I’ve always loved Saturdays to enjoy football games, attending events, or just catching up on items from a busy week. This past Saturday was a special treat for Gerri and I attending the Friends of Nursing Christmas luncheon at the elegant Eddie V’s restaurant in the DTC. This restaurant is located where Ed Novac’s Canteberry Inn once was the centerpiece for local excellent dining excellence. Ed also had the Broker in downtown Denver, located in a bank building with a gigantic safe located near the dining area. Eddie V’s restaurant is a superb dining experience and also has a great afternoon happy hour. The staff are professional in white tux uniforms and the meals are succulent.
Nurses are vital to us all and Friends of Nursing is a decades old nonprofit that provides scholarships to nursing students at nine Colorado nursing schools at major institutions. I visited the Regis University nursing school and was given a tour that included watching nurses train with a simulated hi-tech body for training purposes. It would cry and perform like a real body; hi-tech at work.
The luncheon featured a silent auction, followed by radio host Rick Crandall, CEO of Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora, serving as emcee for a musical performance by Littleton soprano, Christie Conover, and Denver pianist Sonya Walker. Ending their splendid performance, we all joined in for a Christmas carol sing-along.
The highlight of the day was to, once again, see and meet the founding pioneers, leading ladies, La Fawn Biddle and Greta Pollard who have been key members since the early 1980s. We were honored to be their guests and sit at the table with La Fawn. We adore past president Melanie Wallace and welcome the new president Devonna Troutman who we will see in action again at the spring luncheon, April 25, 2026, where the scholarships are presented to dozens of nursing school recipients. Colorado Gives Day was this past week and if you check your Villager, you will find an ad on making a nonprofit tax-deductible donation to Friends of Nursing.
In attendance was our gracious, and delightful Scottie Iverson taking photos of the ladies that will appear in The Villager soon. We love this group. I had the privilege of meeting some nurses this past year and they are the greatest caregivers when you are suffering. Bless You Nurses!