NONPROFITS AROUND TOWN: Memorial's Oscar night; UCCS Boots & Stars

Glamorous starlets, handsome actors and GQ-ready leading men with bling-bedecked leading ladies on their arms strolled the red carpet, nodding to their adoring public.

It was all in elegant fun for Memorial Health System Foundation’s “Night at the Oscars,” April 24 at Broadmoor International Center.

The festive crowd, 400 strong, donated $125,000 to the foundation at new executive director Cary Blanchette’s first benefit event.

Sponsors took home Oscars for Lifetime Achievement and Best Screen Play, but two young girls earned the crowd’s Oscar for Most Courageous. Madeline Bauer, 11, and Corina Martinez, 10, who are regulars at Memorial Hospital for Children, touched everyone with their video descriptions of “Beads of Courage.”

Their necklaces of brightly colored beads document every step in their recovery: Madeline’s transfusions every week since she was born, Corina’s beads for “pokes” for blood, chemo beads, ones for losing their hair and having surgery, ones for spinal taps and beads for every overnight hospital stay. Corina’s string of beads runs all the way down a hospital hallway.

The girls and their families, special guests at the gala, received standing ovations.

Also receiving Memorial Oscars, presented by Dr. David Greenberg, were three doctors honored for longtime service: Dr. Patrick O. Faricy, Dr. Robert D. Greensides and Dr. Mark Duster.

Faricy, Director of Cancer Programs and a urology specialist and surgeon who has treated 450 prostate cancer patients at Memorial, was cited for volunteer work with low-income patients and for chairing the State Board of Medical Examiners. His was a Lifetime Achievement Oscar for “Caring and Giving to our Community.”

Duster, a pediatric cardiologist who was unable to attend, was named the “Mary Poppins winner” for instituting therapeutic interventions that included balloons and umbrellas.

Greensides, also a pediatric cardiologist, was named for being instrumental in setting up the hospital’s cardiovascular unit. His Oscar for Best Stolen Heart also included that “in 1986 he met the woman who stole his heart in the ICU,” his wife, Jill.

Taking curtain calls for their successful fundraiser were Special Events Coordinator Michelle Valdez, co-chairs Mary Ellen McNally and Carrie Trookman, and the Gala Committee: Maria Cole, Pat Cone, Lisa Czelatdko, John Dickinson, Megan Donahue, Lynne Downs, Carol Folsom, Lori Ganz, Paulette Greenberg, Kristin Guggenhime, Jennifer Hale, Marilyn Hernandez, Young MiKwon, Beth Lewis, Katie McGinniss, Debra Miller,
Michelle Reich, Denise Romero, Cathy Sheldon, Lori Smith, Darci Thurston, Sandy White and Jeri Young.

Sponsor awards went to Crothall Services Group, whose Joe Camiolo also had the top bid for an adorable puppy; BBVAC Compass; Cukjati; Ent Federal Credit Union; Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado; JE Dunn Construction; Sierra Commercial Real Estate; and Stockman Kast Ryan.

AN ASIDE: If Mary Ellen McNally looked the least bit tired — and amazingly she didn’t — at the Memorial Gala, she’s entitled. It was the third major fundraiser she chaired in less than a month: Red Ribbon Ball, Cheyenne Village’s Vineyard in the Village and the Memorial event. All were successes, raising several hundred thousand dollars for the nonprofits.

Chancellor’s Leadership Class Boots & Stars

With a giddyup and a howdy, urban cowboys and cowgirls converged on the Broadmoor Resort home of Bill and Judy Mackey on April 29 for the UCCS Chancellor’s Leadership Class Boots and Stars Celebration.

The “Scholarship and Programmatic Support Fundraiser” kicked off with a pre-dinner cooking class in the Mackey’s kitchen by Chef Brian Knutson of Memorial Health System — yes indeed, a hospital chef who makes inspired, mouth-watering food.  Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak teased that this was the ideal way to enjoy his food “without going to the hospital!”

Watching intently as he prepared and shared agave mojitos, bison in crushed peppercorns, Colorado vegetables (chef’s hint: beets from Brush are the best anywhere) and purple potatoes  were students including Brenda and Chuck Smith, Judy Cara, Larry and Cari Shaffer, Dustin and Mandi Bench, C.J. Moore, Pat Cone, event co-chair Barb Winter, Dale and Tina Collins and Jeff Hill, whose wife, CLC Director Amy Hill, peeked in to catch a few gourmet hints in between welcoming guests.

After the class, the other guests arrived, chaffeured to the mountainside resort by students. Patrons visited with members of the class, sipped mojitos and local brews and appreciated a full buffet of Knutson’s French-inspired dishes made with Colorado ingredients. Slipping into the kitchen they discovered Summit Catering’s dessert goodies and Debbie Downing’s decorated cowboy-boot cookies.

Jacqueline Bell was introduced. The senior is the Colorado Leadership Alliance Student Leader of the Year, chosen by the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation in partnership with the Boettcher Foundation. She was the top student leader among candidates from all 11 campuses and universities in the alliance. Bell, who found ways to diversify the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, is a full-time student, a volunteer at Tessa and the single mother of 4-year-old twins.

Community mentors who work with class members were applauded:  Josephine Benevidez, Rita Burns, Gary Butterworth, Jeff Crank, Brian Davis, Kevin Fink, Candace Garco, Walt Glover, Tim Hayden, Bryan Maready, Kristin McGee, Mike Miller, Eric Parthen (whose wife, Kelly, co-chaired Boots and Stars), Joy Powell, John Register and Jerry Schaefer.

For more about CLC scholars see uccs.edu/~clc/scholars/battaglini1.html.