Blacktie | Captured Events | April 16, 2010 Kempe Takes Manhattan via Denver

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April 16, 2010 - Kempe Takes Manhattan via Denver

What: fundraiser for the Kempe Foundation

Where: Marriott City Center

When: Friday, April 16, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $400 Patron; $250 Regular; $125 Young Professional

Beneficiary: The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect

Honoree(s): Georgia Imhoff

Gala Chairperson(s): Gail and George Johnson

Honorary Chairperson(s): Gov. Bill and Jeannie Ritter, Walt Imhoff, Jamie Angelich

Corporate Chairperson(s): Ren and Maureen Cannon and Ellen Robinson Schwartz

Executive Director: Kempe Center: Andrew Sirotnak, M.D. (interim)

Committee Members: Miriam Abreu, Geri Bader-Saltzman, Ruth Bennis, Bill DeLisio, Lisa Douglas, John Farnam, Rollie Jordan, Teresa Kennedy, Nancy Koontz, Syndney Lapidus, Melissa Mackiernan, Lyn Schaffer, Gretchen Seefried, Sally Shotwell, Ryta Sondergard, Salye Stein, Lisa Taussig, Sandee Walling, Kareina Westlund

President(s): Kempe Foundation: Jesse Wolff

Libations: Roederer Estate champagne, Stoney Hill cabernet, Douglas Hill chardonnay

Entertainment: Denver School of the Arts performance, Broadway Revue

Music: Rob Schenk, Showtech

Sponsors: Statue of Liberty: Jon & Terri Kruljac, Mike & Julia Donnelly, GVC Capital, MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation; Times Square: Ren & Maureen Cannon, Steve & Wendy Cohen, Walt Imhoff Family, US Bank; Grand Central Station: Nancy Anschutz, Tim and Libby Brown Foundation, Brownstein Farber Hyatt Schreck, Charla G. Cannon, Dept. of Pediatrics--UCD and The Children's Hospital, Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner Hottman PC, Fairfield and Woods PC, Faught Foundation, 1st Bank, Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, Gail & George Johnson, Kaiser Permanente, Klein Frank, Lockton, Bill & Melissa Mackiernan, Red Robin, Regis University, Marcia and Dick Robinson, Saunders Construction, The Seff Group, PC /Judy and Ken Friednash, Tom & Gretchen Sickler, M.J. Smith and Associates, Syntrinsic Investment Counsel, Cydney and Tom Marsico, Tuchman Family Foundation, Aspenwood Dental Associates, Susan and Eddie Robinson, Pat Wiesner/Wiesner Media, Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, Hannah Rose Knows, First American State Bank. Other Supporters: Collegiate Peaks Bank, Fitzsimons Apartments, Margot and Allan Frank

Menu: Caviar on toast point with chilled prawns with vokda sauce; bibb lettuce salad with Gorgonzola cheese, grilled red apples, walnuts with Tuaca citrus vinaigrette; Osso Bucco style beef short ribs, palenta, broccollini, grilled squash and tomato; Central Park cheesecake with raspberry coulis, raspberries and mint

Attendance: 500+

Attire: business formal or cocktail

Decor/Rental Company: DesignWorks

Board of Directors: Jon Kruljac, Board Chair; Kenneth Friednash, Board Treasurer; Gail Johnson, Board Secretary; Jesse Wolf, Foundation President/CEO; Andrew Sirotnak, MD, Kempe Center Interim Director; Stephen Daniels, PhD, MD; Richard Krugman, MD; Nicole Ament, Esq.; Andy Boian; Tim Brow;, Yvonne Camacho; Reynolds Cannon; Steve Cohen; John Faught, Esq.; Bruce Fowler; Walter Imhoff; Ruby Kadota, MD; Beth Klein; Bill Mackiernan; Tate McCoy; Martha Rubi; Richard Saunders; David Savitz, Esq.; Mark Smith; Ryta Sondergard; Lisa Taussig; Dylan Taylor; Kareina Westlund. Advisory Committee: Dean Prina, MD; Jeannie Ritter; Landri Taylor; Anne Trujillo. Honorary members: Jules Amer, MD; John Elway; Frances Owens; Howard Torgove

Steering Committee: Ryta Sondergard, president of the Kempe Alliance; Lisa Taussig; and Kareina Westlund.

Blacktie Photos by: Pamela Cress

Foundation President/CEO Jesse Wolff, left, First Lady Jeannie Ritter and Walt Imhoff
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There’s a big hole in the world. We are missing Georgia Imhoff.

But Georgia’s angel and spirit seemed to be present as almost 700 people gathered at the Marriott City Center Saturday night for the Kempe Takes Manhattan event.

A touching tribute to Georgia and her love for Kempe and her amazing energy and charisma was showcased in a video that was part of the dinner program. You could have heard a pin drop afterwards and there weren’t many dry eyes in the house.

But as Georgia would have wanted, the crowd was also there for the children. Kempe helps thousands of children each year who are victims of abuse and neglect. The evening was done with panache and creativity, and guests enjoyed the decorations put together by DesignWorks reminiscent of “Studio 54” days in New York, complete with strobe lights, white leather couches, and go-go girls. Decor chair Teresa Kennedy, Rob Schenk of Showtech, Designworks and the Marriott proved to be an exemplary team.

Another poignant moment was when well-known philanthropist Jamie Angelich came on stage and divulged the reason she is so passionate about supporting Kempe is because she and her siblings were abused as children. Her sisters Susan Arnold and Bunny Miles and brother Chris Barber flew in from Texas to support Jamie and show that with the right help and care, children can heal and eradicate the pattern in future generations.

Additional highlights included an entertaining dance program by the talented students from Denver School of the Arts. Emcee Mike Nelson was warm and friendly, and shared with the crowd that his wife Cindy was also a victim of child abuse. It seems that the problem permeates and resonates at all levels of our society. Kempe Interim Director Andrew Sirotnak M.D. and Foundation Director Jesse Wolff both gave a special speech of thanks to supporters, and Board Chair Jon Kruljac gave a heartfelt talk with an emotional poem he had composed for Georgia. The evening wrapped up with a spectacular Broadway Revue that had everyone thinking they were in Times Square rather than Denver.

Gail Johnson and Miriam Abreu made it a point to give a special gift to Walt Imhoff, present with his family. Walt has always been right beside Georgia in rounding up funding, people, energy and participation. We like to think she was at his side this evening as well.

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