Captured Event

July, 19 2004 - Bennett's BBQ Celebrates WOW! (Work Options for Women)

What: Grand Opening of Bennett's BBQ in Lonetree

Where: Bennett's BBQ 10025 Park Meadows Drive

When: July 16, 2004

Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Ticket Prices: $25

Beneficiary: Work Options for Women

Host(s): Jim Caruso

Executive Director: Toni Schmid

Staff: Toni Schmid, Executive Director;Jane Berryman, Executive Chef; Wendy Vlach, Chef Instructor; Mathew Brown, Chef Instructor; Geneva Lopez, Chef Assistant; Jamie Kohler, Job Placement Coordinator; Amy Davis, Case Coordinator; Dana Rinderknecht, Development Officer

Menu: All things Bar-B-Que: Beef Brisket, Grilled Corn-on-the-cobb, Sausage and Rice, Pasta and Green Salads

Attendance: 300

Attire: Casual

Special Thanks: Pinnacol Distributing, New Belgium Brewing Company, CK Mondavi, 3 Olives Vodka, Klein Cellars Winery

Hors D'Oeuvres:: Peel & Eat Shrimp, Fried Okra, Hush Puppies,

Event Coordinator: Devany McNeill

Board of Directors: : Bonnie Saltzman, Chairperson; John Imbergamo, Vice Chair; Russ Shaw, Treasurer; Gina London, Secretary; Shari Ullery, J.J. Martinez, Beth Gruitch-Verucchi, Karen Spaulding, David I.C. Thomson

Blacktie Photos by: Janet Woods

Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, John Imbergamo, with sponsors Devany McNeill and Jim Caruso
View all photos

Janet Woods

What better place to raise money to help women find jobs in the restaurant biz than a restaurant? To celebrate the grand opening of their 5th location in Colorado, Joe Caruso and Bennett's Bar-B-Que threw a pig roast benefiting Work Options for Women (WOW). The newest restaurant, located in Lone Tree, was the host for the charity feast on Friday, July 16th.

Over 300 people came to the pig-out fest and indulged themselves in the scrumptious bar-b-que buffet including grilled corn-on-the-cob, beef brisket, sausage and rice and a variety of salads. Two succulent roasted pigs sat atop the generous buffet line and servers strolled through the new restaurant enticing guests with appetizers of fried okra, hush puppies, and peel and eat shrimp. For the ultimate dessert lover there was cheesecake, key lime pie, and apple cobbler. Supporters of WOW, patrons of the four other Bennett’s locations and restaurant groups that provide jobs to WOW graduates packed the restaurant for the feast.

Owner’s Jim Caruso and Devany McNeill worked closely with WOW Board Vice-Chair John Imbergamo on the event. “We’ve partnered with John on events before and wanted to be involved with WOW. I love that they focus on women and I love that they help provide jobs in the restaurant business. It’s a great organization,” remarked Devany McNeill on their new partnership with WOW.

Work Options for Woman also celebrated their inclusion in the J.Jill Compassion Fund. The women’s clothing retailer, whose catalog is sent throughout the nation, features Work Options for Women as their newest community partner in helping disadvantaged women and children. The catalog is being sent to over 4 million homes. Free national coverage like that is a rare gift and the $5,000 grant from the Compassion Fund was the icing on the cake.

Toni Schmid founded Work Options for Women in 1997 to help low-income women gain the skills and confidence necessary to become self-sufficient and work their way out of poverty. The innovative job-training program was started with donated office space and a commercial kitchen. One of Denver’s premier chefs, Jane Berryman, also signed on to partner with the unique social services program that provided instruction in the culinary arts. The training program covers kitchen safety, sanitation, health regulations and catering. Additional training also includes life skills classes and support to help the women overcome domestic violence, inadequate housing, and insufficient transportation.

“Most of our clients are single moms and read only at a third to sixth grade level, and come from situations of domestic violence. They’re at the end of their TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and have no other future source of income. We help them get jobs they can be successful at and provide the benefits they were lacking,” said Development Officer Dana Rinderknecht. Since the program’s inception, 90 percent of the graduates have stayed permanently off of welfare. Currently, over 95 percent of WOW students secure jobs before even completing the program.

At the end of the 16 week training program, future graduates work with a case manager in a highly individualized and tailored placement program that helps ensure long-term employment and stability. WOW also offers post-graduate career counseling to assist the women in continued success.

Each year, WOW aims to help at least 30 women achieve freedom from welfare. WOW is committed to alleviating the obstacles that impoverished women face on a daily basis and aims to provide women with the tools for success.