NONPROFITS AROUND TOWN: MAT's blue day; JA annual awards

Beneath an aquamarine sky, Manitou Art Theatre aficionados, sipping aquamarine drinks, donned their blue-green best — boas, shoes, bows, hair, fingernails, dresses, toenails, shoelaces, pajamas, jewelry and socks.

A color theme is a tradition for this lively group, with a top live-auction paddle raiser naming the next year’s featured shade.

Gathering at the MAT’s west-side location, supporters on the sunny deck did a bit of noshing and toasting, watching juggler “Danger,” and listening to music by Benjamin Pratt, properly attired in aquamarine pj’s, as they visited with friends.

It was make-believe time when guests grabbed hats, boas and costumes from the MAT stage productions and headed into the Say Fromage Photo Booth for stick-out-your-tongues, cross-your-eyes photo silliness.

Featured performers for the evening included hosts Jim Jackson and Birgitta “Babette” De Pree, comics Hannah Rockey and Jeff Harms, packing-crate escape artist Bob Hill and  acro-balance circus tumblers Lita Lowe and Sarah Brubaker.

Sharing his original music was Nate Zuercher, who got a rousing send-off as he headed for Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn. — but not before fans snapped up his CDs.

A highlight of the live-auction fundraiser was a holiday stay at Donna Guthrie’s uptown New York apartment, passes to museums and a dinner in East Village.

Then the anticipated 2010-11 season was unveiled; it features 14 shows in two series (themat.org).

RiP Comedy Improv Company, which performed for loudly appreciative guests, will be featured the first Friday and Saturday of each month. In addition, there will be theater and circus classes, and the MAT team will offer programs for kids at three area schools: Midland, Bristol and Chamberlin.

After the show, everyone headed back outside for Babette’s luscious dessert buffet and dancing with time for pats on the back for the hosts, actors and board members Paula Levy, Jerianne Heimendinger, John Duprey and Amanda Mountain.

More MAT photos: http://tinyurl.com/2eaec6c

Junior Achievement
annual meeting

 The Junior Achievement of Southern Colorado Board celebrated a successful year Aug. 17 with a wrap-up gathering at Garden of the Gods Club.

“I cannot think of a time in history when Junior Achievement is more important,” said President and CEO David Loose. “We gather this evening under the umbrella of Junior Achievement for the simple task of fostering our free enterprise system and entrepreneurship.”

Among those honored were the presenting sponsors of the special events: JA Golf Classic, which netted $15,213 (GE Johnson Construction), JA Rock ’N Bowl, which netted $81,017 (FedEx) and The JA Gala Auction, which netted $55,793 (Schmidt Construction, FedEx, Antlers Hilton, Lockheed Martin, Comcast and Wells Fargo Advisors). 

Receiving the 2010 Chairman’s Choice Award from Barry Straub was GE Johnson Construction.  It was accepted by George Harris.

The top companies providing JA volunteers were T. Rowe Price, Lockheed Martin and JA USA. The three accounted for 128 JA programs reaching 3,036 students.  T. Rowe Price was named the top, with 50 JA Programs.

Receiving awards as 15-year volunteers were Bob Walla, Ent Federal Credit Union; Kathy Schwindt, U.S. Bank; and Doug Sommer, Focus on the Family.

“Are we making an impact?” asked Walla. “You know we are when I go through Home Depot or King Soopers and see students from my classes. Then they ask, ‘Mr. Bob, is that a want or a need?’”

The 2010 Spirit of Achievement Award, the top corporate award, went to Lockheed Martin, represented by Ron Robins. Lockheed Martin raised $8,715 through JA program sponsorships, reached 1,175 students with one of JA’s programs of Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Workforce Readiness, and presented 47 classes.

Leonard Miller was introduced as the new board chair.