To borrow a phrase from the 1920s, the Emily Griffith Foundation’s Party of the Century was the bee’s knees.
There might not have been cocktails crafted from bathtub gin at the speakeasy-themed soiree celebrating the Emily Griffith Technical College’s 100th anniversary, but the food, dress and music had a definite Prohibition-era feel.
Period costumes, finger sandwiches made from such throwback ingredients as deviled ham and pimiento cheese, and dancing to classic hits performed by Lannie Garrett helped set the mood for this Feb. 12 event held at the History Colorado Center.
“Do you know why this is such a great night?” asked Alby Segall, president of the sponsoring Emily Griffith Foundation board. “Because there are no tables of 10, no speeches, no auctions and no solicitations. The only order of business is to have fun.”
Chaired by foundation board member Pam Hovik, the evening had three goals: to salute the foresight of educator Emily Griffith, to toast a future that includes continued growth of programs and services, and to increase public awareness of the school that has educated 2 million students since its opening in September 1916.
Susan Kiely, whose Women With A Cause Foundation was one of seven Party of the Century sponsors, is chairing all of the 100-year anniversary activities. “I’m so invested because several of our Women With A Cause ladies attend, or have attended, classes at Emily Griffith. One has become a phlebotomist, another has learned to speak English and another just graduated as a certified nursing assistant.”
Kiely also said she’s excited about the expansion that is due to start later this year. Zocalo Community Development, another of the Party of the Century sponsors, will oversee a mixed-use project that, when finished, will include 200 apartments for low-income residents, along with an early-childhood education center and social enterprise hub.
A series of vignettes, written by Curious Theatre’s playwright in residence Emily Dendinger, traced Emily Griffith’s passion for helping immigrants assimilate by learning English and gaining new job skills.
Chip Walton, the producing artistic director at Curious, was among the guests, as was Jeff Barratt, the executive director of Emily Griffith Technical College, and such foundation board members as Bruce Schroffel, Gil Asakawa, Judith Lee Berg and Clint Burnette.
Rockmount Ranch Wear’s Steve Weil wore white tie and tails that had belonged to his grandfather; his wife, Wendy, chose a beaded flapper-style gown; while state board of education member Elaine Gantz Berman, there with her husband, Dr. Steve Berman, completed her period costume with a hat belonging to her 92-year-old mother.
Celebrants also included Jay Clark, the new executive director of Adam’s Camp; Kevin and Mary McNicholas, whose TKM Foundation sponsors a scholarship for an Emily Griffith student; philanthropic strategist Bruce DeBoskey, one of three Maverick Thinkers to be honored at a March 9 dinner benefiting Urban Peak; Denver Health’s chief executive, Dr. Arthur Gonzalez; attorney Penfield Tate and his wife, Paulette; Denver School Board member Landri Taylor and his wife, Gloria; National Civic League president Doug Linkhart; Vanessa Clark, senior director of marketing for Goodwill Industries of Denver (Goodwill sponsors a career preparedness teacher at Emily Griffith Technical College); Orbis Institute chairman David French; Rebecca Saltman, community engagement officer at Confluence Denver; and Marcela de la Mar, who with hubby John Fair will soon be enjoying the Inspirato vacation in Mexico that they won in the evening’s prize drawing.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or partiwriter@hotmail.co
