By Glory Weisberg
Glory Weisberg, Society Editor
Healing the Hurt is what Families First is all about and Jo Blum, past executive director and now major gifts staffer, coined that phrase when she gave some brief remarks at the nonprofit’s Country Fair, July 18 at the Wildlife Experience in Parker
The Crazy Merchant in Littleton underwrote the fun affair, as the store and its owners Deb and Bill McMillan have for many years.
Tracy Donovan and Daphyne Reiff were chairmen, watching over a jumping castle, face painting, silent and live auctions and a tour of the Experience with its new 3D Globeology exhibit.
Mike Grace mans the pig adoption station.
Hot dogs, pulled chicken, green salad and macaroni salad were on the menus for chidlren and adults who seemed to inhale it all before digging into chocolate and lemon bars.
This benefit encourages kids and grandkids to come and party with their extended families, helping to raise funds to treat and care for other children. Three generations of the Mort and Edie Marks family, Gary and Sally Newcomb family and other historically supportive volunteers were there in the shade of the patio before sunset.
Emmett Duemke gave voice to the live auction that swiftly put more coin in the charity’s pockets that has programs to rehabilitate families with a history of child abuse, housing and treating up to about 12 children at any one time, helping them overcome the anxiety they had to live with before coming to Families First, now headed by Mary Hencmann. The facility offers parent education classes, a statewide bi-lingual support line and support groups. The Friends for Families First Auxiliary runs the Country Fair, golf tournament and annual gala.
Daphyne Reiff and Tracy Donovan. Photos by Glory Weisberg.
The stars at the annual Country Fair are ceramic piggy banks that supporters adopt, fill and bring to the fair for weighing and emptying, with the contents going to Families First. Pig “parents” then have the choice of keeping the pig they had or exchanging it for a new one. Pigs On Pedestals are prime piggy banks painted by volunteers and sold at the fair and some are just plain pretty, some transformed from being ordinary pigs into other animals or glitzy up for the cause.
Connie Genova, employee of The Crazy Merchant, coordinated the fair’s pig sale and also on the event committee was Jennifer Drake, Sonja Peterson and Kristin Stonebarger. Among other supporters: Lauren, Briana and Mindy Davine; Dean and Shelly Goss; Susie, Elizabeth and Meridith Hotz; Nancy, Sarah and Sandra Kim; Lucy and Rick Kissinger; Martha Jentz; Cheryl Paxton; Carol Brewka; Marty and Tracy Schmidt; Deb and Jerry Sturm; Toni Tucker and Karen White.
We can state almost with certainty that a good time was had by all.
Keshet of the Rockies, Aug. 25
Sujeet Desai was born with Down syndrome and is an icon of achievement for others with DS. Able to play seven instruments, he has a degree from the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is the featured entertainer for the Keshet of the Rockies Dinner, Aug. 25.
Michelle Sie Whitten will receive the Rainbow of Hope Award at the benefit. She is executive director of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. Named for her parents, the nonprofit funds Down syndrome research. The Woman of Valor Award goes to Debra Weinstein, who has been active in the Jewish community for many years, having served as Allied Jewish Federation campaign chair and in 1995 named among Federation stars.
Nancy Gart, Susan Kramer, Brian and Allison Levin, Lloyd Lewis, Mac Macsovits, Jon and Lisa Perlmutter, Sandy Schiff, Amy Toltz-Miller and Vicki Trachten Schwartz are dinner chairs. Essie and Jordon Perlmutter and Larry Strear are honorary chairs.
Keshet provides education, training, therapy and recreation for Jewish students and acts as a resource for Jewish Day Schools, serving about 80 students in the Denver/Boulder community. For information call Lola Zussman at 303-399-4130.
Sumer Bash at the pool
The Girls Inc. Alliance has its Summer Bash at the Village Club Pool Aug. 5. The Alliance is providing dessert and guests are encouraged to “BYOE,” Bring Your Own Everything,” including beverages, dinner, towels and their own families, including children. Hillary Adams is taking reservations at 303-380-5688.
Climb to the top
Another family oriented event is Step Up for Cancer, Aug. 8, a multi-generational stair-climbing event at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Climbers earn pledges for their cancer charity of choice by climbing the top stair, all 1,765 of them, or as much as possible of the 33 rows of stairs. You can walk, climb or run the course circling the stadium and more details are available at www.stepupforcancer.org or call 303-796-2651.
CNI Masquerade Ball, Oct. 1
Fancy masks will be seen in profusion at the Colorado Neurological Institute Masquerade Ball, Oct. 1. It kicks off with a private cocktail party at the home of honorary chairs, Don and Arlene Johnson, Aug. 10. Layne and Craig Fleishman will be front and center with the gala details.
Wyatt Hornsby is CNI Development Officer and Director of Marketing & Communication. He can be reached at 303-357-5442.
