NONPROFITS AROUND TOWN: Gala introduces many to local opera scene
With a yee-haw and a get-'em-up, the Pikes Peak Opera League reached out and lassoed a whole new audience.
Forget getting all gussied up and sitting through arias - the league set out to show that opera can be a whole lot of silliness and a whole bunch of fun.
Julie Penrose Hall at St. Paul's Catholic Church turned into a Western town on June 28, drawing in Stetson-topped dudes and big-belt-buckle cowboys, boot-scootin' cowgirls and demure, pigtailed Old West girls.
Making it a "Happy Trails" night, "Roy Rogers" and "Dale Evans" turned up, but Trigger stayed home. Better known as event chairs Dennis and Chris Jackson, Roy and Dale led the cheers as singers wound through the hall and onto the stage singing lively selections from "Annie Get Your Gun," "Paint Your Wagon," "Oklahoma" and other Western pearls. The 140 voices joined in for a campfire singalong of Western folk tunes.
Judy Greist said the successful evening "was conceived primarily to raise awareness of Opera Theatre of the Rockies in the community. We introduced a lot of new people to the local opera scene, having more guests than members, and we laid the foundation for a bigger and better gala next year."
Singers were from Opera Colorado and Opera Theatre of the Rockies, with Dan Brink serving as music director and accompanist. The sopranos: Judeth Shay Burns and Armour Ratcliffe; mezzo sopranos, Jennifer DeDominici and Leigh Holman; tenor Todd Teske; and baritones Erik Bryan, James Ramsey and Peter Tuff.
Many costumes were from Girl of the Golden West in the Promenade Shops at Briargate.
An anonymous corporate donor sponsored three tables of cowboys and cowgirls from the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Children's Chorale, Abendmusik, and First Presbyterian Church Music Department.
Range Riders' Silver Spur Award
Before Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo week, the Range Riders take a trail ride to kick off the season. When they dismount, they join their spouses and members of the community for a dinner where they announce their Silver Spur Award, presented to a person who has given outstanding service - usually for many years - to the Pikes Peak region.
Honored this year was Kathy Loo.
The Range Riders saluted her saying, "Her stewardship of time, talent and money is spectacular. She is also a Renaissance woman, and is an accomplished pianist and composer.
"Kathy and her family have a strong history of civic engagement and generosity. The Loo name is wellknown and well-respected statewide, especially in El Paso County.
"In the early 1970s, Kathy began her career of service and stewardship as an elected Colorado Springs City Councilwoman. Kathy was also a leader for the restoration and expansion of one of the region's finest architectural and cultural assets, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Without her leadership, the restored and expended FAC could not have happened.
"In addition to her leadership at and gifts to the Fine Arts Center, we have come to know that Kathy works closely with and generously supports several other Colorado organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (where she founded the docent program), The Women's Foundation of Colorado, Colorado Open Lands, Palmer Land Trust, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, YMCA of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Hospice, Pikes Peak United Way and many others.
"From a healthy, natural environment to the grace and economic impact of cultural institutions, to promoting independent spirits, Kathy's giving is farreaching, touching Colorado and beyond. She has also passed on this legacy of engagement and generosity to her children.
"Kathy's philanthropy enters the realm of extraordinary. Her humble nature makes her even more the worthy recipient of this award."
Working out for the PPCAA
The new Gold's Gym athletic center in Briargate turned its June 21 open house into a benefit, raising $3,000 for Pikes Peak Community Action Agency, a nonprofit agency assisting individuals and families from crisis situations into permanent self-sufficiency.
The agency served more than 5,100 households in 2007, providing nearly 18,000 services to more than 15,000 individuals including 4,600 children.
Those attending toured the new athletic facilities and scoped out the silent auction to the music of Encompass modern fusion band and musician Armando Olivero.
PPCAA Director of Development Leslie Wirpsa said that in 2002 Olivero suffered a massive heart attack. He could not work, had no health insurance, and doctors gave him 3-5 years to live. He and his wife, Susanne, and their five children received help with prescriptions and other assistance from PPCAA's Walt Fortman Center in Fountain. "We lost a complete income. We nearly lost a place to live. PPCAA gave us a start to a new life," Susanne said.
Hosts for the open house event from Gold's Gym were owners Trevor and Kim Poling, head fitness counselor George H. Cespedes, General Manager Julie Cozad and other staff members.
From PPCAA were CEO James Faber and board members Deborah Davis from El Paso County Sheriff 's Office; Michael Deen from Kraemer, Kendall & Benson, LLC; Maile Foster from Strategic Financial Partners; and Bobbie Moore from 1st Bank of Colorado Springs.
Send information about nonprofit events and fundraisers to linda.navarro@gazette.com or mail to Linda Navarro, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs, 80901.
SAVE THE DATE
Trails and Open Space Coalition's Gala in the Garden, a tropical-island theme benefit for the group's work to preserve open space and rural land and to create a network of trails, bikeways and greenways, Aug. 8, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, dinner, music and silent auction, tickets are $40 with $15 tax-deductible, group rates available, call 633-6884 or go to www.blacktie-colorado.com and enter the event code: TOSCgarden.
