If you’ve ever attended one of National Jewish Health’s Beaux Arts Balls, you’ll understand it when I say that its special events team, headed by Clem Connolly, sure knows how to do things up right.
They’re elaborate, high-energy and tons of fun. They’re also very profitable.
So when it was time to add another event to NJH’s fundraising schedule, Connolly called on three women with the experience and know-how to create a fashion show that would wow even the most jaded observer: Robin Chotin, Bonnie Mandarich and Abby Perlmutter Miller.
Their months-long collaboration resulted in Rev the Runway, a cocktail party, auction and Neiman Marcus fashion extravaganza held Nov. 2 at Mercedes-Benz of Denver. The 350 guests helped raise $165,000.
Chotin has been a member of the hospital’s board of directors since 1996; Mandarich has chaired two of Denver’s biggest charity events, the Children’s Hospital Gala and the Mask Project Gala; and Miller, daughter of U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, is the force behind Denver Darling, a fashion and lifestyle blog.
All three have personal connections to NJH.
Mandarich underwent successful treatment for lung cancer there. “National Jewish saved my life,” she said. “The doctors there knew what other doctors didn’t.” Chotin and her husband, Steve, can trace their family’s connection to NJH to the 1920s when relatives were treated for tuberculosis in the hospital’s early days. Miller’s grandparents, Leonard and Alice Perlmutter, have supported NJH for some 50 years.
Leonard Perlmutter is a lifetime trustee of NJH, and his wife, Alice, was at Rev the Runway with such family members as Cassie, Zoe and Deana Perlmutter.
The co-chairs said they were pleased beyond words to know that both Neiman Marcus and Mercedes-Benz of Denver would embrace their vision for creating a top-flight event.
Britt Jackson, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek, used her connections to assemble a show, choreographed by Tracy Bozarth, that featured casual, dress and special occasion designs from New York, Paris and Milan.
Before sitting down for the show, guests had ample time to peruse a silent auction while enjoying cocktails and a chance to take a closer look at the luxury autos that MBZ-Denver’s general manager, Joseph Owens lining the showroom floor. They also kept tabs as artist Andree Hudson created a painting that would be up for bid in the evening’s live auction and availed themselves of the touch-up services offered by La Prairie and Lip Locked by Lisa.
Troy Guard had chefs from three of his restaurants — FNG, Guard and Grace, TAG, and Mister Tuna — whip up such treats as butternut squash risotto; steamed Hawaiian snapper accompanied by crab quinoa salad; sous vide strip loin atop carrot puree and grilled cauliflower salsa; and chicken roulade with watercress peanut salad and Thai red curry.
Epicurean Catering provided chilled poached salmon, imported cheeses, grilled veggies and sweets.
Nancy Sagar had helped get the ball rolling for Rev the Runway, but retired from Neiman Marcus before the event itself took place. She was there, though, to applaud her former colleagues and support the cause.
“I look forward to be sitting on this side of the runway,” she said. “It’s going to achieve what the co-chairs had envisioned: a party that’s young, hip and fun.”
Jamie Angelich, one of the 35 who served on Rev the Runway’s planning committee, was there with Joanna Silverman, who divides her time between Denver and the Carmel area of California. Silverman’s son, Michael, is the managing partner of Denver-based Samantha Brands.
Others taking part in the festivities were Rebecca Kling; attorney April Jones and her husband, Darryl, the chief real estate officer for Denver International Airport; Cindy Farber; such Party of Two sponsors as Chelsea Elder and Jeff Galowitsh; Amy Meyer Smith; Debi and Jerry Tepper and John Tobey with his spouse, photographer Chad Chisholm; jewelry designer Linda Bowen Scott; Quinn Washington; Diane Huttner; Arlene Mohler Johnson with son Seth Mohler and his wife, Annie Larsen-Mohler; Barry Hirschfeld; and interior designer Sandy Reichborn-Kjennerud.
Also, Victoria Frank; Dianne Eddolls; Judie Davidson Seidel; Dr. John Grossman and his wife, Pamela Hill-Grossman; Kentwood City Properties’ Andi Leahey and her pal, interior designer Kimberly Jamerson; Andy Levy; Reza and Jessica Alizadeh; Jennifer Daurio; Erin Dilley; such committee members as Rochelle McNaughton, Edie Marks, Amy Fotenos, Pamela Helm, Libby Weaver, Carrie West and Amy Zaterman; and CBS4 meteorologist Lauren Whitney, the fundraiser’s emcee.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, partiwriter@hotmail.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter
