Captured Event

June, 16 2007 - Bond, James Bond, and guests arrive in Golden

What: Casino Royale for CASA

Where: Rolling Hills Country Club

When: Saturday, June 16th, 2007

Time: 6 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $75.00

Beneficiary: Children of CASA

Presenting Sponsor(s): RHCC Sponsor: Mike and Becky Kieler

Gala Chairperson(s): Catherine Perea

Corporate Chairperson(s): Auction chairs: BJ Foley and Pam Crest

Co-Chair(s): Rolling Hills CC Chairs: Jeff and Nancy Progar

Executive Director: Leah Varnell

Staff: OFFICE STAFF: Leah Varnell - Executive Director; Denise Ortega - Office Manager; Angela Langhus -Gantt - Grants Manager; Jodi Gault - Training Coordinator. PROGRAM STAFF: Ginny Moore - Program Manager, Karen Lausa - Volunteer Case Coordinator; June Reid - Volunteer Case Coordinator VOLUNTEER STAFF: Barbara Thielemann; Barbara Moinester

Catering: Rolling Hills CC and Abursci's Italian Restaurant

Auctioneer: Tom DiNardo

Quote of the evening: (one lady to another during the live auction) "I think I have found my new best friend, that lady over there just increased the bid on the live auction, not by $500, but by $5,000!"

Menu: Dr. No representing Jamaica - Jamaican jerk chicken with rice, coconut shrimp with tropical salsa and fried plantains. Goldfinger representing Switzerland - chocolate pate with fruit sauce, lavender fudge and Viennese chocolate cream pie. You Only Live Twice representing Japan - shrimp and avocado sushi rolls, seared ahi tuna with black sesame seeds and wasabi, asian slaw, yakitori chicken and scallion skewers with sake ginger soy sauce. Live and Let Die representing New Orleans - crawfish, jambalaya with red beans and rice, sweet bread pudding with sun dried cherries and walnuts. Moonraker representing Italy - penne alla vodka, arancini, chicken marsala and Caesar salad. View to a Kill representing Mexico City - chips and salsa with guacamole, tacos al carbon (beef) and cheese enchiladas

Attendance: 300

Attire: Dressed to Kill

Models/Fashions: Tiffany Matthews, Tania Diller, Nicole Noblitt and Kara Pancoast

Event Coordinator: Catherine Perea

Board of Directors: CASA BOARD: Chair: Jan Podoll, Oil and Gas Consultant; Vice Chairs: Catherine Perea, Attorney, and Grant Tonkin, American Geological Services; Secretary/Treasurer, Jacqueline Greer, Financial Consultant; Board members: Mark Arnold, Royalty Exploration LLC; Ric Harshman, International Electric, Inc.; Douglas Mar tine, Blacktie; Shannon Wilson, Fabulous Feet Dance Academy; James D. Zimmerman, Retired District Court Judge, 1st Judicial District.

Blacktie Photos by: John DiTirro

Left - Kara Boatright, District Judge Brian Boatright, CASA ED Leah Varnell, and volunteers Felix Cook and Marge Cook
View all photos

Overlooking the foothills in Golden, The Rolling Hills Country Club became a sure bet for anyone that wanted to gamble. Better yet, no mater how you played your cards or how the dice fell, everyone was a winner. The County Club was turned overnight into the Casino Royale and if you looked hard enough you could probably see 007 in the crowd.

The staff of the Rolling Hills Country Club and the staff of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties worked extra hard to ensure the bets were high and the payoffs were even greater. There were five huge tables filled with wonderful auction items for anyone to enjoy--from baskets for the children to fantastic works of arts for the home decor! There were sports items. If you wanted to learn with the pros, these tables had it. If golf or tennis is your sport, you had the opportunity to bid on items that gave you the chance to play with the pros and even get a lesson or two on your form and next time you can have your partners asking "when did this person turn pro!"

The club teamed up with Abursci's Italian Restaurant and presented a dinner that went worldwide! The staff decided to do a little something from each James Bond movie and represent the country that the movie took place in. They represented Jamaica (Dr. NO) - Jamaican Jerk chicken with rice, from Switzerland (Goldfinger) chocolate pate with fruit sauce. Traveling to Japan (You Only Live Twice) you were treated to shrimp and avocado sushi rolls. Heading to New Orleans (Live or Let Die) guests could dine on crawfish and jambalaya with red beans and rice. The jet takes off for Italy (Moonraker) and you have penne alla vodka and chicken marsala. We now land in Mexico City (View to a Kill) and the night is topped off with chips and salsa with some tacos al carbon.

Tom DiNardo stepped up to the microphone and the contest between the auctioneer and the patron's wallets was on. As the event auctioneer, along with some very lovely ladies assisting with displaying the items, Tom got the high rollers go even deeper into their pockets for a great cause. Among the items were trips that took you to Africa, or if you don't want to travel across the continent how about a special flight on the Joe Coors private plane to Arizona to play golf at a great resort.

The night would not be complete without taking a trip to the Casino Royale for a night of gambling. After the auction, guests headed downstairs and entered Bond's world of card playing and tried to have a better poker face than their neighbor.

The evening's festivities, along with a golf tournament the following Monday, were the result of CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties being this year's beneficiary of the Rolling Hills Country Club Foundation. The Foundation was founded in 1999 by Rolling Hills Country Club members:  Ralph Jacobson, Michael Kieler, Larry Kneeskern, Steve Ossello, Bob Whitfield Sr. and Floyd Youngblood, with each contributing $2,000.  The Foundation has been set up as 501c(3) organization and has played a pivotal role in the Golden community since its mission is to raise funds for the benefit of worthy charitable causes in their local area.

Yes, the night was a huge success for the children who are so special and are in need of volunteers to help them through some serious struggles. This night did that with all the generous volunteers, staff (both CASA and Rolling Hills Country Club) and the many people who attended the festivities.

If you are looking at a way to help a child, why not look into CASA. You can check out the website www.casajeffcogilpin.com or call them direct 303-271-6535 and make a difference.