AROUND TOWN: SCAP Red Ribbon frolic; Memorial superheroes

You know a fundraising gala is a success when exhausted, ecstatic organizers look at each other and ask what in the world could they ever do to top it.

Then the clock strikes midnight ... and the dance floor is still full.

Sure enough, the 25th anniversary Red Ribbon Ball, “A Night in South Beach,” was a party to end all parties.

More than 300 colorfully attired celebrants from all parts of the community laughed and chatted, feasted on a Cuban dinner, toasted with Red Ribbon Martinis and rocked to The Hazel Miller Band April 16 at Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

Oh, and let’s not forget the spirited conga line snaking through the ballroom, led by a costumed Carmen Miranda — “Call me Car-man Miranda” (Gary Carnes) — and drawing in black-tie bank presidents, members of the GLBT community, philanthropists, community volunteers, same-sex couples and the heads of local businesses. You just don’t see an uninhibited “Chica Chica Boom Boom” at every gala.

For Southern Colorado AIDS Project executive director Richard Blair, whose organization was the beneficiary, it was a perfect evening. “Everyone is here to have a good time. At the Red Ribbon Ball, everyone is exactly who they are.”

For Craig Eliot of KOAA News First 5,  it was the perfect time to share that this event was one he had wanted to emcee for a long time. Traditionally, the station’s Georgiann Lymberopoulos has handled those duties, but she’s still on limited station duty after the birth of twin girls.

Eliot said it was important to remember all the lives that have been lost to AIDS, something honored poignantly with a spotlighted red-ribbon chair in the center of the floor and two large AIDS quilts. “I lost a member of my family to AIDS, Larry,” Eliot said. And he named other family members who are gay.

Then, to appreciative laughter, the TV meteorologist said he got his well-turned-out sense of style from a greatly admired and quite dapper gay uncle.

Celebrating the results of their work were the Red Ribbon Ball committee members Mary Ellen McNally, who was joined by her son Mark and his partner, Gordon Sanford; Gary Archuleta, a straight AIDS victim; Pat Cone; Vicki Dimond; James Kelley of sponsor Cheetah Printing Design; Cyndi Lambrecht; Ruben Manuel, who created a dazzling multi-carat necklace for the live auction; Bill Mead, attired in eye-popping white and hot pink; Laura Muir; Carolyn Pope, an enthusiastic dancer despite shoulder surgery; Patrick Terry; Christian Wilkins; and Elizabeth Youngquist, who partnered with Rich Schell and with husband Warren for a night of enthusiastic dancing.

Upcoming up for S-CAP: AIDS Walk 2011, Oct. 8, Garden of the Gods, s-cap.org

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MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION GALA

It was a night for everyday superheroes.

The hospital’s executives and foundation donors gathered at the Antlers Hilton on April 15 to salute those who do the work, from preparing the meals to saving lives, from cleaning the rooms to working in the offices.

The decor brought out the theme with life size superhero-character stand ups and Spider Man table centerpieces. Add to that being greeted at the door by foundation execs in doctors’ coats and wearing play stethoscopes. Picture “doctors” Cary Blanchette, Marilyn Sullivan and Bill Stohlmann.

Adding to the pervasive sense of fun was the wide-open dress code, leading tieless CEO Larry McEvoy to gloat, “When did you ever hear of a ‘business casual’ gala.” It was music to the ears of co-chairs Carrie Trookman and Mary Ellen McNally and brought cheers from the 400 guests in various forms of attire.

The evening was also a time for the foundation to give shout-outs to sponsors. Crothall Services Group, the presenting sponsor, does much more than environmental services, managing facilities, and doing laundry and linen at the hospital, said foundation CEO Blanchette.

The Crothall employees also donate back, “100 percent of the employees.”
Kohl’s is regularly a major contributor, Blanchette said. And there are many more. It all helps Memorial continue more than 100 years of helping families, no matter their ability to pay, Blanchette said.

The gala attendees responded, helping the foundation raise more than $190,000, boosting an eight-year total to almost $2 million.

The “faces” of Memorial — Meagan and Sarah and their doctors — shared their stories to spotlight the work of the Children’s Hospital and the cancer specialists.

Little Meagan Garrow is the youngster whose face was destroyed by a pit bull. Her doctors said her injuries were some of the worst they had ever seen. Three stages of repair and many surgeries have been completed and there are more to come. But Meagan is a funny, lively, girly girl who no longer hides her face. And she copes quite well with brothers and step-brothers. At first embarrassed by being in front of a big crowd, she waved to everyone and said “thank you.”

What went unspoken was that Meagan’s father was not at the gala because he was hospitalized. Lance (Lancelot) Garrow died of meningitis the next week.

Sarah Foderaro, supported by a table of family members, quietly sat through a retelling of her story of surviving a rare form of breast cancer. Her doctor, Dax Kurbegov, said “it was an honor” to treat the 33-year-old single mom.

The evening finished up with a “Raise the Paddle” fundraiser by auctioneer “Pistol Pete” Husak and then some dancing.

A November ballot issue to determine Memorial’s future as a nonprofit or possibly a for-profit health system didn’t slip by unnoticed as both McEvoy and Blanchette encouraged their supporters to rally friends and neighbors for support. And they noted a contingent from Penrose-St. Francis “here in force to support us.”

The 2011 gala committee included Pam Burnelis, Ann and Joe Camiolo, Pat Cone, John Dickinson, Megan Donahue, Carol Folsom, Lori Ganz, Paulette Greenberg, Jennifer Hale, Andrea Hurlbert, Lana Janc, Beth Lewis, Sloan Maes, Katie McGinnis, Debra Miller, Cathy Sheldon, Darci Thurston, Sandy White, Krista Willard and Jeri Young.

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