National Jewish’s newst partners: St. Joseph Hospital and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
More online: Additional pictures from this event. denverpost.com/seengallery
