Captured Event

October, 06 2007 - Sobriety House Celebrates Their 40th Anniversary

What: Sobriety House's 40th anniversary

Where: Renaissance Hotel

When: Saturday, October 6th

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $50

Beneficiary: Sobriety House Inc.

Master of Ceremonies: Bill Clarke, 7News Consumer Champ

Honoree(s): Mr. Louis V. Dolye

Executive Director: William A.. Dolan

President(s): Charles B. Darrah

Staff: Kathy Burns, Loretta Dewey, Mike Dudden, Jack Gange, Mary Jo Gowin, Pat Headley, Olga Loya, Robert Nelson, Kelly O'Donnell, Cindi Phillips, Ron Smith, Paul Sponsel, Laurel Weingarten

Invocation: Sister Georgeann

Speaker: Gini Meyer

Sponsors: Kaiser Permanente, Wagner Investment Managment, Pahl Architecture

Menu: Spinach salad, cornbread and chorizo stuffed chicken with spinach and red pepper pilaf, vegetable medley with caramelized onion demi

Attendance: 200+

Attire: business formal, cocktail, or clothing from the summer of love

Special Thanks: Bill Clarke, Christie Chester, Gail Cumming, Hollis Davenport, Tracy Elliott, Jan Hawley, Yale Huffman, Ruth Most, Sister Georgeann Quinlan, Trudy Quintana, Mark Reinhardt, Michael Wood, For Hearts LLC

Donors: Adam's Mark Denver Hotel, Darrell Anderson, Robbie Burt, Christie Chester, Children's Museum of Denver, Curves for Women, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Dewey, Foster & Son Fine Jewelers, Dale & Mary Jo Gowin, Brett Kessler, Knockout Sports, Marriott Vacation Club, Juanita Morales, Gini Meyer, Catherine Nevo, Adrian & Trudy Quintana, Renaissance Denver Hotel, Rickenbaugh Cadillac Volvo, Batya Stark

Board of Directors: Charles Darrah, George Dale Thomas, Ralph Round, Daniel Anthone, Denise Chechele, Kendall H. Johnson, Brett H. Kessler, Joseph M. Pahl, Wende Seever, Thomas Snyder

Blacktie Photos by: Christine Cool

Louis V. Doyle was the recipient of this year's Thomas G. Vessels Humanitarian Award. Doyle passed away on August 11th of this year
View all photos

Over the past 40 years, Sobriety House of Denver has worked hard to provide quality services to homeless and low-income men and women battling substance abuse issues by teaching them how to maintain a consistent level of sobriety through chemical and alcohol abstinence throughout the rest of their lives.

So what better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of an organization that has done so much for the people of Denver than to go back in time to the summer of love, 1967, and the conception of Sobriety House. On October 6th, 2007 guests gathered at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver to celebrate the 40 years of service Sobriety House has given to the Denver community. Guests were encouraged to dress in their best tie-dyed shirts and bell-bottom corduroys for the occasion.

After registering, guests were given the opportunity to mingle and bid on an array of silent auction items while listening to some memorable '60s songs sung by Ruth Most and Mark Reinhardt on the piano. At around 7:00 p.m. guests were asked to be seated for dinner, where they dined on spinach salad, cornbread & chorizo stuffed chicken, spinach & red pepper pilaf, vegetable medley with caramelized onion demi, and a coffee, tea and dessert table. And of course it is important to note no alcohol was used in the preparation of the meal.

After dinner, 7News Consumer Champ, and the evening’s master of ceremonies, Bill Clarke took the stage to begin the program. Clarke introduced Yale Huffman, who was given the honor to present the Thomas G. Vessels Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to a person who demonstrates a true belief in the mission of Sobriety House. This year’s recipient went to Louis V. Doyle. Doyle had served on the Board of Trustees for Sobriety House since 1995, and served as Board President beginning in 2002. The staff, clients, board and Doyle’s friends were all shocked when Doyle passed away suddenly on August 11th of this year, and nearly everyone in the room that evening had a story about how Lou Doyle touched their life. Accepting the award was Doyle’s wife, Sudee Doyle, who thanked everyone for acknowledging her husband's hard work for Sobriety House, as well as the love and support her family received after his death. At one point Mrs. Doyle read some of the sympathy cards she received and most of the messages were the same, “Mrs. Doyle, your husband saved my life.”

Towards the end of the evening, a graduate of Sobriety House, Gini Meyer, took the stage and told her heart wrenching story of how alcohol abuse made her lose everything in her life and how the Sobriety House has helped her get her life on track. The evening ended with the comedy styling of Mark Lundholm, comedian author and motivational speaker who entertained guests with his own stories of addiction and recovery. A recent study found that only four states ranked higher than Colorado in per capita consumption of alcohol, and Colorado ranks first in the nation in illicit drug use. But thanks to the hard work of the men and women of Sobriety House, people who are wishing to get help can have a safe place to go to receive the care and support they need. As Gini Meyer said, “I have the utmost respect for the counselors and the staff. You saved my life.”

For more information on Sobriety House, please visit their website at www.sobrietyhouse.org or call the information line at 303-722-5746, x24