A fiesta simply wouldn’t be a fiesta without an abundant supply of music, food and pretty things to buy — and a huge crowd to enjoy it all.
Yolanda Ortega, the owner of Encantada Catering, and attorney Michael Sawaya saw to it that every ingredient was in place when they chaired Fiesta on the Plaza, a grand affair that helps fund the medical services that Clinica Tepeyac will deliver to 16,000 low-income or uninsured patients this year alone.
They were aided by a committee whose 14 members included state Sen. Irele Aguilar, Elaine and Max Appel, Jesse Ogas and Gloria Padilla de Garcia, whose husband, Jim, is the founder and executive director of Clinica Tepeyac. As the 500 guests assembled in the National Western Stadium Arena, they could enjoy cocktails and music by Mariachi Vasquez and La Quinta Nota as they placed silent auction bids and perused a marketplace where vendors offered everything from hand-made jewelry to original works of art.
The call to dinner was a grand “entrada” where 9News weather forecaster Belen DeLeon, the fiesta’s emcee, had Mariachi Vasquez, La Quinta Nota and Grupo Folklorico Sabor Latino give brief performances before she asked the audience to stand as she sang the National Anthem.
Former restaurateur Martine Chavez collaborated with chefs from K-M Concessions to design a dinner menu that included a traditional elote (roasted corn) salad, followed by braised beef short ribs served with sweet potato puree and a Fresno chili sauce. Dessert was citrus flan topped with lime zest whipped cream.
Jim Garcia and board chair Ann Murphy, dean of the Metropolitan State University School of Business, presented the 2016 Corazon y Alma (Heart and Soul) Award to Dr. Bill Burman, an infectious disease specialist currently serving as Denver Health’s interim chief executive officer.
For the past 10 years, Burman has directed Clinica Tepeyac’s HIV program, and while his new position with Denver Health has caused him to cut back on this, he’s also known for riding his bicycle to see patients.
Delta Dental of Colorado was given the Outstanding Community Partner Award for its role in bringing oral health services to the clinic located in Denver’s Globeville-Swansea-Elyria neighborhood. Delta Dental’s CEO, Kate Paul, co-chair of Clinica Tepeyac’s Leadership Council, accepted the award.
Jose and Magdalena Aguayo, who helped start the Museo de las Americas, were among the guests. Others joining in the fun were Cindy Pe~na; Shepard Nevel, who in December will become president/CEO of Jewish Family Service of Colorado, and his wife, Anna Alejo; former DURA director Susan Powers; DIA’s “restaurant king,” Rod Tafoya; Veronica Montoya with her mom, Bea; KBNO Radio owner Zee Ferrufino; and Brenda Vasquez, manager of volunteer services for the Denver Public Schools, and her husband, Gilbert, the high bidders on a trip to Hawaii that was one of the fiesta’s live auction items.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, partiwriter@hotmail.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter
