Colorado Expression magazine - October-November 2017

T H E

B E S T

Holiday Gift Guide

O F

C O L O R A D O

Philanthropic

women across Colorado

L I V I N G

L’Esprit de Noël

O COLORAD expression Melanie Ulle

Women in Kind

Holly Arnold Kinney The Fort

Amy Cara

East West Partners

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 FOUR DOLLARS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 FOUR DOLLARS

Priya Burkett American Express

A N O T H E R

S U C C E S S F U L

P A R T N E R S H I P

Jay Davidson (middle), CEO, First American State Bank, with Bob and Judi Newman, Philanthropists, at the Newman Center on the DU Campus.

“First American State Bank approaches their customers the same way we approach our causes, with dedication and devotion.”

- Bob and Judi Newman

www.fasbank.com • 303.694.6464 For scheduling, venues and ticket information, please visit: www.du.edu/newmancenter.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Bold, Brilliant and Giving In praise of Colorado women, generosity and the perfect gift

f

all arrives in Colorado with flawless blue skies, changing of the aspens,

and a chill in the air. It is the perfect time to reflect on what our state has to offer and to celebrate our blessings. This issue is our first in exploring themes on topics such as health and wellness, architecture, fashion and style, parties and more.

The centerpiece of this issue is the celebration of successful and generous women business leaders in Colorado— powerful women who understand the importance of giving back to the community. Our writers capture the accomplishments and contributions of these incredible individuals: Amy Cara, Nancy Phillips, Courtney Cuff, Holly Arnold Kinney, Priya Burkett, Nicole Jass, Megan Fearnow, Melanie Ulle, Diane Simard, and Jacqueline Ros. These women represent the energy and grace of many others in our state. Don’t miss them wearing glamorous clothing and jewelry on our fold-

out on page 64. n This issue is also a celebration of giving with the annual Holiday Gift Guide. Our team gathered the best ideas to provide you with the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. We also showcase many nonprofit organizations

where your gift can change the lives of others. n One last note about celebration.

Thanksgiving is rooted in the tradition of gathering in gratefulness and generosity, and I am reminded of another tradition I love—the simple handwritten thank you.

Opening that envelope to discover someone’s expression of thanks is so special.

My challenge to you—take a few moments to jot an unexpected note of thanks to someone. You will make their day! This is my thank you note to you: I want to express my gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of support and praise for our inaugural issue. Thank you so much. Now be sure to make time to get outside and enjoy fall in Colorado. We are so lucky to call this beautiful place home.

Elizabeth Hamilton President and publisher, New West Publishing

THE VERY BEST OF COLORADO Sign up for our monthly newsletter at coloradoexpression.com to receive highlights on what’s happening in our state. Follow us on Facebook (@ColoradoExpression), Instagram (@coloradoexpression) and Twitter (@ColoExpression) OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION 1

CONTENTS

October / November 2017

40

34

90

Features 40

Out & About 6

Holiday Gift Guide 74

Amy Cara Develops Real Estate and Community

Shot in the Dark

Enjoy the Season

By Elizabeth Jones

By Marge D. Hansen and Elizabeth Jones

See photos recapping some of the top events around town.

Stylish apparel, exquisite jewelry, or a ski getaway, we have ideas for everyone on your holiday list!

By Colleen Smith

Building a legacy, Cara brings a woman’s touch to Denver’s building boom.

44 Heightening Awareness

By Marge D. Hansen

Nancy Phillips gladly welcomes women decision-makers to the table.

48 Holly Arnold Kinney, Legacy Owner of The Fort Restaurant

By Claudia Carbone

A successful businesswoman, Kinney saved the family restaurant and founded the Tesoro Cultural Center, a living history experience.

Cover Photo Clockwise – Starting top left Melanie: Dress, Lawrence Covell | Jewelry, Dan Sharp Holly: Dress, St. John Boutique | Jewelry, Dan Sharp Priya: Dress, Mariel | Jewelry, Hyde Park Amy: Dress, Mariel | Necklaces, Dan Sharp | Earrings, Hyde Park

2

20 Social Calendar

By Elizabeth Jones

Plan to support some of these nonprofit fundraisers and events.

26 Bits & Pieces

By Joy Lawrance

Find out about Hyde Park Jewelers Fall Watch Fair, the Colorado Arts Circuit event, new art installations downtown, Colorado Gives Day and more.

90 Giving with BeBoxed Style

By Joy Lawrance

Looking for a fresh idea for holiday gift giving, think BeBoxed Gifts.

100 L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour

By Corinne Joy Brown

Support Central City Opera at the annual L’Esprit de Noël Home Tour.

34

106

Hot Tickets

Causes to Believe In

By Elizabeth Jones

By Joanne Davidson

There’s no shortage of great things to do in town and across the state.

Consider supporting these charities who strengthen our communities.

Cover & Inside Photo Spread Credits and Stores Photography Tommy Collier; Styling Creative Director Tobie Orr; Makeup Michael Moore; Hair Mackenzie Davis.

Hyde Park Jewelers: 3000 E. 1st Ave. | 303-333-4446; St. John Boutique: 3170 E. 2nd Ave. | 303-377-7572; Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear: 218 Steele St. | 303-333-6666; Garbarini: 239 Detroit St. | 303-333-8686; GNAT Jewelery Atelier: 2703 E. 3rd Ave. | 303-355-5858; Lawrence Covell: 225 Steele St. | 303-320-1023; Mariel Boutique: 3000 E. 3rd Ave. | 303-626-1151.

Holiday Gift Guide cover photography by shutterstock.com Special thanks to Suzanne Brown, Lisa Buscietta, Becky Grupe, Sheree Hedin, Elizabeth Jones, Connie Robertson, and Andrea Späth. To all our advertisers and freelancers, thank you.—Elizabeth

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Mix master.

Versatile. Eclectic. Curated. STUDIO by STICKLEY brings you a modern mix of materials in a unique way for a beautiful result. Introducing the sleek metal ribboned Addison Dining Table and Addison Console.

A walnut and metal masterpiece.

Flatiron Marketplace, 221 E. Flatiron Crossing Dr., Broomfield 303.467.2777 Across from Park Meadows Mall, 9515 East County Line Road, Englewood 720.493.5677 complimentary interior design service | stickleyaudi.com

CONTENTS

October / November 2017 38 Public Spaces

By Kimberly Field

Women in Kind creates a workplace founded, funded and designed by women, for women. And it works!

52 Great Escapes

By Kim D. McHugh

As a proponent of the adventure lifestyle Powdr delivers epic fun. But SVP, Megan Fearnow, never forgets there is a serious side to life.

56 Enterprise

By Katie Coakley

58

Departments

For Diane Simard, senior vice president and board member at Bye Aerospace, life is about connections and collaboration.

58 Colorado Kids

30

By Jamie McAfee

Priya Burkett creates the change she wishes to see in the world, giving it all she has, leaving her mark in every space she occupies.

Public Persona

By Scott S. Evans

Founder of SpyderLynk, this CU Boulder graduate is now the VP of data products at Vantiv, a leading provider of payment processing services.

60 52

32

Body & Soul

By Courtney Drake-McDonough

At the touch of a button, Jacqueline Ros’ safety and communications device Revolar lets people know you are OK.

Nonprofit Profile

By Suzanne S. Brown

CEO Courtney Cuff has been a “strategic, creative and fierce leader” in this organization’s efforts to end discrimination of LGBT individuals.

62 Tie the Knot

By Elizabeth Jones

Help us celebrate these recently wedded couples.

Facebook facebook.com/coloradoexpression

60

Twitter twitter.com/coloexpression

Instagram instagram.com/coloradoexpression

Pinterest pinterest.com/coloexpression

4

COLORADO EXPRESSION (ISSN # 1070-5066) is published bi-monthly by New West Publishing Inc., 3600 S. Beeler St., Ste. 100, Denver, Colorado 80237, Elizabeth Hamilton, owner, 303-694-1289; fax: 303-694-6939; e-mail: info@coloradoexpression.com; website: coloradoexpression.com. Annual one-year subscription rate is $22.00, cover price is $4.00. Periodicals postage is paid at Denver, Colorado and additional entries. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Expression, c/o New West Publishing, 3600 S. Beeler St., Ste. 100, Denver, Colorado 80237.

Copyright© 2017, New West Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

SHOT IN THE DARK

All for a Good Cause Heart of the Horse Gala The Heart of the Horse Gala held at the Colorado Horse Park benefited the Denver Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center, and the Zoology Foundation at Crooked Willow Farms.

Photography by Pam Cress

2

1

4

5

7

1 Jocelyn Marra, Jay Feinberg 2 Meg Krueger, CEO Colorado Horse Park; Glenn and Joan Petty 3 Matt and Liz Brodahl 4 Mark and Katherine Bellissimo, Owners Colorado Horse Park 5 Stephanie and Cameron Richards 6 Shannon Dahmer, Trevor Warner, Beth Bowlen Wallace 7 Jodi and Ray Mercer, Beckie and Greg Harman 8 Karen Moore, Jill Traina, Lisa Snyder, Julie Graebel

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 8

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

3

6

8

SHOT IN THE DARK

Broads Banquet The fifth annual Broads Banquet was held at and benefited the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

Photography by Pam Cress

1

2

1

3

4

6

5

7

8

1 Joanne Posner-Mayer, Susan Noble, Katie Fox, Susan Fox Pinkowitz 2 Stacey Moreno, Jennifer Marx, Beth Watson, Monica Lengyel 3 Madeline Morrissey, Maggie Morrissey, Isabel McCann 4 Bryanna Spaulding, Stephanie Harris, Susanna Shannon, Staci Bouc 5 Julie Taylor, Jess Knauf, Mardee Goff 6 Liza Coughlin, Karen Foxwolfe, Suzanne Sorkin, Erin Roeder 7 Erin Roeder, Nora Abrams, Suzanne Sorkin, Sarah Stettner 8 Zoe Larkins, Helene Strebel, Honoree; Sue Cannon, Founder MCA; Nora Abrams

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

9

SHOT IN THE DARK

Do at the Zoo The annual Do at the Zoo was held at and benefited the Denver Zoo. Photography by Pam Cress

1

2

3

4

6

9

5

7

8

10

1 Abby and Adam Benton 2 Ken Van Riper, Dave Burchfield 3 Mac and Rebecca Macsovits, Dana Davis, Lynn Kitt 4 Sherri Koelbel, Board Chair; Trish and Ken Green, Event Chairs 5 Phil Workman, Elaine Torres, Dustin Whistler, Tamra Ward, Chief External Relations Officer Denver Zoo 6 Dr. Graeme Patterson, VP of Conservation and Research Denver Zoo; Terri Benjamin, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald 7 Sean Campbell, Kenny Monfort 8 Anne and CJ Chapman, Adam and Abby Benton 9 Roop Sampathi, Matthew and Priya Burkett 10 Denise Denton, Denny O’Malley, Eurasian Eagle owl 11 Nancy McGrath, Wendell Flemming, Laurie Galbreath

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 10

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

11

SHOT IN THE DARK

Diamonds in the Rough Charity Golf Classic Dinner The 18th annual Diamonds in the Rough Charity Golf Classic Dinner, hosted by Hyde Park Jewelers, was held at Elway’s Cherry Creek and benefited Denver Health Foundation, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and Girls Inc. of Metro Denver.

Photography by Joanne Davidson

1

2

3

4

5

4 6

7

8

1 Michael Pollak, Co-founder and CEO Hyde Park Jewelers; Gary Reece 2 Carol and Larry Mizel 3 Donnah Phipps, Darian Hagan 4 Peter and Alison Schaffer, Letha and Steve Atwater 5 Susi Altman, General Manager Hyde Park Jewelers; Rick Altman 6 Angela Daniel, DeMarcus Ware 7 Jason and Pamela Hirsh 8 Mitch and Danielle Ryan 9 Pam and Bill Cates

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 12

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

9

SHOT IN THE DARK

LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME? TALK TO VECTRA.

A Night to Catch Flight A Night to Catch Flight held at Jet Linx Denver at Centennial Airport benefited the Emmanuel Sanders Foundation.

Photography by Tuan Vo

Vectra Bank Residential Lending.

With historically low rates, competitive financing, and lenders who know your market and close deals on time, now is a great time to purchase a home or refinance your existing mortgage*. Let the Residential Lending Professionals at Vectra Bank help you find the resources you need to purchase your next home.

Call, click, or stop by Vectra Bank today! vectrabank.com 800-232-8948

1

Big Enough To Count / Small Enough To Care

*Loans subject to credit approval; terms and conditions apply. See lender for details.

A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

dena

DOWNTOWN

uniting extr aordinary properties with extraordinary lives...

2

3

1 Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller 2 Jeff Puckett, Jon Mayfield, Katherine Hartzler, Matt Hall 3 Bennie Fowler, Juwan Thompson

Equal Housing Lender / NMLS#467014

Considered one of Denver’s top producers, few people know Downtown Denver real estate better than Dena Pastorini. As a long time resident of Riverfront Park, Dena serves as a broker at LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, working with Sellers and Buyers throughout all of central Denver.

Dena Pastorini 720.233.9096 Broker Associates of:

dpastorini@ livsothebysrealty.com Members of:

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

13

SHOT IN THE DARK

Mariel Boutique Store Re-opening Celebration The Mariel boutique store re-opening celebration was held at the new location at 3000 E. 3rd Avenue in Cherry Creek North.

Photography by Pam Cress

1

3

2

4

5

1 Georgi Pelsue, Denise Snyder, Mary Sprinkle 2 Maxwell Blair, Brandon Snyder 3 Joy Mulder, Elyse Shofner, Maxwell Blair 4 Juanita Chacon, Gene Fitzgerald 5 Denise Snyder and her family: son Brandon Snyder, mom Joanna Kenny, and husband Brent Snyder

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 14

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

SHOT IN THE DARK Denver 303.839.2272

Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball

Colorado Springs 719.442.4371

The Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball held at the University of Denver benefited the Fine Arts Foundation.

Photography by Tuan Vo

You are more than your money.

Private Wealth Management

Member FDIC

Your Story. Our Focus.®

1

Private Wealth Management strategies from UMB are built to do more than help you reach your financial goals. They are built to give you confidence about your future with a personalized approach that’s focused around your plans, priorities and most importantly — your story.

UMB.com/PrivateWealth Investment Management Services and Securities are: NOT FDIC-INSURED

2

3

NO BANK GUARANTEE

MAY LOSE VALUE

MOORE FOR LIFE

Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.

ADD THE PERFECT

eyeshadow

4

1 Gail Nash, Thomas Weaver, Alicia Weaver; Ashlyn Weaver, tiara mistress; Nash Weaver 2 Gabriella Lorance, Anne Tobler 3 Elizabeth Murphy, CoChair; Linda Steiert, Chair 4 Gabriella McWilliams, John McWilliams

AND THEY’RE GONNA NEED SHADES. EVOLVE YOUR LIFESTYLE TODAY. 303.956.0311 MOOREFORLIFE.COM

MICHAEL@MOOREFORELIFE.COM @MOOREFORLIFE

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

15

SHOT IN THE DARK

Beyond The Wild Wood The 44th annual Birthday Bash—Beyond The Wild Wood—was held at and benefited Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Photography by Tuan Vo

2914 East Sixth Avenue 303/333/2493

2914 Eas Denver, C

2

1

3

4

6

5

1 Marisa and Chad Hollingsworth 2 Gary Steuer, Mike Yankovich, Deborah Jordy 3 Ty and Melissa Little, Audra and Sean McNicolas 4 Joyce Witte, Virginia Witte 5 Whitney and Halle Holmes 6 Jennifer Marsico, Zoe Ocampo, Brooke Flavin

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 16

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

6

SHOT IN THE DARK

Museum After Dark

Beaulieu Sur Mer, Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azur, 06310 France Price Upon Request

Museum After Dark was held at and benefited the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Photography by Tuan Vo

Local Real Estate Expertise with Global Reach

1

2

DOUGLAS D. KERBS 303.898.7818 douglas.kerbs@sothebysrealty.com

DouglasDKerbs.com

4

3

Recognized as a Top Producing Broker with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 5

6

and in the city of Denver, Colorado.

1 Priya and Matthew Burkett, Event Chairs 2 Dr. Saurabh Mangalik, Cary Kennedy 3 Hal and Ann Logan, Event Chairs 4 Brice and Andrea Giron Mathern, Musiba Amen Sergew, Chip Colwell 5 Michelle and Robert Applegate, Derek and Serena Bruzgo 6 Marcela de la Mar, Amy Harmon

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

17

Selling Denver’s Most Coveted Addresses

173 5 1 9 T H ST R E E T F L AT- 4 C/ D D OW N TOW N D E N V E R

The epitome of urban luxury living, this home with its precise location in downtown Denver, gives into a stimulating living experience from Coors Field to Union Station. The excitement and vibrancy of the city is right outside the building, while privacy and exclusivity is enjoyed from inside the lavish, custom confines of the flat.

2 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 5,358 Square Feet | $4,000,000

Inquire and Begin the Conversation 303.898.7818 | Douglas.Kerbs@sothebysrealty.com

Condos from $384K to Homes up to $4M

M US EU M R ES I D E N C ES F L AT 4 0 8 & P E N T H O US E 6 03

There is no greater example of true modern architecture in Denver than the Museum Residences.

Born out of the creative mind behind the Denver Art Museum – Hamilton Building, world-renowned German architect Daniel Libeskind. As his first residential project in the world, the Museum Residences is a pure complimentary structure to the Art Museum itself. $995,000 & $1,298,000

Local Real Estate Expertise with Global Reach.

DOUGLAS D. KERBS 303.898.7818

DouglasDKerbs.com

COLORADO’S SOCIAL SCENE

SOCIAL CALENDAR

October 1

The Denver Kidney Walk is a noncompetitive 5K and 1 mile walk in support of the National Kidney Foundation held at Denver’s City Park. donate.kidney.org 1

More than just a few-mile trek, the Walk to Defeat ALS at Sloan’s Lake Park is an opportunity to bring hope to people living with ALS. 303-832-2322 • alsa.org 4

7

The Red Wagon Ball at Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center raises necessary funds for Advocates for Children CASA. 303-695-1882 • adv4children.org 7

The 31st annual Carousel Ball, presented by the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, benefits the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

303-628-5112 • childrensdiabetesfoundation.org 7

Reaching New Peaks Hope Breakfast, held at Cherry Hills Country Club, supports Boys Hope Girls Hope Colorado.

720-524-2061 • boyshopegirlshope.org 4

At Uniting to Care and Cure celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Held at The Cable Center, enjoy cocktails, an elegant dinner, a live auction and inspiration.

303-639-9163 • crohnscolitisfoundation.org

The Booklovers Ball at the Denver Central Library features cocktails in the Children’s Library, dining among the stacks, and dancing in the grand hall. Proceeds benefit the Denver Public Library.

720-865-2050 • dplfriends.org 10

Judi’s House Speakers Series Luncheon —Strength in the Face of Adversity, held at Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, welcomes Mitch Albom as the featured speaker.

720-941-0331 • judishouse.org

4

Enjoy an evening of delicious food from regional restaurants at the Signature Chef’s Auction at Mile High Station, benefiting the March of Dimes.

303-305-1227 • signaturechefs.marchofdimes.org

12

The second annual Road to Reading held at the Denver Botanic Gardens supports Reading Partners’ one-onone tutoring program.

720-409-9909 • readingpartners.org

14

Freedom Service Dogs provides dogs for people in need. The sixth annual Diamonds in the Ruff at Infinity Park Event Center honors those dogs and their human partners.

303-922-6231 • freedomservicedogs.org 14

Western Fantasy—Colorado Snow— held at the National Western Events Center is an evening of cocktails, dinner, live auction, and western entertainment to benefit Volunteers of America.

720-264-3322 • voacolorado.org 19

The Girl Scouts of Colorado will celebrate “20 years of Amazing Women” by honoring all of the Women of Distinction from the Denver-metro region during this year’s Thin Mint Dinner held at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

303-607-4833 • girlscoutsofcolorado.org 21

Held at the Denver Marriott South in Lone Tree the Invisible Disabilities Association’s 10th Annual Awards Gala “Laugh Out Loud” will feature local award-winning comedian Sam Adams.

303-947-5209 • invisibledisabilities.org 21

6

12

The ACE Scholarship Woman’s Luncheon—The Power of the Purse—held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center will feature keynote speaker Bobbi Brown, makeup artist, author, entrepreneur.

303-573-1603 • acescholarships.org

20

Support the University of Colorado Cancer Center at Libations for Life, an evening dedicated to female researchers and women’s cancers, held at Mile High Station.

303-724-8227 • supportcuanschutz.ucdenver.edu

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

This year’s Hope Gala marks the 40th Anniversary of SafeHouse Denver. Held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, enjoy an exquisite dinner, live and silent auctions, and surprise entertainment.

303-302-6126 • safehouse-denver.org

COLORADO’S SOCIAL SCENE

SOCIAL CALENDAR

21

Join the Tennyson Center as they celebrate their 40th anniversary at the elegant Black and White Ball held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.

303-433-2541 • tennysoncenter.org 26

MCA honors renowned architect David Adjaye in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Art at the Luminocity Gala to be held at 1000 N. Broadway.

303-298-7554 • mcadenver.org 26

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver is the venue for the Heart of Hospice Tribute Dinner honoring Mickey Ackerman for his 30 years of support and advocacy for The Denver Hospice.

303-321-2828 • thedenverhospice.org 28

Held at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, the annual Tribute Gala honors individuals and organizations making a difference for the mental health community. Proceeds support the efforts of Mental Health Colorado.

720-208-2220 • mentalhealthcolorado.org

November 1

Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center will honor Norm Brownstein with the 2017 Robert E. Loup Hineni Award during the Annual Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Denver.

303-399-2660 • jccdenver.org 1

The Teal Gala, at Mile High Station, is a dinner and silent auction ben-

22

efiting the programs of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

303-506-7014 • colo-ovariancancer.org 4

Project C.U.R.E.’s sixth annual High Rollers for Health & Hope will be held at EXDO Event Center. Enjoy live music, casino games, fabulous silent and live auctions and more.

303-792-0729 • projectcure.org 7

At the 24th annual Serving Up Hope Luncheon, held at the Denver Mart Plaza Building, sample cuisine from Colorado’s great restaurants and hotel chefs while supporting Food Bank of the Rockies.

303-371-9250 • foodbankrockies.org 11

The annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, presented by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the nation.

303-321-6277 • globaldownsyndrome.org 11

Spreading Wings Gala is an evening honoring the men and women of Flight For Life Colorado celebrating their 45th anniversary. Held at and benefiting Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

303-360-5360 • wingsmuseum.org 14

The Heart of Hearts Gala: Happily Ever After, held at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, will benefit Rocky Mountain Adventist Hospitals.

303-715-7627 • heartofheartsgala.org

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

17

Take action and learn how to live a healthier life during the Go Red for Woman Luncheon at the Westin Denver Downtown in support of the American Heart Association.

303-801-4667 • heart.org 17

Service With Style, at the Grand Hyatt Pinnacle Room, will honor designer and event organizer David Alexander.

Proceeds benefit Volunteers of America Colorado Branch.

303-297-0408 • voacolorado.org 18

The Adoption Exchange 30th Annual Gala, held at the Seawell Grand Ballroom, will be filled with great food, live and silent auctions, and dancing to the Wash Park Band.

303-755-4756 • adoptex.org 29

Ignite! the Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region Torch of Liberty Dinner will honor Andrew Feinstein, Dr. Stephen Berman and Elaine Gantz Berman. To be held at the Seawell Grand Ballroom.

303-830-7177 • adl.org 30

Collectors’ Choice 37, the Denver Art Museum’s elegant black-tie gala, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, and honor Anna and John J. Sie. 720-913-0030 • denverartmuseum.org Social Calendar covers formal fundraising events for nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado.

If you wish to have an event listed, please contact Colorado Expression at 303-694-1289, or email info@coloradoexpression.com

AN EVENT TO BENEFIT CENTRAL CITY OPERA

PRESENTED BY CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD & COLDWELL BANKER DEVONSHIRE

Tour five magnificent homes in the Cranmer Park/Hilltop neighborhood

November 17 & 18, 2017

Friday & Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm Tour Tickets: $25 at the door and at all King Soopers stores. $23 tickets and more information available online at CentralCityOpera.org/lesprit.

Sponsors Coldwell Banker Devonshire Colorado Expression | The Hilltop Sundial | The Denver Post | The Villager

F EAT UR ED CO LLECT I O N : PR I S M ATI C

available at WWW.D EN VER R UGCO M PA N Y. C OM

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH NOURISON.

A D D R ES S 9 6 9 7 E CO U NTY L I N E R OAD CEN T EN N I A L, C O 80112 T EL: 3 0 3 .7 9 2. 9292

HOURS M ON D AY - S ATU R D AY 10AM - 7 P M S U N D AY 11AM - 5 P M

BITS & PIECES

What’s happening in the West

By Joy Lawrance

Hyde Park Annual Watch Fair October 6–7

Photo: WM Artist Services-Wes Magya

This will mark the 30th year that Hyde Park Jewelers has presented its Annual Watch Fair & Sale. Representatives from the world’s finest watchmakers will preview their collections, including new designs and limited editions at Hyde Park’s Denver stores. Those who are in the market for a quality timepiece will also be able to purchase from a selection of vintage watches, trade in existing watches, meet master watchmakers and receive free computerized diagnostic testing. Special financing arrangements are also available. hydeparkjewelers.com

Collin Parson, Ellipse from the Divided Series, 2017

S

New Art Installations Commissioned for Downtown Denver SkyHouse Denver, a high-rise apartment building at 1776 Broadway, and the Denver Art Museum (DAM) announced a partnership to feature the work of four local artists over the course of a year. Denver-based artists Sandra Fettingis, Collin Parson, Jodi Stuart and Suchitra Mattai will create installations to be on view in street-level window boxes along 18th Avenue and Lincoln Street. “We are

committed to expanding the ways we connect with the creative community of Denver,” said Christoph Heinrich, DAM museum director. One installation includes color-changing LEDs with geometric shapes and mirrors, designed to slow the viewer down in a fast-paced city center.

Another is inspired by the Denver cityscape, offering dimension and shadow play. denverartmuseum.org

Colorado Gives Day December 5

THIS ANNUAL STATEWIDE MOVEMENT CELEBRATES AND INCREASES PHILANTHROPY IN COLORADO THROUGH ONLINE GIVING.

C

ommunity First Foundation and FirstBank present Colorado Gives Day to offer Colorado nonprofits a way to increase donations and spread the word about their missions and work. The $1 Million Incentive Fund created by the partners is one of the largest giving-day incentive funds in the country. More than $200 million

26

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

has been raised for Colorado nonprofits through ColoradoGives.org since 2007. For 24 hours, starting at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, people can donate to the nonprofit of their choice online. Starting on Nov. 1, individuals can schedule donations in advance.

ColoradoGives.org

BITS & PIECES

Where the Chefs Eat Caroline Glover

Venue 221 Announces Great Giveback Recipients

C

Cherry Creek North event space Venue 221 has announced its 20172018 Great Giveback winners.

Nonprofits from Colorado applied for donated space at Venue 221 to host fundraisers, meetings and gatherings. The winners include: Curious Theatre Company, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, Excelsior, and Zane Beadles Parade Foundation. Venue 221, at 221 Detroit

St., has set a goal to donate one event venue use each quarter with a value exceeding $20,000 in rental costs to four deserving nonprofit organizations. Recipients were chosen through an application process and selected by an advisory council. Each organization will select an available date during its allotted quarter. venue221.com

MCA

Photo: FromTheHipPhoto.com

Chef-Owner at Annette Scratch to Table in the Stanley Marketplace 2501 Dallas St., Aurora 720-710-9975 annettescratchtotable.com

Peter’s Chinese: I rarely make it out to eat these days, but I always order in Sunday nights. And it’s always Peter’s Chinese. It reminds me of New York City. It’s just really great delivery Chinese food!

Curtis Park Deli: Their sandwiches are the best! Always consistent and just what I want—and they have Happy Leaf Kombucha on tap.

MCA’s Luminocity Gala October 26

Phoenician Kabob: Best zaatar flat bread around. And dolmas, too!

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver building, Luminocity will honor renowned architect David Adjae. Supporting the museum’s ambitious exhibition program, the event features an exclusive auction of artwork by established and emerging artists from Denver and across the nation. Join more than 500 collectors, civic leaders and art lovers for an incredible dinner, followed by music and dancing. To be held at 1000 N. Broadway.

720-236-1818 | mcadenver.org

Cart Driver: I rarely make it down to RiNo anymore—but the bread and sardines (and butter) at Cart Driver is what I crave.

Potager: For a nicer night out, a seasonal pizza and a glass of wine at the bar, or if you’re lucky, the garden is really the best.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

27

BITS & PIECES

What’s happening in the West

Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe Names First Executive Director

Photo: Gabriel Christus

Melanie Ulle, Albin Ulle and Molly Hoppe

Join the Santa Claus Pub Crawl to Benefit Charities The Santa Claus Pub Crawl has become a Denver tradition, and is slated for Saturday, Dec. 2, starting at 1:30 p.m. in LoDo. Thousands of participants dress up as Santa, elves, angels or Channukah Harrys and parade through the streets of lower downtown to raise money and toys for underserved families and children. The event, started by Melanie and Albin Ulle and friends in 2002, has donated more than 20,000 toys and $150,000 in cash donations. Tickets range from $34 to $50. denversantapubcrawl.com

D

David Carroll has been named the first executive director for Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. A Colorado native, Carroll boasts an extensive career in the arts, holding leadership positions at the Art Institute of Chicago and Indiana University Art Museum, among others. “I am motivated by my personal mission to build community through the arts,” Carroll said. Locally he has worked for Historic Grant Avenue and Denver Downtown Partnership.

The art district’s president Amy Phare said, “With the addition of a paid executive director, we can do our part in keeping art and culture alive in Denver while ensuring longterm sustainability of our creative community.” artdistrictonsantafe.com

Colorado Arts Circuit Hosts VIP Event October 20

T

The Colorado Arts Circuit will host a glamorous evening combining motor sports, art and music. Organized by Elemental Worldwide Management & Events, the event is October 20 at the Vehicle Vault in Parker. Guests will mingle with celebrities and stars of the racing world, including drivers Buzz Calkins and Buddy Lazier. On display will be original paintings by contemporary artists who will also do live painting. In addition, guests will view super cars including the fabled Shelby GT500 in the film Gone in 60 Seconds. Proceeds raised will go to the Milias Miracle Foundation and its efforts to stop Batten Disease. Ticket prices range from $200 general admission to $1,400 for a VIP table for eight. coloradoartscircuit.com

28

Colorado Arts Circuit will be held at The Vehicle Vault in Parker

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

PUBLIC PERSONA

N NICOLE JASS IS PART OF A NEW generation of women in Denver who bring their intellect and prowess with emerging technologies to bear for both start-ups and major public companies. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, Jass founded SpyderLynk, a company centered on her invention of SnapTag, a two dimensional logo (rather than a white QR checkerboard) that a consumer takes a picture of to start a conversation with a brand or receive instant discounts.

Now Jass is the VP of data products at Vantiv, a leading provider of payment processing services for merchants and financial institutions. If that sounds like heady stuff, it is. But Jass is keenly aware of the special challenges facing women in business, and speaks freely about the balance needed for women to both advance their careers and have children. Jass has managed to find and honor that balance and has two children. Keep an eye out for Jass to continue to push the boundaries while maintaining her balance.

Nicole Jass

How do people describe you?

Driven, caring, and either funny or pain in the neck.

Who do you most admire?

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. She helped monetize Facebook and Google. An incredible businessperson. You must watch her TED Talk.

Favorite Denver metro restaurant?

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant.

What was the last great book you read?

I’m in the middle of Option B, by Sheryl Sandberg. It talks about resilience and the drive towards living positively.

30

Photo: Mark Cafiero

What surprises people about you?

That I like Britney Spears.

FOUNDER OF SPYDERLYNK, NICOLE JASS IS NOW THE VP OF DATA PRODUCTS AT VANTIV, A LEADING PROVIDER OF PAYMENT PROCESSING SERVICES

By Scott S. Evans Name: Nicole Jass Age: 38 Marital status: Yes, to Bryan Children: Kaia, 4; and Ferguson, 2 Career: VP Data Products at Vantiv Hometown: Fort Collins Where do you call home today? Tallyn’s Reach in Aurora Website: vantiv.com

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

GET TO KNOW COLORADO’S TOP PERSONALITIES

What is your biggest fashion faux pas?

My sister pointed out my red workout leggings with purple shoes.

What is one thing that you absolutely can’t live without?

My kids. Or Google maps.

What gadget can you not live without?

My phone.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are bubbles and drawing chalk on the driveway with my kids. Before that, soccer and snowboarding.

What one word describes Coloradans to you?

Grateful.

What took you down this career path?

At the very beginning, it was my mom who suggested I go into engineering. I had no reason not to, so I did. I did the true hard core engineering. If you are a nerd who can talk, they pull you into marketing and sales. The more exposure to marketing and sales I had, the more I understood how important it was to tell the story.

Are there other women who have inspired you in business?

Yes. My first boss was a woman when I was an optical engineer. I watched how she carried herself. She was fearless and bold and had to strike the family and career balance. She was extremely supportive of me. It didn’t matter that I was a woman, and she showed me that anything was possible.

Who has been most influential in finding your path?

My mom and dad. My mom told me to be an engineer and helps with the balance problem by watching my kids.

What was the trigger for you in starting SpyderLynk?

A discussion about putting bar codes in magazines. I called my dad, we discussed the problems, opportunities and solutions. We saw an idea and seized the opportunity.

You invented SnapTag. What is it?

With SnapTag, you take a picture of a logo, and find out about a product or enter to win a sweepstakes, or enter a website and purchase merchandise. You could immediately communicate with a brand, and the brand could communicate back.

What are the primary obstacles women face in reaching executive levels?

My experience might be unique.

Most of my obstacles are internal.

For example, striking the balance.

We need to tackle this so we don’t get held back.

What aspect of SpyderLynk are you most proud of?

We climbed the mountain from the base. Ultimately we had Jimmy Kimmel talking about it and it was in Glamour Magazine. We got to work with incredible brands and companies.

What is the key for you in overcoming those obstacles?

I did push back having kids to where I could give it the appropriate time.

Now it’s important to find a company and a boss who respects the balance and lets you drive your career forward with the balance.

You are often asked to speak at conferences. What is the primary message you like to convey?

It’s usually very entrepreneurial, and about what it takes to seize an opportunity. It’s not easy, it’s often a roller coaster, but it’s a fun ride for you and your team.

Why did you choose architectural engineering as your major at the University of Colorado Boulder?

(Laughing) We are all on this journey trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up.

What made you go to Vantiv?

We reached the end of the journey at SpyderLynk and sold the company. Vantiv is a perfect fit for me. It takes what we did before and tries to make a way to discover what caused a purchase, and see what marketing is working. The jump from the speedboat to the cruise ship has been very interesting.

Are there any special challenges for a woman at a publicly traded company like Vantiv?

I think that the balance remains the challenge. How do you put kids and family first, but still drive a career?

We still have a lot of work, for example, to do on maternity leave. You have to give me something to come back to in order to leave my kids.

What are your goals at Vantiv?

To build a strong team and practice on how we can leverage our data for our clients. To drive a meaningful impact for a big company.

My daughter just turned 21 and went “out into the world.”

What business advice would you give her?

Have a strong eye on where you are going. Always stay open to what is happening around you and how you get there. Take yourself as far as you can. Drive and direction are critical, and stay open to opportunities.

Scott S. Evans is graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia School of Law and is a father of two, a business litigation attorney, writer and high school lacrosse coach living in Centennial. Full disclosure: Scott worked for Jass’ father nearly 30 years ago in Denver.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

31

NONPROFIT PROFILE

W WHEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ruled in June 2015 that states cannot prevent same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions, celebrations erupted across the country. Supporters took time to cheer the decision, but those who focus on issues affecting LGBT individuals went right back to work.

They are people like Courtney Cuff, president and CEO of the Gill Foundation. Started in Denver in 1994 by software entrepreneur Tim Gill, the foundation is one of the country’s biggest funders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights efforts. It has distributed $322 million to organizations and programs supporting its goal of

Gill Foundation

Mission The Gill Foundation is one of the country’s largest funders of efforts to achieve full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

It makes tax-deductible grants to nonprofit organizations that advance equality through research, education, developing policy recommendations and working within the legal system.

The foundation also makes grants to 501(c)3 organizations in Colorado to lower barriers to economic opportunities. It works for change to public policies at the state level and collaborates with other philanthropists and funders. The foundation doesn’t accept unsolicited grant requests.

Colorado Programs Through A Prosperous Colorado, the foundation works in four areas: LGBT advocacy and services; STEM education: financial services to promote fair lending practices, access to safe capital and financial literacy; and public broadcasting.

Contact Gill Foundation 2215 Market St. Denver, CO 80205 303-292-4455 gillfoundation.org

32

Courtney Cuff speaks at the OutGiving 2017 conference “Undeterred”

CEO COURTNEY CUFF HAS BEEN A “STRATEGIC, CREATIVE AND FIERCE LEADER” IN ORGANIZATION’S EFFORTS TO END DISCRIMINATION OF LGBT INDIVIDUALS

By Suzanne S. Brown

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Photo: Nicki Vasquez, Christian David Productions

Details

achieving equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression.

Much of the foundation’s recent work has concentrated on fighting discrimination on the job and in housing, Cuff said in an interview in her office at the foundation’s headquarters in LoDo. Sitting on a red suede sofa rather than behind a desk, she was warm and approachable, with a broad smile and her face framed by close-cropped brown hair.

The Supreme Court decision gave many people the mistaken notion that problems encountered by LGBT individuals were solved. “Getting the marriage ruling was a big step, but you can be married one day and fired the next,” she said.

“We have turned our attention to areas in the south and heartland where we need to educate people and where there is still a lot of discrimination,” said Cuff, who grew up in Athens, Georgia and went to Davidson College in North Carolina.

At Cuff’s urging, Gill staffers take a bold approach. “We work with might seem to be odd bedfellows: businesses large and small, and faith leaders,” Cuff said.

Cuff’s home state is an example.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal in 2016 vetoed a bill that would have allowed faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held religious belief” and fire employees who didn’t conform to those beliefs. Deal was supported by such companies as Disney, Apple and Time Warner. “He is not a governor who goes out on a limb. He is a conservative Christian,” Cuff said.

“But he heard from a lot of people and said that he wanted the state to be open for business.”

Among the local organizations the foundation supports is One Colorado. Gill gave the One Colorado Education Fund $225,000 in 2015 to use in educational programming, research, and to “mobilize a community of LGBTQ people and

Photo: Nicki Vasquez, Christian David Productions

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE ACTIVITIES AND BENEFICIARIES OF LOCAL NONPROFITS

OutGiving is a program of the Gill Foundation

straight allies, and develop campaigns to build public support for fairness and equality.”

Daniel Ramos, executive director, said the funds have trained 10,000 educators on the laws, policies and best practices for bullying intervention and combatting harassment.

Supporting STEM Tim Gill began his efforts in Colorado and continues to look for both business opportunities and ways to improve life in the state. He founded the page-layout software company Quark, Inc. in 1981, and in 2015 co-founded JStar LLC, a smart home technology business.

Gill is the company’s chief technology officer and supports education in STEM—science, technology, engineering and math. Through the foundation’s Prosperous Colorado program, which is partnering with business and government, they spent $400,000 to build smart labs for grades K-12 that opened Sept. 14 in the Englewood School District.

The district contributed more than $125,000, and Creative Learning Systems (SmartLabs) added $25,000 in value.

It’s yet another way Gill spreads his philosophy of “giving a hand up, not a hand out,” Cuff said.

Cuff, who worked for the Western Conservation Foundation and

National Parks Conservation Association before joining the Gill Foundation in 2013, has also launched some of her own initiatives. She worked with the National Park Service to identify a list of sites significant to the history of the LGBT movement that will be recognized as National Historic Landmarks. The Stonewall Inn in New York City was designated a national monument in 2016.

Cuff will be leaving the Gill Foundation this fall to join the Hopewell Fund, which assists social entrepreneurs in quickly launching new projects. She will bring the same tenacity to her new job she used with her staff at Gill. “I relentlessly push to achieve things that might look like they can’t be achieved,” she said.

Tim Gill called his outgoing CEO “a strategic, creative and fierce leader,” and noted, “Among her many achievements, Courtney has led the charge as the movement and our grantees shifted from marriage to nondiscrimination, spearheaded an effective southern strategy building remarkable alliances with businesses and people of faith.

While the Gill Foundation pushes on, their work may never be complete, Cuff acknowledged. “It’s not something you can put a bow on and say it’s done, but progress is being made in many areas.”

Cuff’s time at the foundation has also been significant for personal reasons. She and her wife, Jessica Newman, were married in California in 2013 and have had two children since then. Cuff recalled that when she heard the Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision, she was with her young son, “and tears of joy were streaming down my face because I realized he will grow up knowing marriage equality is the law of the land.”

Suzanne S. Brown is a writer and editor who contributes to a variety of Colorado publications, including Mountain Living and The Denver Post.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

33

HOT TICKETS

In Town Through Oct. 7 Denver Beer Fest, various locations A nine-day, citywide celebration of all things beer. Tastings, tap takeovers, beer paired dinners, tours, events and more. denver.org/denverbeerfest

Can’t miss events throughout Colorado

By Elizabeth Jones

Through Oct. 14 Appropriate, Curious Theatre When the Lafayettes liquidate their dead patriarch’s estate, the children collide over clutter, debt, and a contentious family history.

303-623-0524 • curioustheatre.org

Through Oct. 29

Photo: Chandra Kuykendall and Domenico Luciano by Allen Birnbach

Corn Maze, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Wind your way through seven acres of corn. The maze can be viewed from two illuminated bridges.

720-865-3500 • denverbotanicgardens.org

Oct. 1 Rob Lowe, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Stories I Only Tell My Friends: LIVE! is packed with witty fun and oneof-a-kind insights spanning an iconic four-decade career.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

Oct. 4 Matchbox Twenty, Pepsi Center With special guest Matt Nathanson, celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album “Yourself or Someone Like You.” 303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Oct. 4 Purple Rain, The Music of Prince, Boettcher Concert Hall A master of pop, funk, R&B, folkrock, hip-hop, soul, new wave, and psychedelic, Prince created music that resonated with the world.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

34

Dracula, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Oct. 6-15

Oct. 6-15

Oct. 17

Dracula, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Colorado Ballet presents Bram Stoker’s Gothic romantic horror.

303-837-8888 • coloradoballet.org

Janet Jackson, Pepsi Center The “State of the World” tour will include fan favorites from her chart-topping “Unbreakable” album.

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Oct. 13-15

Oct. 17-29

Mozart’s Requiem, Boettcher Concert Hall Jun Märkl conducts the Symphony Chorus in Mozart’s Requiem.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Something Rotten!, Buell Theatre Set in 1595, this hilarious smash tells the story of two brothers who set out to write the world’s very first musical.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

HOT TICKETS

Oct. 20-22

Nov. 13

Stravinsky’s Firebird, Boettcher Concert Hall Firebird modernized the telling of symphonic love stories with the folkloric saga of love-struck Russian Prince Ivan.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Richard Russo, Newman Center Pen & Podium presents author Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winner for Empire Falls. His latest novel is Everybody’s Fool.

303-954-2972 • penandpodium.com

Nov. 14-19

Oct. 22-Jan. 14 Her Paris: Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism, Denver Art Museum This exhibition explores the artistic production of women in Paris between 1850-1900, including Morisot, Cassatt and Bracquemond.

720-865-3585 • denverartmuseum.org

Oct. 26 Disney in Concert, Boettcher Concert Hall Movie at the Symphony: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas projected on the big screen with the score played live.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Oct. 28 Jay Leno, Paramount Theatre See talk show host/standup legend Jay Leno during his all-new standup tour.

303-623-0106 • paramountdenver.com

Purple Rain, The Music of Prince, Boettcher Concert Hall, Oct. 4

RENT, Buell Theatre This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Awardwinning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary production.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

Nov. 9

Nov. 17-18

Yanni, Buell Theatre “An Intimate Evening with Yanni— Up Close and Personal” is a night of piano and conversation with the legendary Yanni. livenation.com

L’Esprit de Noël Home Tour, Hilltop Neighborhood Central City Opera’s 41st annual tour shows off some the cities most distinguished homes with holiday themed interiors and tabletops.

303-292-6500 • lespritdenoeltour.com

Nov. 11 Ravel’s Boléro and Colorado Premiere, Boettcher Concert Hall The evening includes Bottesini’s Concerto for Double Bass No. 2, Turina’s Danzas fantásticas, concluding with Ravel’s Boléro.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Nov. 24-Dec. 24 A Christmas Carol, Stage Theatre This joyous and opulent musical based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Christmas Carol illuminates the meaning of the holiday season.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

Oct. 30 Bruno Mars, Pepsi Center Put on your dance shoes and get ready for “The 24K Magic World Tour,” celebrating Mars’ eagerly anticipated new album.

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

La Bohème, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Opera Colorado opens its season with the Grand Opera production of Puccini’s timeless La Bohème.

303-778-1500 • operacolorado.org

Photo: Jeremy Daniel

Nov. 4, 7, 10, 12

Something Rotten!, Buell Theatre, Oct. 17-29

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

35

HOT TICKETS

For the Kids Photo: Denver Center_Chicago_Terra C. Macleod as Velma Kelly

Through Oct. 29

Chicago, Buell Theatre, Nov. 28-Dec. 3

Nov. 25-Dec. 24

Oct. 13-15

The Nutcracker, Ellie Caulkins Opera House The 57th annual production features timeless choreography paired with Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary arrangement.

303-837-8888 • coloradoballet.org

Horror Show, Telluride Colorado’s first and longest-running horror film festival brings the latest from around the world. telluridehorrorshow.wixsite.com/telluridehorror

Nov. 26 Katy Perry, Pepsi Center Order tickets to Katy Perry’s “Witness: The Tour” and receive a copy of her new album “Witness.”

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Oct. 20-22 Craft Sprits Festival, Breckenridge Small-batch distillers, artisan spirit seminars, a spirited cooking class, and more gobreck.com

Nov. 28-Dec. 3 Chicago, Buell Theatre The #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history, Chicago has everything that makes Broadway great!

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

DINOS! Live, Denver Zoo Prehistoric creatures brought to life among the zoo’s animals. This fall, dinosaur sculptures made from pumpkins emerge for DINOS!.

After Dark.

720-337-1400 • denverzoo.org

Oct. 19-20 & 26-27 Glow at the Gardens, Denver Botanic Gardens Luminaria-lined pathways, pumpkin displays, costume contest and more!

720-865-3500 • denverbotanicgardens.org

Oct. 28 Halloween Spooktacular!, Boettcher Concert Hall This family-favorite concert features music from Harry Potter films and more! Costumes are encouraged.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Oct. 28-30 Trick or Treat Street, Children’s Museum The most boo-tiful fall festival; go from one Treat House to the next, for goodies, games and more.

303-433-7444 • mychildsmuseum.org

Boo At The Zoo, Denver Zoo More than 25 trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and entertainment.

720-377-1400 • denverzoo.org

Oct. 3-8

36

Through Oct. 31

Oct. 29-30

Out of Town Aspen Filmfest, Aspen Showcasing narrative and documentary features, award-worthy fall previews and independent films.

970-925-688 • aspenfilm.org

Fright Fest, Elitch Gardens Family By Day for little ghosts and goblins, Fright By Night for the older creatures. Open Fri. pm, Sat., & Sun. elitchgardens.com

Trick or Treat Street, Children’s Museum, Oct. 28-30

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

For a complete listing of events visit coloradoexpression.com/ social-calendar

Are you ready for that “home-sweet-home” comfort that follows a trip in the mountains?

We have some options for you DENVER • CHERRY CREEK • CASTLE PINES

Call

“Results Team” RIKE PALESE

JONATHAN KEILER

303-522-5550

303-619-2917

rpalese@classicnhs.com

jkeiler@classicnhs.com

Current Listings: rikejon.com or

castlepine.com

PUBLIC SPACES

A Workplace of One’s Own Women in Kind creates a workplace designed by women, for women. And it works!

By Kimberly Field

The Details Women in Kind 3899 Jackson St., Bldg. #1 Denver, CO 80205 720-261-1181 WomenInKind.com Monthly membership: $195 Monthly dedicated desk: $550 Monthly office rental: $1,450 Event Space Rental: $500 Conference Room Rental: $160 for two hours (free for members)

38

Photo: Sandra Elkind

L

LET’S BE HONEST, MEN AND WOMEN aren’t the same. They have different needs, priorities, and work styles.

Women face their own professional, social, cultural and economic issues.

Add family challenges to the mix and it gets even more complicated.

So entrepreneurs Virginia Santy and Melanie Ulle imagined the perfect office space for women. “We asked ourselves what it would look like to create a workplace designed for women from the ground up,” Santy says. “What are some of the things we would have to consider given social and professional expectations of women in the workplace and the home? How can we support women and build systems of support into a workplace rather than asking women to figure it all out on their own?”

The two dreamed of working in a space that was warm (literally, why are men’s offices always freezing cold?), safe, professional, fostered collaboration, and could accommodate the many roles that women fill every

Melanie Ulle co-founder of Women in Kind

day, including raising children. Their dreams became reality when Women in Kind opened its doors in August.

Services women need Women in Kind is an inviting, open office facility where women (and men!) work in any way that suits their needs. It’s not just about having a conference room, reliable WiFi, and free parking. “We address the pain points in women’s lives,” Ulle says. Women in Kind anticipates and addresses the services women need to integrate the various aspects of their professional and family lives, including the “second shift” women work caring for their families. There is a woman-owned personal assistant business on the premises, a weekly delivery service that can provide home-cooked vegan meals and

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

school lunches, dry cleaning, and other services to “fix the little pieces of your life that pile up,” Ulle says.

Women in Kind offers monthly memberships for occasional use of the facilities and amenities, or desks for more regular use and small offices for full-time dedicated workspace allowing tenants to “put up your bookshelves and spread out your stuff,” Ulle says. Members can use the space for meetings, to work on specific projects, or for those times that working at home is just too isolated and you need to work in the company of other creative and interesting people. You can bring your kids and “not feel like an epic failure,” on those seemingly random days when there’s no school. Women in Kind has a separate child’s play area along with quiet areas for kids to read or do homework. There are also comfortable lactation rooms.

Women in Kind’s location north of City Park in Denver positions it close to the Stapleton neighborhood, where many women are balancing raising young children with their careers and professional aspirations.

One thing Women in Kind doesn’t include is the “bro culture” found in many traditional offices. Ulle describes this as men using their outdoor voices on the phone and bonding over raucous ping-pong games in the shared spaces found in many modern office layouts. “Working mothers are trying to pack a lot of work into a short amount of time. They are focused, they use their time wisely.

Women in Kind embraces the realities of today’s working women.

WHERE COLORADOANS WORK & PLAY

Melanie Ulle and Virginia Santy designed a workspace for women from the ground up

“As a former professor of strategic communication and women’s studies, I spent years studying what works and doesn’t work for women at work,” Santy says. I found much of what is difficult for women is rooted in a belief in difference as deficiency.”

Women in Kind is about embracing and capitalizing on those differences.

Daydreams meet the real world According to Santy, women-owned businesses have grown by one-anda-half-times the rate of other small enterprises over the last 30 years and now account for almost 30 percent

of all businesses nationwide. In the U.S., over half of the 9.72 million new jobs created in the small and medium size enterprise sector by 2018 will be created by women-owned businesses.

“Mel and I both believe when you invest in women, the greater community reaps the return on that investment—thus the name of our space, Women in Kind,” Santy says.

Ulle is founder and CEO of Philanthropy Expert, LLC, a Denver-based philanthropic consulting firm. Her four-person firm offices at Women in Kind. Santy, founder and CEO of communications firm Gavia Strategies does as well.

Women in Kind’s 10-year business plan calls for four to five facilities.

Ulle says the next location may be in Salt Lake City. “We’re creating community with Women in Kind,” Ulle says. “We’re not interested in just being property managers. We have high expectations of how to treat one another in our workspace.

We believe this can bring about a culture shift.”

Kimberly Field writes about Western history, arts and culture for local and national magazines and scholarly journals. She has written several history books and her next book is due to be published next year.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

39

Amy

Constructing a career, building a legacy

CARA develops real estate and community

Amy Cara brings a woman’s touch to Denver’s building boom, operating as a leader in a field still dominated by men. In September, Cara stepped fully into her new role as managing partner of the Denver office of East West Partners. The firm developed 25 acres in Denver’s Central Platte Valley into Riverfront Park and spearheaded development of the Union Station neighborhood. Since 1986, the company has developed and sold more than $3 billion in residential and commercial real estate. BY COLLEEN SMITH

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

41

CARA’S SKILL SET runs the gamut. “I’m active in construction processes underway and prospective projects we’re chasing. I work with the sales team on strategy. I attend meetings on strategic levels, making sure the big picture and long run are considered in construction meetings. I’m out scouting for new opportunities, negotiating opportunities to develop new places.”

On any given day, Cara interacts with architects, contractors, and construction managers. “I work with men 90 percent of the time,” says Cara. “Women have been a significant part of real estate as agents and brokers, but development and construction are not historically women’s roles. It’s still a man’s world to some degree, but our construction manager is a woman,” Cara says.

Cara served two years as vice chair and two years as chair of the Colorado chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

“The percentage of women in ULI gives a sense of women moving through the ranks,” she says. “It’s about 25 percent women now, and that’s incredible. It’s up.”

Cara understands that, like concrete, the strongest development and construction teams require the proper mix. “One problem I’ve seen with organizations to help women succeed is the idea of just continuing to surround yourself with strong women. It doesn’t help women move up in the larger world.

I don’t think it functions that way in the real world. Women and men need to work adjacent to each other.”

Cara emphasizes the many benefits females add to the development mix. “Women bring a lot to conceptualizing and carrying through on a vision, mission and concept, bringing it to life. Women spend time thinking about the personality of an idea. Women tend to think about that softer side of it—not to say men don’t, but it’s a great skill women have. Women make sure we’re not shortcutting as a building comes to life, and they come back to mission all the way through design. It’s an area where women can really add something.”

Above all, Cara understands her role as a negotiator.

“There’s a lot of negotiation whether an office lease, a large penthouse, a new development. It comes back to principles,” she says, “and being able to approach negotiation with winwin as opposed to someone has to win and someone has to lose. Women are good at that.”

For Cara, the trick to thriving in a traditionally male arena is not becoming one of the guys. “Don’t be afraid to assert yourself and advocate for yourself, but do in way that’s so authentically you. Don’t behave like the guys do,” she says. “Women bring a different spirit and culture. Trying to emulate the men won’t come off as authentic and can work against you.”

42

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Photo: Custom Creations Photography

Amy

Cara also urges women to make career leaps of faith.

“Like the Sheryl Sandbergs of the world say, you have to remember that most of the time when there’s a new opportunity in front of you, you won’t know how to do it and can’t possibly know until you’ve done it—but that’s not a reason not to jump for your next role,” Cara says.

“Go for it if you’re interested. This is across the board— not just real estate. Many opportunities involve doing very different things that create growth and help you move up, so jump for what excites you.” Cara names Harry Framp-

COMMUNITY AND ARTS LEADERSHIP Amy with her husband Michael Mowry at the annual Colorado Business Committee for the Arts awards luncheon where she was a finalist for the John Madden Leadership Award

ton as one of her main mentors. Reflecting on her career trajectory, Cara also credits her success, in part, to influences from her middle school and high school art teacher.

He was great in helping me build a voice from the very beginning,” says Cara. “My senior year, art was my last class of the day, and this teacher allowed me to stay in the art room, and gave me permission to stay as long as I wanted and trusted me to care for the space.”

Cara still paints occasionally, enjoys photography as a hobby and is taking guitar lessons. “Guitar is an opportunity to bring my brain to the other side, the right brain, which helps with problem solving, out-of-the-box thinking, coming around from different angles for the right solutions,” she says. “This ties in with why I raise money for the arts.”

Cara grew up in Minnesota, on Lake Minnetonka. “The culture in Minneapolis had many charitable organizations giving to make things happen. The Walker Art Museum with their amazing sculpture garden, the incredible theater and music venues: I could see all these great organizations making things possible. I wanted to be able to do that, too.” Cara came to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied finance and accounting. After graduation, she worked in public accounting with clients in the software industry, health care and manufacturing before landing in real estate 18 years ago.

Photo: Tahvory Bunting, Denver Image Photography

UNION STATION Amy was part of the team at Union Station Neighborhood Company (East West Partners and Continuum) that created the transit facility and surrounding public spaces

“I’ve always liked the physical environment and a sense of place, she says. “I enjoy the process of thinking through space—interior and exterior—how people move through space. In the design aspect, we’re creating something meaningful for people inside and people who experience it from the outside.” Cara appreciates the places between buildings: the fountains, for example, in front of Union Station. “I get really excited about these spaces because that’s where people convene. That’s where community happens.”

Now 46, Cara balances her community involvement and demanding career with a yoga practice, strength training and in summer, stand-up paddleboarding. Her balancing act also includes working in her garden in the Berkeley neighborhood where she lives with her husband, whom she met at a Colorado Business Community for the Arts luncheon.

Cara says, “I love getting my hands in the dirt, so gardening is important for my sanity, too.” The microcosm of her garden inspires her to safeguard the macrocosm.

“Water is obviously a big issue in Colorado. Affordable housing is a big issue for Colorado, and so is sustainability, healthy building, responsible design,” she says. “We’re in a huge building boom. There are places we’re doing a great job and places where we can continue to improve,” she says.

“The conversation about good design does not mean more expensive materials. You can make a beautiful building using thoughtful materials. We can’t be lazy and keep slapping up the same building because we already built it once. I’m providing input wherever I can on responsible land use and East West Partners development.”

DENVER She’s also providing input 1550 Wewatta St., as a philanthropist, primaSuite 540 rily involved with the awardDenver, CO 80202 winning PlatteForum, which 303-632-1500 connects underserved youth HEADQUARTERS from the Denver area with P.O. Drawer 2770 master artists-in-residence 126 Riverfront Lane, 5th Fl. from around the world.

Avon, CO 81620 970-845-9200 “Some kids come from ewpartners.com really tough environments,

and PlatteForum provides a place where they are valued, find a voice of their own, solve problems, build confidence.

It’s so intensive that we don’t deal with a ton of kids, but we touch a few more deeply, a smaller cohort,” she says.

“We’re not necessarily trying to create future artists, but to create life skills for kids. It might be confidence and expression that really resonates, and they have to solve problems that naturally occur when trying to create art.”

Cara also supports the Riverfront Park Community Foundation created by East West Partners to give back to the arts and local youths. Another current project, The Coloradan, will establish a foundation to fund Union Hall.

“It will be a place to bring in artists and performers and create a little art locus right there,” Cara says. She takes a twofold approach to supporting arts: “Part of what I give is my time. It’s important for business people not only to open the checkbook to make programming possible. Charitable organizations need business expertise. I’m engaged as a board member or committee member to help organizations with governance,” she says.

“My engagement is a hybrid of leveraging my relationships toward assisting organizations by connecting them with donors that share their mission,” she says. “I talk to folks at banks, title companies, and architecture firms to understand what they care about. I foster relationships, and an executive director can take it from there.”

Philanthropy is critical to Cara’s personal blueprint for living. “It’s been important to me to be charitably engaged my whole life. For those of us moving up through careers and having some success, it’s very important to give back.

There are a lot of ways to come at that,” she says.

“You don’t have to be an artist to be involved with arts. You don’t have to have kids to be involved with youth. Creativity is part of my life, part of how I process larger decisions and relax. I want kids to have access to that same outlet.”

Colleen Smith, a longtime contributor to the magazine, also writes for The Denver Post, Fine Books & Collections, Faerie Magazine, Coastal Living, Sunset and other publications. She’s the author of the novel Glass Halo and the gift book Laid-Back Skier.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

43

Heightening awareness

Nancy

Phillips

Entrepreneur Nancy Phillips gladly welcomes women decision-makers to the table. A visionary leader in her field,

Nancy Phillips, executive chair of the board of Peak 10 + ViaWest, operates in a highly technical space where her company builds and manages hybrid IT solutions for enterprises with complex infrastructure and applications. She also stands with a small percentage of women who have made leadership roles in the tech industry their own.

BY MARGE D. HANSEN

44

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

VISIONARY LEADER Nancy Phillips, executive chair of the board at Peak 10 + ViaWest

ViaWest

HEADQUARTERS 6400 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Suite 2000 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 720-891-1000 viawest.com

V

iaWest was acquired by private equity firm GI Partners and merged with Peak 10 in August 2017. The merger established a leading national provider of Hybrid IT solutions with assets spanning 20 domestic and international markets, 1,000 employees, 40 data centers, 13 cloud nodes and managed and professional services. The strength of Peak 10 + ViaWest reflects Phillips’ visionary leadership as co-founder of the legacy ViaWest in 1999 and head of the Denver-based organization for nearly 20 years.

Her days, weeks and months are fast-paced and full, but the Toronto-born-and-raised Phillips always makes time to join her extended family at a lake cottage in Northern Ontario. Her parents bought the vacation home when Phillips, her older sister and two younger brothers were just kids. “My cousins had a cottage just down the road, so I have fond memories of all of our great events, whether that was Christmas or Thanksgiving,” she smiles, noting that she bought the family gathering place several years ago so the tradition can continue with future generations.

Changing Places

GIVING BACK Nancy Phillips test-drives one of the bikes built for the Boys & Girls Club at the annual ViaWest Culture Club community-giving event

Starting her career in Ontario, Canada, an enterprise Phillips launched in Canada was acquired by a Denver company. She relocated to Denver in 1990 on her own to help grow the business, establish both professional and personal relationships and to begin to build a life here. Not knowing anyone, it was a challenge eased by others within the Denver technology community providing a warm welcome.

“I think Denver is one of the most unique ecosystems of organizations in the world,” Phillips says. “There is a lot of encouragement in the community, both business and philanthropic, around start-up and emerging company growth, along with the advancement of women in the computer science field. Denver has impressive talent and hardworking people. We work hard and play hard in this community, and that balance creates an interesting environment. One of the reasons we have been as successful as we—ViaWest—have been, is because we are headquartered in Denver.”

began in telecommunications with Teleconferencing Systems Canada. She was vice president of operations for RMI.net.

Managing the company’s network and technical growth, her contributions returned the Internet service provider to profitability. Phillips held the position of vice president of operations for ITC Worldwide, now Genesys Conferencing, and served in a similar role at ConferTech International, now Global Crossing. She has also been a principal, executive and consultant at France Telecom, MCI and Qwest. Focus on the customer has always been a key concern for her and a strength that has helped propel her to success.

Phillips admits to being “driven,” a description most who know her would agree with. “I have a lot of grit,” she admits, adding “passionate” and “competitive” to the list of personal traits. Yet she is quick to clarify that she’s also “pretty transparent” and the same person at home that she is in the office.

Flashing Back

Moving Forward

After completing her university studies, Phillips traveled for three years to soak in inspiration as well as the sights, try out different cultures and reason her way through the experience. It was the perfect way to expand her knowledge base, sharpen her instincts and nurture her entrepreneurial outlook. “It gave me confidence and a diversity of thought,” she remembers. “I always tell people that traveling the world and working and living in other places is something that has served me well during my entire career.”

And, her career path has been an impressive one. She

Paying it forward is a philosophy Phillips embraces. She acknowledges that hard work, commitment and good fortune have helped her set and reach goals and she is committed to empowering other women entrepreneurs and members of the tech industry. Phillips is actively involved with a number of boards, including the National Center for Women and Information Technology, where she is vice chair; Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network; National Cybersecurity Center; Colorado Technology Association, previously serving as chair; and Startup Colorado.

46

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

ENJOY! Phillips philosophy “You have to have fun and enjoy the number of hours you put in.”

A number of leadership and service awards acknowledge the contributions Phillips has made to the technology industry, the Denver community and the state. Last year, the first Colorado Governor’s Citizenship medal for Growth and Innovation was bestowed on Phillips, recognizing her “exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities for others.” She was also awarded the Canadian Governor General’s Medallion in the same year, for her “service and support of the economic ties between Canada and the United States” and to salute her notable achievement in building technology businesses.

Phillips also accepted the 2016 Ernst & Young EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Technology Services for the Mountain Desert region. And, the accolades continue. Among others, recent honors also include Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the Business Products category for the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business; Colorado Technology Association’s Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement Award; and World Denver’s Trailblazer Award.

Phillips is very proud of what she’s built. In the early days, people looked at women entrepreneurs “as if we had two heads,” she says, pointing out that today it is a “badge of honor,” but it hasn’t always been like that. Valuing women

“

mentoring leaders, managers, and other employees on how to overcome unconscious bias and other obstacles and be more innovative in their thinking.

“There are definitely not very many women who lead in the IT infrastructure area, and that is a shame,” Phillips says. “I do believe that it is a diversity of thought leadership that drives great companies in the global economy. I want to encourage woman to take risks when they have ideas and a vision,” she says. “I feel very strongly about what I can do to help because I certainly benefitted from others helping me along the way.”

Work and Play

”

Phillips finds work a source of satisfaction, as well as fun.

“It’s hard some days and can be extremely stressful, but to be perfectly honest I laugh a lot at work,” she says. “You have to have fun and enjoy the number of hours you put in.”

She has been married to her husband, Jim, for 24 years.

They have a 21-year-old daughter who is studying international relations at Tufts University in Massachusetts. The trio dotes on their black lab, Apsley, named for a town near their Canadian cottage.

Cycling and getting away to the mountains to ski are favorite pastimes, and when they vacation at the cottage the family does a lot of sailing and “hanging out” at the water. “I value my family and friends and have been extremely lucky when it comes to good health, which you should never take for granted.”

For 30 years, Phillips’ entrepreneurial spirit has been recognized and respected by tech industry leaders and other innovators in the business world. Having navigated new paths and both benefitted from and created opportunities for women in business, her dynamic qualities and ongoing commitment to serve are inspiring.

for their entrepreneurial skills has taken a long time, but things are moving in the right direction. Much of it is creating a new culture, according to Phillips. She would like to see more time spent on professional development and

Marge D. Hansen is a Broomfield, Colorado-based freelance writer/editor and a regular contributor to Colorado Expression.

Her articles appear in a variety of lifestyle magazines and websites.

VALUING WOMEN FOR THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME, BUT THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

47

LEGACY OWNER OF THE FORT AND TESORO CULTURAL CENTER

HOLLY

WHEN HOLLY ARNOLD Kinney’s father passed away in 2006, she became sole owner of The Fort, her family’s award-winning restaurant in Morrison famous for its unique Native American and mountain man cuisine.

They call it “New Foods of the Old West.” Being proprietress of the nationally acclaimed restaurant is Kinney’s earned legacy.

She grew up in the adobe+

ARNOLD KINNEY A successful business woman, she saved the family restaurant and founded a living history experience BY CLAUDIA CARBONE

CULTURAL TREASURES OF COLORADO In 1999, Kinney (center) founded Tesoro Cultural Center, a nonprofit organization committed to protecting and making available to the community the artistic treasures and history of the Southwest

Photo: David Holley

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

49

structure built in 1962 by her parents, Sam and Elizabeth, as the family home. Avid historians and admirers of Santa Fe architecture, they designed “an adobe castle” in the likeness of Bent’s Old Fort, an outpost on the Santa Fe Trail from 1833-1849. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

When money ran out during construction, the bank suggested running a business in the lower level to raise funds. A history museum came to mind, but they needed something more to generate daily income. A restaurant seemed a natural choice since both parents enjoyed cooking.

“Both of my parents were incredible cooks. Each of them had family cookbooks dating back to the 1800s. My mom’s from the south, my dad’s from Pennsylvania,” said Kinney.

“They passed down recipes to continue their cultures in our family. The history of food was very important. For the restaurant, they researched what was eaten at Bent’s Fort, read diaries of settlers, trappers and traders to see what foods were popular in the 1800s and what the Indian tribes ate. These ancient foods formed the basis of our menu: buffalo, quail, elk, The Fort Restaurant trout, corn, beans and 19192 CO-8 squash. The Fort serves P.O. Box 569 more than 80,000 buffalo Morrison, CO 80465 dishes every year.”

303-697-4771 | thefort.com

When, at age 9, Kinney asked her father for an allowance, he gave her a job instead. She worked in the restaurant in every capacity: salad girl, tortilla maker, food runner. She honed her culinary knowledge on trips with her parents abroad. Her destiny was on course.

But the path met a detour. The restaurant business was a strain on the marriage, and her parents got divorced in 1967. Kinney went to live with her father’s sister, Mary, in California, then Pennsylvania where she finished high school and started college at Penn State. After two years, she got married and had a son, Oren. That didn’t work out so Kinney and Oren moved back to Denver. By then, a single mom in her 20s, Kinney got a job in advertising, the other business she knew from childhood (Sam Arnold had a successful advertising firm). She parlayed her knowledge of both industries into Arnold Media Services, her own company specializing in food products and restaurants with such international clients as Nestle, Toblerone and Colavita.

In the meantime, her father remarried and retired, selling The Fort to his manager. Then the recession of the 1980s threw The Fort into foreclosure. As holder of the note, Arnold took back the restaurant and turned it into the profitable venture it is today.

By 1997, with his health failing, Arnold put the restaurant up for sale. Kinney’s new husband Jeremy told her, “Someone will buy it and put up houses. You’ve got to buy it. It’s

LIVING HISTORY In celebration of early Southwestern history, Tesoro Cultural Center’s Indian Market & Powwow hosts nationally acclaimed artists, dancers and drum groups for an art-centered gathering

your destiny, it’s in your blood. You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t.”

Remembering her parents’ breakup, she hesitated, but then became partners with her father in 1999 and took over completely after he died. She continues to research the history of food in The American Heritage Cookbook. For example, last year, she learned Thomas Jefferson discovered macaroni and cheese pudding made with Gruyére cheese in France. When he couldn’t get Gruyére at home, he substituted cheddar and served it at the White House.

“We decided to recreate it with Gruyére, adding Hatch green chiles and serving it in a cast iron pot bubbling with Parmigiano-Reggiano,” Kinney said. Other dishes named for Colorado historical figures are General Armijo’s Colorado lamb T-bones, elk chops St. Vrain, and the signature bowl of the wife of Kit Carson, a staple since the 60s.

TESORO CULTURAL CENTER

Keeping alive her mother’s long ago idea for a living history museum, Kinney, along with Arnold and his sister founded the nonprofit Tesoro Cultural Center at The Fort in 1999 and now sits on its board. Its mission: to educate the public about the 19th century Southwest and share its treasures. The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District is its primary supporter.

“We created the Center to teach school kids about the many cultures that traded at Bent’s Fort and about the founding of Colorado,” said Kinney. “Teachers don’t have time to research like we do. When we show Spanish kids how their ancestors contributed to our culture, they want to learn more; it makes them feel important in this country.

We are an advocate for native tourism.”

Besides school groups, social groups like book clubs can make reservations to tour The Fort and learn its history though interactive displays led by period-dressed docents.

Cost is $10 for two hours. In June, 2018, back by popular demand, Tesoro will be hosting the 18th Annual Indian Market Powwow, recognized as Colorado’s most authentic award-winning Native art show.

Kinney’s mother came back into their life in time to see one of the powwows at the Center. She asked that her ashes be buried there. “My family is all there together in death,” Kinney said. “Through endowment, The Fort will carry on as a living legacy.” And her marriage is still strong.

Denver native Claudia Carbone is an award-winning freelance journalist covering travel, lifestyles and restaurants for magazines and websites. Her travel blog Sleepin Around is on GoWorldTravel.com. Other current publications include The Sunday Telegraph’s (London) website, About Town Magazine, MTN Town Magazine and Colorado Parent magazine.

&

AWARDS, ACCOLADES ACTIONS THE FORT RESTAURANT Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2006 Open Table’s Top 100 Restaurants in America (2017) Travel Network Food Nation (2016)

HOLLY ARNOLD KINNEY Inducted into the Colorado Tourism/Visit Denver Hall of Fame (2017) Outstanding Business Woman of the Year (Denver Business Journal, 2016) National Medal for Historic Preservation from Daughters of the American Revolution (2015) Served on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board under President Obama (2013-15 History Colorado Board (2014-2016) Colorado Restaurant Association Board (2005-2016), Distinguished Service Award (2010) Founded Colorado Les Dames d’Escoffier, president (2005-2012) Published three award-winning books OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

51

GREAT ESCAPES

Mountains of Fun As a proponent of the adventure lifestyle Powdr delivers epic fun.

But SVP, Megan Fearnow, never forgets there is a serious side to life.

By Kim D. McHugh

P

PICTURE THIS. MINUTES AGO, YOU got off Alpine, one of the five highspeed lifts at Copper Mountain, and are now on your way to Far East, one of three black diamond trails on the face of the mountain. A cloudless blue sky is overhead and untracked powder awaits your descent. You slip over the edge, linking a dozen “S” turns in the newly fallen snow.

To your left and right are friends who’ve accompanied you, some on skis, some on snowboards. Floating through 30 more turns, you all reach the bottom, each sporting ear-to-ear grins as you make your way back to the lift for a repeat performance.

Copper Mountain has been rewarding snow sport enthusiasts with moments like the above since opening in late November 1972. Shortly after its debut it didn’t take long for the Summit County resort to find itself on the radar of Front Range, out-of-state and international skiers that were looking for a new Colorado winter destination that didn’t require going over Vail Pass, Loveland Pass or Berthoud Pass.

Just 77 miles west of Denver the resort—at 2,490 skiable acres—is one of the largest skiing and snowboarding resorts in Colorado. Thanks to topography that naturally divides the terrain into three distinct ability levels, the mountain makes it easy

THE DETAILS Powdr Corporation powdr.com 435-658-5500

52

Fearnow on site at a new Woodward facility at Hard Rock Riviera Maya

for experts to stay to the left, intermediates to stay in the center and beginners to stay to the right. Over 140 marked trails are served by 23 lifts that rapidly whisk skiers and boarders uphill.

Four bowls—Spaulding Bowl, Upper Enchanted Forest, Copper Bowl and Union Bowl—invite expert and advanced two-plankers and snowboarders to explore this formidable foursome of double black diamond playgrounds, while Union Meadows

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

thrills adventurers with single black diamond terrain. With an average annual snowfall of 300 inches, five terrain parks, a season stretching from mid-November through midApril, a 2,601-vertical drop and panoramic views of the Tenmile Range, it’s no wonder why the resort is so appealing.

Understandably, seeing that guests have a fantastic time is the mission of Powdr Corporation (Powdr), owners of the resort. The

THE INSIDERS’ GUIDE TO THE HOTTEST VACATION DESTINATIONS

company, whose mission statement reads “deliver memorable experiences, enhance people’s lives and have fun doing it,” bills itself as an adventure lifestyle company that believes “there is nothing better for the soul than to live a balanced life full of adventure.” Powdr, whose portfolio includes Eldora Mountain Resort near Boulder, Mt. Bachelor in Oregon, Boreal Mountain Resort in California and Vermont’s Killington Resort, strives to provide people not only with authentic adventures centered around experiential programming, but also have resorts focused on sustainability.

“It is a really special company,” says Megan Fearnow, senior vice president, marketing services at Powdr. “The job of our resorts is to enable people to play outside, but I

am absolutely inspired by making sure that our playgrounds and those environments are going to be around not only for us, but also for my kids, and for my children’s children.”

Brand building

Fearnow, who moved with her husband to Denver from her hometown of Boston in 1998, didn’t find her way to Powdr until 2015. Prior to adding the Park City, Utah-based firm to her resume, she first put her well-honed strategic planning and marketing skills to work at McClain-Finlon Advertising, where she spent 10 years. Her next stop was Factory Design Labs, where she employed her skills for six years.

Seeking a re-boot, she left Factory Design Labs in December 2014 to launch More Mavericks, a consul-

tancy enterprise, which led to her landing at Powdr.

“Essentially my business was brand building and social responsibility all in the same breath,” added Fearnow. “It was the perfect moment in time for them and for me because they wanted to build and strengthen the brands within their portfolio.”

After meeting John Cumming, CEO; Wade Martin, president and chief revenue officer; and Tim Brennwald executive vice president and chief operating officer; transitioning to Powdr was easy.

“They were basically about delivering amazing experiences at awesome places, but equally important was taking care of the environment and making a difference,” Fearnow explains. “I was at a time in my professional life and personal life where I

Stunning views abound at Copper Mountain any time of year

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

53

GREAT ESCAPES

A group of Woodward Experience “happy” campers

wanted to only work with people and brands that were like-minded. Powdr really resonated with me.”

Building confidence

Powdr supports sustainability and protecting our mountain playgrounds

54

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Since coming on board she’s taken her enthusiasm for effecting change and turbocharged it, lending her abilities to furthering the reach and impact of Powdr’s Woodward Experiences. Introduced in 1970, the summer camps focus on inspiring the young attendees to thrive through creative expression in sport, technology and music.

“I’m a mom, so building confidence in kids is a really, really key thing I’m passionate about,” says Fearnow.

Fearnow’s compassion for children and those less fortunate is deep-seat-

Eldora Mountain Resort eldora.com 680 skiable acres, 53 trails 47 miles from Denver Adult Full Season Pass: $409 Adult Mid-Week Pass, Junior Full Pass, College Full Pass, Senior Full Pass: $309

Improve Your Core Strength, Flexibility & Much More at Greenwood Village’s Finest Pilates Studio...

• Certified Pilates Instruction and Education • Fully Equipped Studio with Amenities • Private Sessions, Equipment and Mat Classes • Yoga & Barre Classes

• BASI Pilates® Teacher Training Program • Massage Therapy

• Men and Women of All Ages and Fitness Levels Welcome • Retail, On-Line Scheduling & App

Holiday Gift Certificates Available





Copper Creek Golf Course The Perry and Pete Dye-designed layout plays 4,281 yards from the forward tees and 5,880 yards from the back tees. Peak green fees are $89 for 18 holes with a cart; off peak green fees are $76. Peak green fees are $59 for 9 holes with a cart; off peak green fees are $46.

Mid-day, Twilight and Super Twilight rates are lower.

Body&Mind ENHANCE YOUR



Adult Season Pass: $409 Teen Season Pass, College Season Pass, Senior Season Pass: $319 Adult Secret Season Pass: $559 Teen, College & Senior Secret Season Pass: $469

While at McClain-Finlon Fearnow did pro bono work for Junior Achievement, the Denver Dumb Friends League, SCFD, the Denver Art Museum, Special Olympics and Children’s Hospital. In addition, now Fearnow sits on the board of The Salah Foundation. Created by her great uncle, James Salah upon his death in 2009, the private invitation only foundation supports nonprofit organizations in America across three key pillars: medical research, education and economic distress.

The executive director of the foundation is Noreen Salah Burpee, Fearnow’s mother, and the role model for her daughter’s philanthropic passion.

The foundation, which funds on average 150 grants annually, takes a keen interest in education, medical research, community development and self-sufficiency programs designed to help the economically disadvantaged, the young, the elderly and the disabled.

“Whether it’s the I Have a Dream Foundation or Big Brothers and Big Sisters or issues associated with child abuse and human trafficking, we’re working to give kids a safe haven,” says Fearnow. How amazing would it be if some of these issues were solved in our lifetime?”

If you happen to cross paths with her this fall mountain biking at Copper Mountain or this winter skiing at Copper or Eldora, take a moment to learn more about her fervor for giving. You’ll likely feel like there isn’t any mountain you can’t climb to improve people’s lives.



Copper Mountain coppercolorado.com 2,490 skiable acres, 140 trails 75 miles from Denver

Strengthening families



Colorado Resorts

also believed you have to take care of the community around you.”

 

ed, going back to her childhood. She credits her parents for teaching her the importance of being humble, giving back and thinking long and hard about what is important in life.

Those values were further underscored at the all-girls Catholic school she attended. To say she’s embraced volunteerism is an understatement.

Over the years, she’s been involved with Judi’s House, Cocktails for a Cure, ACE Scholarships, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Bright Pink and Denver Active Children’s Foundation.

“I have to credit Cathey Finlon, who was my entry point into the nonprofit scene in Colorado,” comments Fearnow. “Besides being able to run a successful business, she

Kim D. McHugh has written about travel, food, snow sports, chefs, hotels, architecture and interesting people since 1986. HIs articles have appeared in the San Francisco Examiner, The Denver Post, Toronto’s Globe & Mail, SKI, Hemispheres, Tastes of Italia, Vail/Beaver Creek, Luxury Golf & Travel and Colorado AvidGolfer.



Located at Village Center Station

6380 S. Fiddler’s Green Cir. Suite 108C Greenwood Village, CO 80111 pilatesdenverstudio.com 303.779.0164

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

55

ENTERPRISE

This angel investor supports innovation For Diane Simard, life is about connections and collaboration

By Katie Coakley

THE DETAILS Bye Aerospace 7395 S. Peoria St., Ste 206 (Box C3) Englewood, CO 80112 303-459-2862 Byeaerospace.com Named one of the 2017 “Colorado Companies to Watch” For more information on COPE visit du.edu/gspp/services/cope/give.html

56

Photo: Michael Furman

T

THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU LOOK into the sky and see the distinctive outline of an airplane, something may be missing: the noise. Electric airplanes, once considered by the aviation industry a concept to mock rather than consider, have come a long way. Bye Aerospace, located in Englewood, is on the forefront of creating and designing aerospace products with a solar-electric configuration. They’re the first to develop an electric airplane for the flight training market—and that’s only the beginning.

Diane Simard, senior vice president and board member at Bye Aerospace, has seen the changes in the industry. She started investing in Bye Aerospace nine years ago and joined the corporate board in 2009. At the time, the company was more focused on biofuel, but Simard has always been on the “painful, bleeding edge” of innovation, as she explained it.

“It’s painful, but it can be advantageous to be the first to ever do something,” Simard said. “We

Diane Simard speaks during the 2017 COPE Cancer Survivorship Roundtable

certainly are in first place. No one else is viewing market opportunities like we are.”

It was Simard’s interest in renewable energy, as it applied to new industries, which led her to Bye Aerospace. However, she’s always been interested in innovation: she’s a business strategy accelerator and angel investor in six emerging technology companies ranging from medical devices to cybersecurity in addition to her work with Bye Aerospace.

Her experience includes service on several corporate boards, including an electronics recycling company, an

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

unmanned aerial systems company in Albuquerque (as a founding shareholder), a community bank and an IT consulting company. She’s also a business mentor to young entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Simard enjoys being on the cutting edge and Bye Aerospace is certainly taking off. It was named one of the 2017 Colorado Companies to watch and is currently involved in five projects, ranging from readyto-purchase to preliminary R&D. The broader world has also taken an interest in Simard and her work. She was named the 2016 Outstanding

INSIGHTS INTO COLORADO’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Photo: Michael Furman

Woman in Business in Technology and Telecom by the Denver Business Journal, and was named one of the nation’s inaugural Top 100 Women in Business to Watch in 2017 by Bizwomen.com.

But two years ago, Simard’s world changed. In 2015, she was diagnosed with intermediate stage breast cancer and started treatment. Sixteen chemo treatments, 32 radiation treatments and two surgeries later, Simard realized that there was a gap in the treatment that she was receiving. She discovered that, though there was plenty of discussion about how cancer treatments affect a person physically, there was a gap in the psychological treatments. Support groups abound, but for a person who is hesitant to share with a crowd, there were few options.

“There’s all sorts of data and experience with what happens (with cancer),” Simard said, “but very few conversations are being had about how it impacts a person mentally.”

Simard found that most of the money being donated to cancer research, whether it’s philanthropic or government, tends to go to research for cures. While that’s certainly important, Simard learned that mental health professionals, including licensed psychologists, typically don’t

Diane speaks with a fellow breast cancer survivor

Diane in the infusion room with nurses during her chemotherapy treatments

specialize in an area like cancer.

At the time, no psychology training programs existed in the U.S. that focused on psychosocial oncology at the graduate level.

“There’s so much funding going towards research, to making treatments more effective,” Simard says.

“We’re prolonging life, but what kinds of life are we living.”

This realization led Simard to meet with the dean at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology; the program they sketched out became the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE). This 12-credit program helps graduate psychology students learn how to work with cancer patients, survivors and caregivers; the first cohort of students finished up their credits in August.

“I’m a fixer,” Simard says. “When passionate people put their heads together and say this is a training deficiency, you get it going.”

Simard says that this experience caused her to straighten up her priorities and do a lot of emotional pruning. She feels that she is privi-

leged—that she got the opportunity to live and serve.

“I saw plenty of people going through cancer treatments who were not going to survive,” Simard says.

“It’s important to be a witness. I’m living my life to the best, doing the most I can to give back because their lives were taken.”

Simard recently cut back on her role as senior vice president at Bye Aerospace. She will remain on the board and a shareholder at the company while focusing her energy on her communications company, 2G Associates. She is currently writing a book. Part memoir, part year-in-the-life description of her experience as an intermediate stage breast cancer patient, it explores the psychological impact of cancer, which is what led her to create COPE. The working title for her book is Champagne With You. Katie Coakley is a freelance writer, editor and inveterate traveler living in Denver.

She has written for Colorado-based magazines and internationally-based online publications. You can find more of her work at katiecoakleywrites.com.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

57

COLORADO KIDS

An Altruistic Heart Priya Burkett creates the change she wishes to see in the world

By Jamie McAfee

W

WOMEN OFTEN PICK UP AND LEAVE pieces of their identity as they walk through life. They define themselves by careers, children, spouses, friends and family. However, there are some women who always leave their mark in every space they occupy. They are the ones breaking glass ceilings, flipping the status quo and carving out a path for others. They give all they have to their family, their work and their communities. Priya Burkett is one of those women.

Loving mother and wife. Devoted philanthropist. Dedicated professional. Burkett’s identity is multifaceted.

Her influence has rippled throughout the companies she’s represented. Her kindness is felt in the community she lives in. Her generosity has lifted up those in need. Burkett dedicates her whole self to every endeavor she takes on. Not in the sense that she doesn’t have a work-life balance,

The Details Priya Burkett Director of Business Development, American Express Invest In Kids: iik.org Denver Public Library Friends Foundation: dplfriends.org Denver Public Schools Foundation: dpsfoundation.org Reading Partners: readingpartners.org

58

Priya Burkett volunteer reader with students of Dora Moore Denver Public School

because she most certainly does.

In fact she prides herself on only committing to projects close to her heart, “I have to be uber-passionate about whatever it is that I’m asking someone’s money or time for. Kids, education and diversity are my top three,” Burkett explains.

Experiencing the world at a young age, a global perspective nurtured Burkett’s appreciation for a diverse workplace and schoolhouse. She has lived in Washington DC, Hyderabad India, New York City, and now Denver. Early in her career, she worked for a few multinational consulting companies and traveled the world.

Recognizing the importance of diversity in the workplace, Burkett knows exposure must begin at an

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

early age. “The culture of a company is shaped by their leaders. And if you don’t have experiences with various economic or ethnic cultures as a kid, you can tell this gap exists in others once you hit adulthood.”

When she became a mother, she knew she wanted her kids to experience the diversity she did in Washington DC. “I send my kids to school not only to learn but to socialize and understand other cultures. I want them to have diversity in thought and experience,” Burkett explains.

Sending her kids to Denver Public School’s Dora Moore, which boasts a rainbow of cultures, Burkett took an interest in tutoring students who were behind academically, “Public schools serve all kids, including kids

who have parents working two jobs, raised by their grandparents or who may be in the foster system or homeless. Many kids need help catching up not because their parents don’t want to help them, but because they can’t.”

Working with Reading Partners, a nonprofit that mobilizes communities to provide students with individualized reading support, Burkett started tutoring every Friday. The results were immediate. This experience spurred her to take further action. Burkett wanted to replicate successful programs like Reading Partners across the district. So she became a board member on the Denver Public Schools Foundation.

In addition, she joined the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation board and co-chaired the Booklovers Ball. Burkett didn’t stop there; She’s on the board of the Colorado Diversity Council and co-chaired galas for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. She helped raise over $275,000 for Invest In Kids, an organization that improves the health and well-being of vulnerable Colorado children and families via programs like the Nurse-Family Partnership and The Incredible Years. These

Photo: Yvonne Min Photography

CELEBRATING THOSE WHO MENTOR OUR YOUTHS

The Burkett Family: Holland (11), Matthew, Saijel (13), Priya, Brielle (8)

events are more than just glamorous parties; they are vital fundraisers for nonprofits. Organizations wouldn’t make a dent in their mission without the help of devoted partners like Burkett. Generating resources and building relationships to create system-wide impact is actually her area of expertise.

In her current role as the director of business development with American Express, Burkett partners with companies to help them strategically grow and expand their business.

American Express volunteers at the annual Denver Public Library used book sale

“Our goal is to offset costs turning the accounting department, which is known as a cost center, into a profit center through American Express rewards,” Burkett explains. Prior to working with American Express, Burkett spent 15 years with Xcel Energy in various executive roles.

It can be especially tough for female managers to reach the upper rungs of the company.

A fierce female role model for her two daughters, Saijel and Brielle, as well as her son Holland, Burkett leans in to all she does. Burkett credits her supportive husband Matthew Burkett for her ability to tackle it all.

She is a community gardener cultivating compassion and sowing seeds of empathy in others, “Whether your kids go to public or private school, we have a responsibility to contribute and be involved in our neighborhood and public schools. What kind of community do you want to live in? Everyone wants to live in a thriving community and you need to have a hand in molding that yourself.”

Jamie McAfee is a frequent contributor to the New West family of magazines and other local publications. Having spent over a decade as a public school teacher, she adores children’s literature. Jamie lives in Englewood with her husband and infant daughter.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

59

BODY & SOUL

Invention offers safety with touch of a button After her sister was attacked, Jacqueline Ros created the Revolar device so you can quickly signal when you need help or are OK

By Courtney Drake-McDonough

A

The Details Revolar Inc. 800 N. Grant St., Ste. 120 Denver, CO 80203-2987 720-689-2618 Available nationwide at revolar.com, amazon.com, target.com and in more than 200 Target stores. revolar.com

60

Photo: Alex Tremaine

A COLLEGE STUDENT GOES FOR her daily run while her mother, across the country, worries about whether she made it back to the dorm okay. A man in his wheelchair has difficulty transferring to his bed and feels better knowing that if he falls, he can quickly reach his neighbor. Or, a woman walks to her car after working late and hears footsteps behind her.

These are just some of the scenarios that Revolar, a small wearable safety and communication device, was made for, started by Jacqueline Ros after her younger sister was assaulted twice.

“We realized that there’s no time to reach for your phone when you really need help. You might not be in a position to talk to 911—you’re either trying to be discreet and potentially de-escalate a violent situation so you can’t answer questions or you’re already in an emergency and you can’t respond. So your loved ones are in the best position to support you,” says Ros, chief community officer

Jacqueline Ros, co-founder of the Revolar safety and communication device

and co-founder of Revolar. “At the touch of a button, Revolar sends a check-in to people you put on your contact list so they know you’re okay; makes your phone ring so you can excuse yourself from an uncomfortable situation; lets someone virtually

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

walk you home; or send help depending on how you trigger it.” Revolar also has a step-counting feature.

“Revolar” means “to take flight again” in Spanish. “I really liked the symbolism as an ode to survivors,” says Ros whose sister and other

survivors of violence, and those with chronic illness have impressed her with their ability to pick themselves up again when the going gets tough.

In addition to being meaningful for the name of the technology, Ros is Cuban-Colombian and wanted the name to be a real word. “We think ‘Revolar’ goes really well with the hummingbird logo. We like to think of the hummingbird as the modern messenger bird. Back in the day, it was pigeons. A hummingbird is prettier, faster and smaller than a pigeon.”

“Pretty” is an operative word for both the Revolar Classic and the new Revolar Instinct, which are thin, sleek and can be discreetly clipped under clothing or to a purse or backpack. “A lot of people ask why it matters that it looks good and I say ‘It always matters if something looks good!’” says Ros. “You want people to feel confident and not weak or vulnerable.”

The original Revolar retails for $59.99 and the smaller Revolar Instinct costs $79.99. There is no monthly fee, only the one-time charge to purchase the device. “Our goal is to make this technology affordable and accessible while still

Photo: Spencer Slade

LIVING A LIFE OF BALANCE

The Revolar device is thin, sleek and discreet

making it beautiful,” explains Ros. Ros used her college graduation money to start the patent process.

She took a job with Teach For America and part-time jobs to pay the bills while getting Revolar’s first round of funding in 2014. “I’ve been working on this for five years,” says Ros. “It has been a journey—a crazy, fun, workaholic five years.”

Recently, Ros stepped down as president and CEO of her company to welcome Brian Thomas, former CEO of OtterBox, to the helm of

Jacqueline Ros and team in Thailand to check on product

Revolar, enabling Ros to focus on community education, engagement and grassroots efforts. “I’m the face of the company, helping educate people on how technology can improve the quality of their lives and help them communicate with their communities daily,” Ros says.

In reaching out to the community who could benefit most from Revolar’s products, Ros incorporates philanthropic efforts. “As a company, we support The National Domestic Violence Hotline. We have a partnership with them and their campaign… which teaches young people about healthy relationships so we can try to stop violence in relationships early.” Revolar has donated more than 200 of their devices to women in shelters and is working towards being able to donate them to people who are turned away from shelters.

“About 11,000 people a day get turned away from a shelter due to a lack of room and they have to go back to their violent situations after getting the courage to leave in the first place,” says Ros, quoting a study by the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Revolar’s team of 20 staffers is encouraged to pursue philanthropic causes that are meaningful to them.

Ros sits on the board of the Aurora school where she used to teach to help them fundraise for literacy, a new playground and other needs.

Ros’s sister, who is now a nurse, and her mother, moved from their native Florida to Colorado to be with Ros. “My job, my life and my business are in Colorado so they moved out here,” says Ros.” I couldn’t have done it without their love and support. My sister’s our biggest fan so it’s totally worth it.”

Courtney Drake-McDonough is a Colorado-based writer and editor who has contributed to Colorado Expression, Colorado Parent, The Denver Post and several national outlets. She’s also a founder of the InGoodTasteDenver blog.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

61

TIE THE KNOT

1

2

3

4

1 Matt and Jill (Leon) Nulle, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Denver 2 Joel and Amanda (Garrett) Miller, Spruce Mountain Ranch, Larkspur 3 Chris and Amanda (Mayfield) Haddad Sanctuary, Sedalia 4 Ian and Kaitlin (Fier) McGinnis, Silverthorne Pavilion, Silverthorne

62

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Photos: 1, 4, 5 Tyler Freear Photography; 2 Alison Emerick Photography; 3, 7 BroxtonArt.com; 6 Liz Banfield; 8 BrosPhoto

Notable Nuptials

TIE THE KNOT

5

6

7

8

5 Derek and Katie (Snellenbarger) DeKerlegand, Wild Basin Lodge, Allenspark 6 Alex and Alexandra (Slifer) Biegler, Vail, Colorado 7 Jerek and Kylie (Wyse) Justus, The Barn at Raccoon Creek, Littleton 8 Thomas and Amber (Burleson) Fitzsimon, The Ranch House, Littleton

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

63

INSPI RI NG WOM EN Nicole Jass *Runs* Vantiv *Founder* SnapTag *Style* Dress from Garbarini, Vintage Jewelry from Dan Sharp Public Persona, pg. 30

Diane Simard *Runs* Bye Aerospace *Raises* Breast Cancer and COPE *Style* Dress from Mariel, Jewelry from Hyde Park Enterprise, pg. 56

64

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Jacqueline Ros *Runs* Revolar, Inc. *Raises* National Domestic Violence *Style* Dress from Garbarini, Jewelry from Hyde Park Body & Soul, pg. 60

I N CHARGE...

Courtney Cuff

*Runs* Gill Foundation *Raises* LGBT Causes *Style* Suit from Garbarini, Jewelry from Hyde Park Nonprofit Profile, pg. 32

Amy Cara *Runs* East West Partners *Raises* Arts and Youth *Style* Dress from Mariel, Jewelry from Hyde Park Feature, pg. 40

Melanie Ulle *Runs* Women in Kind *Raises* Santa Claus Pub Crawl *Style* Dress from Garbarini, Jewelry from Hyde Park Public Spaces, pg. 38

Priya Burkett *Runs* American Express *Raises* Youth, Education and Reading *Style* Dress from Garbarini, Jewelry from Hyde Park Colorado Kids, pg. 58

Photography

Tommy Collier

Styling

Tobie Orr

Holly Arnold Kinney *Runs* The Fort Restaurant *Raises* Native American Causes *Style* Dress from St. John, Vintage Jewelry from Dan Sharp Mangia Food Feature, pg. 48

Hair

Mackenzie Davis

Makeup

Michael Moore

Nancy Philips

Megan Fearnow

*Runs* ViaWest *Raises* Women in Technology *Style* Jacket & Trousers from Garbarini, Jewelry from GNAT Jewelers Feature, pg. 44

*Runs* Powdr *Raises* Youth, Elderly and Disabled *Style* Blouse & Skirt from Garbarini, Jewelry from GNAT Jewelers Great Escapes, pg. 52

H O L I D AY

G I FT G U I DE

2017

The Height of Diamond Fashion

Available at:

I sensi si esalteranno.

L’amore si compirà.

I ricordi vivranno per sempre.

TRANSLATE YOUR DREAM WEDDING IN ITALY INTO REALITY.

Imagine your dream wedding happening in romantic Italy. Based in Denver with our roots deep in Italy’s heart, Three Tomatoes Italy creates experiences of the highest level of sophistication and class. All with the ease of planning your wedding right at home. Let us take you there.

THREETOMATOESITALY.COM

Holiday Homes by BJA Holiday Homes by BJA

Transforming lives.

Transforming lives.

It’s in the cards.

It’s in the cards.

Blue Two by SAM Blue Two by SAM

Create Social Impact Connect with customers and loved ones and change the Create Social Impact life of a woman experiencing poverty. Art Restart artists Connect with customers and loved ones and change the earn money when their designs are purchased, helping life of a woman experiencing poverty. Art Restart artists them on their way to financial independence. earn money when their designs are purchased, helping them on their way to financial independence. greeting cards | wedding invitations | prints | postcards personalized logo cobranding greeting cardsmessaging | wedding |invitations | prints | postcards personalized messaging | logo cobranding

Denver Dawn by CLM Denver Dawn by CLM

Art Restart A social enterprise of The Gathering Place Art Restart A social enterprise of The Gathering Place www.artrestart.org | 303.996.9034 www.artrestart.org | 303.996.9034

Gift our award-winning cookbooks this holiday season, and be on the lookout for our sixth cookbook in 2019.

Purchase our cookbooks at jld.org, Barnes & Noble, Tattered Cover Book Store, Peppercorn, and many other local book retailers.

The Junior League of Denver (JLD) is a women’s training organization that develops civic leaders committed to improving our community. We are currently working to improve literacy rates and provide access to books, for children through the third grade. Proceeds from our award-winning cookbooks support both our mission and community focus. Learn more at jld.org. @juniorleaguedenver

@jldenver

@juniorleaguedenver

jld.org

I lost my home.

I can’t lose my daughter.

Cynthia and Mya represent one of the fastest-growing homeless groups in Colorado. Here in Colorado, affordable housing is scarce. We help provide 30 life-changing services to all persons in need. You can help make a difference, too, by donating to Volunteers of America Colorado today.

COLORADO When life happens, we help.

DONATE $5 AT WWW.VOACOLORADO.ORG/COGIVES

MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY GIFT CARDS Secure your ticket to a wonderfully authentic ItalianAmerican dining experience. Treat someone special to Maggiano’s signature Italian dishes, festive atmosphere & exceptional service. Since a gift should be enjoyed at the right time, Maggiano’s gift cards never expire!

SEPHORA PRO PALETTES Deluxe eyeshadow palettes with 28 hand selected colors, complete with a how-to tutorial pamphlet written by the Sephora PRO Artists.

ULTRA LIGHT DOWN COMPACT COAT

COLORADO 14ER-OPOLY! Colorado 14er-opoly features dramatic photos of all 54 14ers in CO taken by Matthew Tracz, the game designer. Enjoy hours of fun with friends & family while adveturing across the peaks of CO.

This stylish diamond quilted coat is both fun & functional. Thin, light, & super warm, it is cut to allow easy movement as an inner layer, while the contoured sleeves give it a stylish look suited for an outer layer.

Either way you wear it, it packs down into a pouch for storage when not in use.

Now that’s smart design.

Follow us @denverpavilions

Emily Van Fleet, Drew Horwitz, Sheryl McCallum, Laurence Curry Photos by Adams VisCom

Theatre Company illustrations by Kyle Malone

MACBETH SEP 15 – OCT 29 SPACE THEATRE

SEP 21 – OCT 22 GARNER GALLERIA

SEP 21 – NOV 18

CONSERVATORY THEATRE

OCT 11 – 31

STANLEY MARKETPLACE

BROADWAY’S HILARIOUS NEW SMASH! RICKETSON THEATRE

BUELL THEATRE

OCT 17 – 29

NOV 11 – APR 22

NOV 24 – DEC 24

NOV 24 – DEC 24

NOV 28 – DEC 3

OCT 13 – NOV 19

THE JONES

STAGE THEATRE

DEC 13 – 17

BUELL THEATRE

GARNER GALLERIA

BUELL THEATRE

DEC 19 – 31

BUELL THEATRE

NOV 14 – 19

BUELL THEATRE

DEC 9 – 10

BUELL THEATRE

Did you know that 70% of businesses in Cherry Creek North are locally owned?

Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate the unique businesses that make Cherry Creek North one of the top retail destinations in the country.

GET UP, GET OUT AND #SHOPSMALL WITH US Join us for Small Business Saturday and support local business.

Visit CherryCreekNorth.com/SBS to learn more.

S M A L L B US I N ES S

NOV

SAT U R DAY 2 5 ÂŽ

Holiday Gift Guide

Trice Jewelers

Trice suggests two spectacular surprises to make the holiday sparkle. These tanzanite and diamond earrings set in 18-karat white gold are available in multiple sizes (as shown $11,200). The one-of-a-kind ring features a 13-carat tanzanite accented with custom-cut trapezoid shaped diamonds. Sophisticated, elegant and very much appreciated, a gift from Trice is truly something special.

6885 S. University Blvd., Centennial 303-759-9661, tricejewelers.com

Enjoy

the Season

By Marge D. Hansen and Elizabeth Jones Our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide offers ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Stylish and exquisite apparel, magnificently crafted jewelry, a ski getaway or locally made skis could be the perfect present. A night on the town at a fine restaurant will please the palate, and for the eyes, an enchanting theater or musical performance will light up the season. And, if you and yours enjoy mu-

seum visits, a membership will keep on giving—and give back—all year long. During this festive time and throughout the New Year, please join us in supporting metro area businesses and the many organizations that help make a difference while keeping our Denver community vital and exciting.

Enjoy the Season!

Elizabeth Hamilton, Publisher

Copper Mountain

You will love this sweet deal on Copper Mountain lodging, lift tickets, activities and more. It’s as easy as “1, 2, FREE” which gets you a third night of lodging free when you book two; plus Kids Ski Free, priority Secret Pass access to the lifts, third-day comp rental and, of course, unlimited access to some of the finest skiing and riding in Colorado.

888-760-7561, coppercolorado.com

The Local Deck

This perfect stocking stuffer is valid for all of 2018. The Local Deck is filled with 30 coasters, each with a discount to a local restaurant, entertainment venue, craft brewery and coffee shop. From the DCPA and Little Man Ice Cream to Sarto’s Italian Eatery and more, there’s a local spot for everyone.

View the list of retail locations and purchase on the website. $30 thelocaldeck.com

Larimer Square

Larimer’s holiday traditions are a metro area favorite. Starting in November, enjoy the Yuletide Window Walk, carolers, complimentary gift wrap, free parking and more. In December, Santa strolls the Square on weekends, while Mrs. Claus offers guests Larimer goodies. Bring the family, including your dogs, for photos with Santa. Check the website for holiday event dates.

Larimer Street between 14th & 15th, Denver, larimersquare.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

75

Holiday Gift Guide

Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Relive a holiday tradition or create new memories to last a lifetime when you visit the DCPA this holiday season. Share the joy of live theater with family and friends at Elf the Musical, A Christmas Carol, The SantaLand Diaries, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, First Date, Chicago or Waitress. Ticket prices vary.

14th & Curtis, Denver, 303-893-4100, denvercenter.org

Garbarini

Cherry Creek North

This holiday season give the gift of options with the Cherry Creek North Gift Card.

The gift card is accepted at nearly 200 Cherry Creek North businesses, including boutiques, restaurants, spas, art galleries and more. Parking meters, too! To purchase the Cherry Creek North Gift Card and view a list of participating businesses, visit cherrycreeknorth.com/giftcard.

299 Milwaukee St., Suite 201, Denver 303-606-7336, cherrycreeknorth.com

76

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

We think these are definitely gift-worthy. Mischa Lampert creates custom luxury winter accessories hand-crafted in New York City that define a balance between classic luxury and contemporary style. $215-$289.

We offer free parking, custom gift wrap and a team of stylists to help you select the perfect gift. Gift certificates are also available.

239 Detroit St., Denver 303-333-8686 garbarinishop.com

Meier Skis

Junior League Holiday Mart

Enjoy a unique boutique shopping experience at the 2017 Mile High Holiday Mart, Nov. 10-12, while giving back to the Denver metro community.

Check the website for parking information, shopping hours and admission prices. Avoid the crowds and get first dibs on merchandise by purchasing private VIP shopping tickets for Friday morning.

Gates Field House, University of Denver, 2201 E. Asbury Ave. Denver, 303-692-0270, jld.org

Denver Community vital Photos: Cherry Creek North: Evan Semón; Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Matt Kopec (Buddy) and the cast of Elf The Musical, Photo by Joan Marcus; Junior League: Ashley Schenkein Jewelry Design

Keep our

Gnat Jewelry Atelier

Give the gift of 18k Rose Gold jewelry by Doves, sold exclusively in Denver at GNAT. Founded in 1983, family owned GNAT Jewelers has been located in Cherry Creek North for over 30 years.

Specializing in custom designs ranging from classic to contemporary and exclusive Red Carpet designer brands, GNAT is well known for their exquisite engagement rings and one-of-a-kind pieces in the entire range of jewelry using precious metals, fine gemstones and certified diamonds. Stop by and see why GNAT has been voted “Best Designer Jeweler” year after year.

250 Columbine St., Suite 130, Denver, 303-355-5050 gnatjewelers.com

What would make a better gift than handcrafted skis from a local manufacturer? Meier Skis is a Denver-based, high-performance ski and snowboard brand, sourcing pine beetle kill and Aspen trees showcased with a beautiful clear top sheet design. Visit the craft-skiery and watch the skis being made while savoring a Colorado craft beer poured by your friendly ski tender! From $735.

970 Yuma St., Denver, 844-WOOD-SKI meierskis.com

Holiday Gift Guide

Moore For Life

A new look for the New Year! This personalized makeup lesson teaches tips and techniques from top makeup artist, Michael Moore, to bring out the most perfect, natural you and achieve your ideal look for everyday and special occasions. A $300 value, the makeup lesson is priced at $200 through Dec. 31, 2017. Mention this code when making your appointment: CEGiveMOORE17.

303-956-0311, mooreforlife.com

Del Frisco’s Grille

The Grille’s “anytime eats” menu offers bold flavors and market-fresh ingredients and is best paired with signature cocktails, craft beers or a selection from the Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. From Cheesesteak Eggrolls and Ahi Tuna Tacos to the signature Steakhouse Salad and Prime Beef Short Rib Stroganoff, the dry-aged Prime steaks, fresh seafood and chef-inspired features prove that every Grille experience is an exciting one.

100 St. Paul St., Denver, 303-320-8529, delfriscosgrille.com

Central City Opera

Give the gift of opera this holiday season. Your family and friends will love to experience Central City Opera’s 2018 Summer Festival July 7-Aug. 5, featuring The Magic Flute, Il Trovatore, Acis and Galatea and Face on the Ballroom Floor.

Subscriptions on sale now. Gift cards available in any increment up to $500.

Central City Opera House 124 Eureka St., Central City

Box office:

400 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 535 Denver, 303-292-6700 centralcityopera.org

This year, give the gift of safety.

Revolar is a small, wearable, safety device that communicates your status and location to trusted contacts, allowing you to reach out for help faster than you can reach your phone. Just click the button to get help fast. Easy-to-set-up app allows you to personalize messages.

Battery-operated. $59.99-$79.99.

Visit the website for more information and where to buy. revolar.com

Photos: Central City Opera: (2015). Ryan MacPherson (Alfredo Germont) and Ellie Dehn (Violetta Valery) with Ensemble including Adelmo Guidarelli (Doctor Grenvil),Photo by Amanda Tipton; Denver Pavilions: Think To Make; Del Frisco’s Grille: Astula, Raul J. Garcia; Moore For Life: Tommy Collier

Revolar

Hyde Park Jewelers

Hueb Luminus earrings with diamond and rose quartz in 18-karat rose gold radiate style, elegance and eye-catching allure. The Hueb Luminus Collection features premium stones, hand-sculpted and perfect for special occasions. Light is captured and reflected in dazzling hues thanks to the superior, detailed design. Contact store for pricing and more details.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver 303-333-4446, hydeparkjewelers.com

Support

Local Business

Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear

Surprise someone with the luxury of vintage Chanel jewelry this holiday season. Or wrap yourself or the one you love in a fabulous precious fiber, cashmere, or fur coat to make this year’s celebrations memorable.

218 Steele St., Denver, 303-333-6666 dansharpluxuryouterwear.com

Denver Pavilions

Shop, dine and be entertained at the 40 locations at Denver Pavilions in the heart of downtown. Visit downtown’s only Uniqlo and Sephora stores. Take the family, friends and coworkers for a spin on the holiday carousel Dec. 15-Jan. 2.

Rides are free with a purchase from Denver Pavilions.

500 16th St., Denver, 303-302-0172, denverpavilions.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

79

Holiday Gift Guide

Tommy Collier Productions

Give the gift of a fantastic first impression to someone you believe in (including yourself!) with a high-end headshot session by Tommy Collier—Denver’s premier headshot specialist. Tommy is an expert at making it the best experience you’ve ever had in front of a camera. Individual sessions start at $350 for new clients and can be booked online at DenverHeadshots.com. Holiday gift cards available.

3300 Walnut St., Studio 118, Denver, 303-900-4695 denverheadshots.com

Oster Jewelers

From OLE LYNGGAARD Copenhagen, jewelers

by Appointment to the Royal Danish Court, comes the Leaf Collection. Soft, organic artistry, hand-carved in a lustrous, satin finish. Add charms and make it your own personal, everyday keepsake. $370-$5,000 251 Steele St., Denver, 303-572-1111 osterjewelers.com/collections/ole-lynggaard

Cherry Creek Athletic Club

Cactus Jack’s Saloon & Grill

Overlooking Bear Creek in Evergreen, Cactus Jack’s offers a great menu including breakfast on weekends, daily/weekly specials, happy hour and the must-have Widespread Burgers! Cactus Jack’s also has Hump Day Happy Hour, Karaoke Thursday and Saturday nights, live music every Friday night and the best drink prices in the mountains.

Stop in for a bite, a beer or cocktail, and enjoy Broncos games on their many TVs. Receive a 10 percent discount on your food purchase, valid through Dec. 31, 2017. Just mention CEHolidayCJS. 4651 Hwy. 73, Evergreen, 303-674-1564, evergreenlivemusic.com

80

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Photos: Cherry Creek Athletic Club: Prostock Studio / shutterstock.com; Cactus Jack’s Saloon & Grill: Kimberly Anderson Photography

Cherry Creek Athletic Club is home to the Sanctuary Day Spa, where you can enjoy services and amenities without being a member.

As a top day spa in Denver, they can provide you with your complete source for relaxation. Give the gift a Sanctuary Signature Massage or Facial and receive 20 percent off a JanMarini Skin Care System or Holiday Exfoliator. Mention CEHolidaySPA17 when ordering a service. Offer good through Dec. 31, 2017.

Happy holidays! Open 7 days a week. Gift cards available.

500 S. Cherry St., Denver, 303-388-3735, cherrycreekclub.com

Hyde Park Jewelers

It’s holiday time! A wonderful gift for her is the 18-karat yellow gold, 37mm, medium watch from the Panthère De Cartier Collection, priced at $21,200. He will love the Hublot Big Bang Collection UNICO King Gold, 45mm, chronograph watch, priced at $36,700.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver 303-333-4446, hydeparkjewelers.com

Find the perfect

Present

The Fort Restaurant

Red Rocks country is truly magical during the holidays and The Fort Restaurant has crackling bonfires, twinkling lights, carolers and decorative trees to set the mood.

Spend more time with loved ones and less time in the kitchen this holiday season. Reservations are available for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinner. Prices vary. Gift cards available.

Looking for a gift while you’re at The Fort? Shinin’ Times at The Fort—a cookbook, details the history and recipes of The Fort from 1963 to the present.

Available at Amazon, $39.95 And for the little ones; how did a real bear come to live at The Fort? This book tells the true story of Sissy Bear’s life, including her rescue by the Arnold family.

Available at Amazon, Tattered Cover, $26.45 19192 Hwy. 8, Morrison, 303- 697-4771, thefort.com

Mariel

This dramatic bolero jacket with velvet appliqué is from New York-based designer Alberto Makali. Known for his vibrant and artistic blending of textures and motifs, Makali’s topper is perfect for this season’s holiday celebrations. Enjoy a one-onone, personal shopping experience and free parking at Mariel.

3000 E. 3rd Ave., Unit 11, Denver 303-623-1151, marielboutique.com

Holiday Gift Guide

Intelligent Elixirs Skincare

These clean, non-toxic products are formulated to protect and restore skin when cold weather takes its toll. Rose Foaming Cream Cleaner ($18) gently cleans skin, leaving it fresh and smooth, while the Ultra Restorative Moisturizer ($34) protects skin from environmental damage and prevents moisture loss. Need a little extra hydration? Apply the Pure Squalane ($16) over your moisturizer. Available online.

844-643-7546, ieskincare.com

The Gathering Place

Denver Botanic Gardens

Members get more at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Get free admission to the Gardens at York Street and Chatfield Farms, advance ticketing for the popular Summer Concert Series, discounts on classes, event tickets, the gift shop and both restaurants. Be a part of the Gardens! Memberships start at $55.

1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500 botanicgardens.org

82

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

An annual membership that will last all year is the perfect gift for families. Ride a dueling zip-line, scale a three-and-a-half story climber or create culinary delights. Enjoy numerous discounts and perks exclusive to members only. $110 to $180 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver, 303-433-7444 mychildsmuseum.org/get-involved/membership

Photos: Colorado Arts Circuit: Painting Victory Lap / Brent Benger; Denver Botanic Gardens: Scott Dressel-Martin; Zane Beadles Parade Foundation: Jeffrey Strohecker Photography

Art Restart is a social enterprise of The Gathering Place and provides women experiencing poverty with opportunities to earn money and to establish mission-supporting income from largequantity greeting card and art sales. Artists receive royalties from every purchase. Remaining proceeds support the organization’s programs. With an Art Restart card, you can express holiday wishes with a purpose. Six-packs, $20; 50-or-more packs start at $150.

1535 High St., Denver, 303-996-9034, artrestart.org

Ideas

for Everyone

Saints of Old Florida, A Coastal Lifestyle Book

A 2017 Florida Book Awards winner, this book invites you to get lost in Old Florida, a place where the genuine essence of simplicity, adventure and community thrive. Focused on the Florida Panhandle area, “Saints” features personal stories, contributions by area locals, heirloom recipes and authentic photography in 252 full-color pages. Natural cloth hardback cover has gold embossing. $48. saintsofoldflorida.com

Zane Beadles Parade Foundation

Receive 20 percent off at 100+ Denver retail stores Nov. 3-12. Proceeds from the purchase of ZBPF Partners Cards will help build a sport court at the new Brent’s Place near Children’s Hospital Colorado to give youngsters with life-changing medical conditions a fun place to just be a kid! For more details and participating stores, see the ZBPF brochure on page 97 in this issue of CE. Card price: $60. partnerscard.zanesparade.org

Colorado Arts Circuit

Join the Colorado Arts Circuit on Oct. 20 for a glamorous evening inspired by Formula 1, IndyCar and Le Mans racing. Enjoy music, celebrities and an auction of original paintings by popular contemporary artists.

Paul Peterson, Brent Benger and Adam Port will be live painting at the event, which benefits the Milias Miracle Foundation and its fight against Batten Disease. Tickets and VIP passes available online.

Vehicle Vault, 18301 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy., Parker coloradoartscircuit.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

83

Coloradans Unite for Children and Families!

When you make a donation to Amp the Cause you are supporting over 50 nonprofits and schools in the Denver Metro area.

Together we can strengthen and improve the lives of children today to help build a stronger tomorrow.

Thank you for considering a donation to Amp the Cause on this Colorado Gives Day.

AmpTheCause.org 1616 17th Street, Suite 462 | Denver, CO 80202 | 303.605.2885

give more this season. (memberships make the best gifts.)

There's a Reason They Call Me a Saint.

L A RI M E RSQ UAR E . CO M

# H O T H O LID AYS LS Q

4

T

H

A

N

N

U

A

L

Our mission is to give Colorado children a magical Holiday.

Volunteers of America Needs 6,000 toys for children in Colorado this Holiday season. Please help by donating unwrapped new toys.

Toy Collection Location FIRST AMERICAN STATE BANK

8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Start date for toy donations is November 1st Last date for toy donations is December 15th Cash Donations

Cash donations can be made directly to Volunteers of America at www.voacolorado.org/toydrive.

Presented by First American State Bank and Cherry Hills Living Magazine Benefiting Volunteers of America Colorado Branch

CHANGE AN ANIMAL’S WORLD Donate to help animals in Colorado and around the world this Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 5. www.coloradogives.org

Heard of the elephant, Raju?

How ‘bout Captain Red Bart or Misha? These are amazing animals whose stories tell how Project V.E.T.S. is making a direct impact on the lives of animals in Colorado and around the world..

By distributing veterinary equipment and supplies, Project V.E.T.S. helps to heal the wounds and provide treatment for companion animals, wildlife and working animals worldwide. With a donation, together we will heal the planet one animal at a time!

projectvets.org/cogives

Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) is an indigenous Pan-African organization that works to sustain animals as sentient beings through showing them compassion, care, and appreciation. We achieve this by influencing policy, community empowerment, advocacy and attitude change by working with communities, governments, partners and other stakeholders in Kenya and across Africa to promote humane treatment of all animals..

anaw.org/cogives

Our goal is to feed hungry pets.

The Colorado Pet Pantry holds nine monthly pet food banks across the Front Range to help pets stay out of shelters and with their loving families. For every $4 you donate, a pet is fed for a month.

We also run the Animal Welfare Share Program to share supplies with 30+ rescues and animal welfare organizations, so that we’re all more efficient, and the Emergency Pet Food Assistance Program to help families in immediate dire need of pet food.

coloradopetpantry.org/cgd

At SpayToday, NeuterNow! we believe in the value of every pet’s life and the unconditional love they bring to our lives.

Spaying and neutering ensures every cat, dog and rabbit can find a loving home to call their own by reducing pet overpopulation created by unplanned and unwanted litters.

We have performed more than 50,000 spays and neuters since 2009 and with your help can continue making a difference for pets and their owners.

spay2day.org

Holiday Gift Guide

Giving

with BeBoxed Style

Thinking inside the box

By Joy Lawrance, Photography by Jennifer Olson Photography

C

COMING UP WITH A FRESH IDEA about gift giving might be like concocting a new recipe. It takes a variety of ideas or ingredients; experimenting with ways to put contents or flavors together; and making decisions around packaging or presentation. For Alisa Zapiler of Creative Events + Occasions, and Paula Newberry Arnold of Newberry Brothers, their unique concept took its time to develop, simmering for years on the back burners of their minds.

“Alisa and I always wanted to do something together in the industry, something different,” Arnold said. A business friend asked her to collaborate on gift baskets—and that sparked an idea. “We’ve been shopping for clients for years for fruit

The Details BeBoxed Gifts 5231 Leetsdale Dr., Denver CO 80246, 720-773-0443 beboxedgifts.com

90

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

and gift baskets. But they look dated.

We needed an idea that was easy, doable online, but sophisticated,” she added.

“Paula and I had met and brainstormed for years for something that was needed in our industry that was

related to events, but not necessarily at the event,” Zapiler said.

“We liked the idea of having a gift that not only expresses the giver, but emphasizes the quality, and how important the recipient is.” Arnold continued. “When we first started talking about boxes, we looked at wood, but it was not as modern as we would like. They had a too-rustic look.” The pair wanted to differentiate themselves with a sleeker, modern appearance.

Along the way they brought in other talents—Kien Arnold, with Charming Chairs; and Julie, Karly and Cindy Farber, each one having a special relationship with Alisa and Paula.

“When Cindy, Karly and Julie came on, they transformed the look of the boxes,” Zapiler said. “The Far-

ber family is very much a part of our community. Kien has his own industry—he orders chairs and furniture from manufacturers. Each person in the partnership brings a unique expertise, and the combination of what we bring together has evolved.”

The boxes are designed in black and white, then lacquered for sheen.

The tops are transparent acrylic so that givers and recipients can see what’s inside. “We want something that customers are going to feel good about. They will see exactly what they’re buying. We’re not trying to hide anything. We’re very transparent,” Arnold added with a smile.

Kien, through his contacts, found a resource to produce the boxes, and a local firm etches the acrylic so that each gift can be personalized with a name, or company name, or logo.

The box now becomes a keepsake, one the recipient can use for beautiful storage.

“We’ve taken a lot of time to source the products,” Julie said.

“The giver must be comfortable. It’s a convenient way to give a gift and feel good about it. Because Paula and Alisa have such great reputations, there is a trust factor that accompanies this.” She spoke to their standing among their many clients who can be assured that when they order a gift box, it will be of highest quality.

Arriving at an appropriate name was an exercise in group-think. “We were brainstorming, and someone said, “BeBoxed”—be welcome box, be grateful box, be celebrated box, be babied box,” Zapiler says. They loved the idea that it could be used in so many ways. “It gave us an opportunity to focus on the dozen different themes at this point,” she added.

For the initial rollout, themed boxes are pre-planned. Whether a single personal gift, or a corporate box for hundreds, each one will include an attractive selection of items, carefully selected for quality, usefulness and suitability. Karly says, “Everything will always be changing, like adding a fancy new lollipop. We want to stay

on trend, keep things current. We don’t want to send the same thing over and over. There’s a lot of work that’s gone into the selection of products. Each one is tested; each item is a treasure.”

For example, a baby gift box might include a teddy bear, blanket, rubber duck and candy. An “indulge” box could include a natural sea sponge, face mask, journal, candle, sugar scrub, chocolate and champagne bubbles candy.

Every partner on this creative team of six brings special expertise to the group, whether design, event planning, public relations or product performance. Each also stressed their goal to offer not just a unique gift, but one that can be given with the confidence that it fully reflects the thoughtfulness of the giver, and respect for the recipient. According to a company statement, “At BeBoxed, we believe a gift celebrates more than a single event; it’s a way of strengthening our bonds with others and showing them that we care. So, whether it’s one special individual or one thousand dedicated employees, BeBoxed is here to help you foster your relationships.”

Sounds like a recipe for success.

Joy Lawrance is a freelance writer living in Golden. Her travel articles have appeared in major newspapers across the country. She has also been featured in Colorado Parent, Cruise News and Country Discovery magazines. Joy has been a long-time contributor to the New West family of publications.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

91

Standing strong.

Transforming lives.

The Joshua School serves individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities to help them attain the highest quality of life, valuing each unique mind, body and spirit.

At The Joshua School we believe that each child is bright, competent and whole, exactly as he/she is, and that dignity is the birthright of every human being.

Our students and their families have a right to aspire to a life of their choosing and we teach them to build on each child’s own interests talents and dreams.

The need for funding and educational services for children with autism has never been greater. Please help us stand strong and transform the lives of our students.

Visit www.joshuaschool.org to find how to give or get involved.

Joshua School is a Certified Facility School by the Colorado Department of Education, and its Englewood and Boulder Campuses have been named “model autism sites” in Colorado.

The Joshua School 2303 E. Dartmouth Avenue Englewood, CO 80113 (303) 758-7171

The Joshua School 7077 Harvest Rd Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 974-7732

Joshua Early Childhood Center 5760 E. Otero Avenue Centennial, CO 80112 (720) 316-5234

Type 1 diabetes Supplies and care Type diabetes care can1 cost overSupplies $20,000 aand year can cost over $20,000 a year

This expense can devastate a family This expense can devastate a family The Children’s Diabetes Foundation ensures that every family that receives care atDiabetes the Barbara Davis Center forthat Diabetes the The Children’s Foundation ensures everyreceives family that medical education, care for they need toreceives survive the receives caresupplies, at the Barbara Davisand Center Diabetes medical supplies, education, and care they need to survive

During this season of giving, season giving, pleaseDuring donatethis to help ouroftype 1 heroes please donate to help our type 1 heroes www.ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org www.ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org

Easy, sustainable shopping in the

HEART OF THE CITY

A P R EM I ER G I FT-SHOPPING DESTINATION Home Décor | Hostess Gifts | Toys & Books Vinegars & Herbs from the Gardens | Botanical-Inspired Ornaments EAS Y T O S HOP & PAR K. N O G A RD EN S A D M IS S IO N REQ U IRE D .

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS | 10th & York Street | botanicgardens.org

is proud to call

Colorado Our Home!

Zane Beadles Parade Foundation believes life is about the journey not the destination and we are dedicated to making the journey better for others!

ZBPF Sports Court at Brent’s Place

Bags of Fun® with Gabby Krause Foundation

ird’s Eye Perspective

BRENT’S PLACE

Donor Logo Basketball Court

MARCH 10, 2015

Cuddle Program at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children

Zane and Peyton celebrate a Zane touchdown!

Support ZBPF on Colorado Gives Day on December 5, 2017

coloradogives.org/zanesparade

Improving

the Lives of Animals

Our Mission

We strive to improve the lives of animals through educational programming and rescue, and by teaching the connectedness between animals and humans.

How We Do It

We are a non profit animal sanctuary located in Larkspur, CO. We are home to approximately 140 animals with varying stories on how they ended up at our sanctuary. Through our animals and their stories, we strive to demonstrate the balance that must exist between animals and humans. We work to make their lives complete, and by doing so, we complete our own. All living things deserve to be nurtured. We believe that by enriching and respecting the lives of all animals, we better our own lives and those of our children, thus lessening the need to rescue.

What We Offer • • • • • • •

Hands-on ZoFo Kids summer camps Guided tours discussing each animal’s story of how he or she got here Collaborative educational programming with your organization Humane animal education Community events Donor opportunities Annual comedy fundraiser

ZoologyFoundation.org | 303-951-8813 | info@zoologyfoundation.org

GIVE & RECEIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON With your qualifying donation to Children’s Hospital Colorado, you may be eligible to receive a 25% credit on your Colorado income tax.

Learn more at ChildrensColoradoFoundation.org/taxcredit

Children’s Colorado is the region’s only nonprofit pediatric hospital.

A giving spirit makes everything we do possible.

Your donation creates smiles and joy, enhances the healing process, and supports patient families.

100

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Holiday Gift Guide

L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour 2017

Put yourself in a holiday mood with the Central City Opera Guild

W

By Corinne Joy Brown, Photography by Stevie Crecelius / WonderWorks

WINTER HOLIDAYS BRING AN ENDLESS ROUND OF parties and traditions, many celebrated on behalf of causes great and small. Supporters can join the Central City Opera Guild as they produce the much loved L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour, now in its 41st year, scheduled for Nov. 17 and 18.

A popular fundraising event created to inspire and delight, as well as support the Guild’s most worthy programs, this year’s tour focuses on the Hilltop area, home to some of the city’s most distinguished residences, rich in architectural diversity. Five homes will open their doors to the public to enjoy the holiday-themed decorative interiors and tabletops created by some of Denver’s most creative floral and table designers. Respected firms like City Floral, The Tended Thicket, The Lark, The Twisted Tulip and others practically reinvent holiday decor every year.

“With each tour, the designs grow more exciting,” said Denise Sanderson, chairwoman of the event and a longtime supporter of Central City Opera. “For example, one year a woodland scene scattered with foxes bedecked a dining table created by Maury Ankrum, owner of The Tended Thicket; a real crowd-pleaser. People come to see the architectural interest of the homes and the latest trends in holiday decor, as well as overall home design.”

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

101

“Themes are so important,” added Ankrum. “As a floral designer, I especially like the woodland theme with a more sophisticated European flair, highlighted by quality ornaments from Germany, France, Scandinavia and Scotland. It’s fun to add cultural signatures, such as various plaids for example, when creating a Scottish feel.”

Chairperson Sanderson recommends taking the tour on foot. “It’s more fun that way. Besides, neighborhood

102

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

selections are made, in part, on street parking availability. Do keep in mind, visitors are advised to remove their shoes or put on booties over footwear at each entry point. And since more than 2,000 people visit the homes during the two-day event, we also recommend starting early.”

In recent years, many designers have also decorated the patios, now thought of as outdoor living rooms.

Most carry the design theme from the front door throughout the home to the outdoor dining tables, since these are often visible from key areas. Some homeowners work with the designers and incorporate their own ideas in the living, dining, and even family rooms. Others simply stand back and “host,” giving designers free rein to interpret their inspiration. For reference, guests receive a booklet detailing the decorated rooms in the house which are fully staffed by volunteers who can answer visitors’ questions.

Proceeds from L’Esprit de Noël ticket sales benefit Central City Opera’s many outreach and educational programs, including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artist Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the historic Central City Opera House, and more than 30 additional historic properties in Central City. Most important is the ongoing support to the Opera’s Education Community Engagement programs.

L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour 2017

According to Deb Morrow, director of education and marketing, these programs enhance existing curriculum for young students, as well as lifelong learning for everyone. “We work directly with educators, community leaders, students and parents to make these offerings relevant, educational and entertaining. We believe the arts enrich lives and learning at every age. CCO began offering programs in schools in the late 1970s, and sought a broader mission than just offering performances in the Opera House—their hope was to be a resource and artistic home for all the citizens of Colorado. To that end, we offer touring programs to schools and communities throughout Colorado and Wyoming.”

A hugely successful initiative of the Guild is TACO (Take a Child to the Opera), a perfect way to provide

a young person a meaningful opera experience for their age level.

“We are all about making opera fun and accessible for everyone,” added Morrow. “We choose scenes and moments from great operas that are easy to understand and relate to. Kids really love the total experience.”

(More details at centralcityopera.org/education.)

Brochures and information about education and community engagement and Central City Opera in general are available throughout the tour. Most docents are familiar with the programs, and let visitors know they are supporting arts education.

L’Esprit de Noël may be enjoyed Nov. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day regardless of the weather.

Please be advised; no strollers and no photos inside the houses. Homes are not handicapped accessible. Tickets may be purchased online starting Oct. 1 at centralcityopera.org/lesprit for $23, or at area King Soopers stores after Nov. 1 for $25. The cost is $25 at the door.

For more information, visit lesprithometour.com.

Corinne Joy Brown loves the holidays and how they unite us with a sense of wonder and appreciation. A freelance writer who covers architecture, design, leadership and popular culture, she is also an award-winning author of five books.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

103

Let The Fort Host Your Private Dining Event

LI

SHED I N

63

ES

B

19

TA

For memories that last a lifetime!

The Fort is a full scale replica of Bent’s Old Fort, a vital 19th century fur-trading post in southeastern Colorado that operated on the Santa Fe Trail from 1833 until 1849. The Fort, the largest adobe building in the nation, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Walk back in time to the era of Mountain Men and Women, American Indians and Fur Traders. Your guests will dine in an atmosphere of cozy western elegance and experience a culinary adventure they will talk about for years to come.

Specializing in breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktail receptions, The Fort offers a variety of menu options and price ranges. Groups of all sizes and ages enjoy our authentic old west experience.

More than an incredible meal The Fort is a step into the early west!

The Fort Makes Any Event Special • • • • • • • • •

Corporate Parties Weddings, Receptions and Rehearsal Dinners Holiday Get Togethers Engagement Dinners or Cocktail Receptions Birthday & Retirement Parties Graduations, Home Coming & Prom Bat & Bar Mitzvahs Wedding & Baby Showers Award Ceremonies & Life Celebrations

Special Offer

Complimentary bus transportation for groups of 25 or more. Restrictions apply.

Call today to find out more!

www.TheFort.com

If you would like pricing options or are interested in booking a party at The Fort please contact our Private Dining Manager at 303.697.2282 or by email at Banquets@TheFort.com

GIVE THE GIFT OF A CENTRAL CITY OPERA

EXPERIENCE

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

THE MAGIC FLUTE

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

IL TROVATORE

GIUSEPPE VERDI

ACIS AND GALATEA

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 40th ANNIVERSARY

THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR HENRY MOLLICONE

2018

FESTIVAL

303.292.6700 | CentralCityOpera.org

July 7-August 5, 2018

Causes

B

to

elieve

Consider supporting these

Colorado charities, who in turn strengthen our communities

By Joanne Davidson

in

AMERICANS SET A CHARITABLE GIVING RECORD IN 2016, OPENING their wallets to the tune of $389 billion, which represents a 4.2 percent increase over 2015.

Philanthropic watchdogs are predicting that 2017 will be another banner year, thanks in large part to the real or threatened cuts in federal funding. “In these ever-changing and uncertain times, it is imperative that we give in support of

106

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

Holiday Gift Guide

are upping their contributions to nonprofits whose future is uncertain.

“Changes in government funding may affect certain

A

The number of charities to support in Colorado are many.

On the following pages are some to consider

organizations,” adds Renny Fagan, president and chief executive officer of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. “That’s why it’s important this year for generous Coloradans to support the causes they believe in.

Individual donations fuel the work of nonprofits, who in turn strengthen our communities.”

Amp the Cause CHRISTIE AND WALTER ISENBERG FOUNDED Amp the Cause in 2004 to improve the lives of children and families, with an emphasis on health and education. Thanks to generous donors and its signature fundraisers, Denver Day of Rock and the Celebrity Waiters Dinner, Amp the Cause has been able to distribute some $6 million in monetary and in-kind services to a wide range of nonprofits in the Denver area.

One of Christie’s favorite Amp the Cause programs

those around us so the many things that make our com-

is Community Day, where this year 679 volunteers

munity great can continue to do so,” says Dana Rinder-

logged 4,074 hours to distribute $1,016,509 in financial

knecht, director of online giving at the Community First

and in-kind aid to 48 nonprofits whose reach extends to

Foundation, sponsor of the annual Colorado Gives Day,

656,832 children and families. When she’s not devoting

which is Dec. 5 this year.

time to Amp the Cause, Christie also gives her time,

Progressive causes, in particular, appear to be reaping the largest gains. But others, such as those that feed the hungry, serve mental health needs or give shelter to the homeless are also seeing measurable increases.

The national office of Planned Parenthood, for exam-

ple, saw donations increase at 40 times the normal rate in the six weeks following the November Presidential

talent and treasure to Children’s Hospital Colorado,

Serenity Early Learning and RAFT Colorado.

Children’s Diabetes Foundation

election. The Anti-Defamation League experienced a

FOUNDED IN 1977 BY BARBARA AND MARVIN

50-fold increase in online donations in roughly the same

Davis after their then-7-year-old daughter, Dana, was

time period while the American Civil Liberties Union

diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the CDF raises money

received 120,000 contributions that totaled $7.2 million.

to support the research and clinical care at the Barbara

Worried that favorite causes will lose funding, philanthropic watchdogs say more and more Americans

Davis Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Today, Dana Davis is the foundation’s executive

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 COLORADO EXPRESSION

107

C

Davis Center patients and their families are able to

Colorado Pet Pantry

get support for every aspect of their Type 1 diabetes,”

FOUNDED IN 2013, COLORADO PET PANTRY

she says, adding that “The Helping Hand Program is

has four programs: a pet food bank that is open to the

close to my heart because insulin is a very expen-

public; an emergency pet food assistance program; an

sive medication and without it, a person with Type 1

animal welfare share program and mini pet food banks

diabetes will not survive. The Helping Hand Program

that help specific communities, such as low-income

helps families in need to get the necessary medical

housing units, to get pet food for all the pets in the

supplies, education, appointments and transportation

building. Executive director Eileen Lambert says that

for their diabetes care. The program often helps with

in 2017 the pet food bank program will help about

rent, mortgage payments and clothing costs, as well.”

11,000 dogs and cats eat for a month. “Our prima-

Outside the CDF, Dana supports the Little Hearts

ry goal is to keep pets out of shelters and with the

Luncheon, where former and current heart patients at

families who love them. It can cost an animal shelter

Children’s Hospital Colorado walk the fashion runway

$500 a month to re-home a pet and the Colorado Pet

with their doctors, nurses and dogs from the hospital’s

Pantry can feed a pet for a month for $4.” She adds “If

Prescription Pets Program. She also gives to PetAid

we can keep a pet with its family for the cost of a few

Colorado, which provides veterinary care for com-

bags of pet food, this is a solvable problem. And I love

panion animals from low-income families.

solving problems.” When she’s not at work at Colorado

Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation

Pet Pantry, Lambert volunteers on behalf of SpayTo-

ESTABLISHED IN 1978 WITH THE BELIEF THAT

with transportation to the clinic. They also provide us

all children should have the chance for a healthy

with spay and neuter vouchers for our clients, which

future, the foundation has three goals: to educate and

has drastically increased the number of people who

engage the community on the hospital’s behalf; to raise

can say their pet is now spayed or neutered.”

money; and to steward funds raised for children and

such as the Courage Classic, the Campaign to Trans-

Jewish Family Service of Colorado

form Children’s Health, the Mighty Millions Raffle

THIS 145-YEAR-OLD HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

and the Children’s Hospital Gala. Steve Winesett, the

annually serves 24,000 individuals of all faiths, ages,

foundation’s president and CEO, says “Every day of my

ethnicities and national origin who are in need of crisis

18 years at Children’s Hospital Colorado I’ve discov-

intervention, mental health counseling, job training

ered something new and amazing that we are doing for

and placement for those with significant barriers to

children. Many of our programs go beyond the hospital

employment, and help that enables seniors to live in-

walls and into the community to prevent illness and

dependently. “We have 34 programs and I deeply value

injury—and those are certainly among my favorites.”

all of them,” says president/CEO Shepard Nevel, but

Outside of Children’s Hospital, his church and his alma

the one closest to his heart is the one that helps those

mater, Winesett says his favorite nonprofit is Charity:

at risk of homelessness. “We provide rent assistance,

Water. “As a father, I find their mission to bring clean,

food (345,000 nutritious meals per year), job training,

safe drinking water to people in developing countries

case management and other support to help avoid

particularly compelling.”

the extraordinary expense, trauma and family dislo-

director. “Through funds donated to the CDF, Barbara

families who need the services of Children’s Hospital Colorado. Income is generated through sponsorships, corporate and individual gifts and fundraising events

108

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

day, NeuterNow!, a low-cost spay and neuter service in Lakewood. “They are on the ground helping to keep pets out of shelters and they will go to great lengths to help families get their pets fixed, including helping

C

For a more complete list of deserving Colorado nonprofits, visit coloradogives.org.

J

cation of homelessness.” Outside of JFS, Nevel says he admires Clinica Tepeyac for its work in providing “essential health care and wellness services to many of the most underserved and vulnerable individuals and families in our region.”

Junior League of Denver SINCE ITS START IN 1918, THE JLD HAS TRAINED women to be impactful leaders. League members have started such well-known Denver institutions as the

Children’s Museum, the Mile High Transplant Bank and the Mile High Holiday Mart; they’ve also published five

cookbooks. The league’s current focus is on improving literacy rates and providing access to books for children through third grade. President Kali Handford says that “Learning something new and being exposed to

olorado

Nonprofits & Charities ANAW USA Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), 720-810-2837 anaw-usa.org

Amp the Cause 303-605-2885, ampthecause.org

Children’s Diabetes Foundation 303-863-1200 childrensdiabetesfoundation.org

Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation 720-777-1700 childrenscoloradofoundation.org

Colorado Pet Pantry 720-441-3111, coloradopetpantry.org

Jewish Family Service 303-597-5000, jewishfamilyservice.org

Junior League of Denver 303-692-0270, jld.org

National Jewish Health 303-398-1355, njhealth.org

Projects V.E.T.S. 303-819-2501, projectvets.org

SpayToday, NeuterNow! 303-984-7729, spay2day.org

ideas and issues you may not otherwise have access to

The Gathering Place

makes the league so special.” In September, for exam-

303-321-4198, tgpdenver.org

ple, the JLD staged its first community day of service

The Joshua School

in the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods,

303-758-7171, joshuaschool.org

an event whose success was the result of a training

Volunteers of America

session where specific needs were addressed. Outside

303-297-0408, voacolorado.org

of the JLD, Handford continues to support The Gather-

Zane Beadles Parade Foundation

ing Place. She became acquainted with the organi-

303-915-9017, zanesparade.org

zation when as a new JLD member she volunteered

Zoology Foundation

to prepare and serve lunch to the clients at Denver’s

303-875-1603, zoologyfoundation.org

N

only daytime drop-in center for women, their children

and transgender individuals who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.

National Jewish Health

“My favorite service is the 1:1 faculty-student relationship.”

Ed Nichols, executive director, The Joshua School children and transgender individuals per day, offering

NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH IS KNOWN WORLD-

food, showers, toiletries, diapers, laundry and services

wide for treatment of patients with respiratory,

that range from job readiness classes to physical and

cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for

mental health screenings. Art Restart is a social enter-

groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899

prise within The Gathering Place that lets the women

as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health is the

develop or expand their artistic talents while earning

only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these

money for themselves and The Gathering Place. For

disorders. “What inspires me most about National Jew-

each piece of art sold, the artist receives a five percent

ish Health,” says its president, Dr. Michael Salem, “is

royalty. “Our arts programming includes fiber art,

the unique, collaborative approach to patient care and

music and writing,” says Art Restart director Teresa

research in order to find answers and cures to improve

Densmore, “So not only do we nourish the body at The

the lives of people suffering from respiratory and relat-

Gathering Place, we believe in the importance of nour-

ed diseases. This spirit is inherent in our 118-year-old

ishing the soul.” Aside from Art Restart, Densmore

culture and charitable mission.” Salem also says one of

lists Project Safeguard as one of her favorite nonprofits.

the most attractive things about Denver is the number

“It is an organization that helps victims of domestic

of nonprofits that add to the community’s well-being.

violence navigate the legal systems to pursue safety

“MindSpark Learning is one of those new and import-

and justice for women. The court system can be com-

ant programs that aims to transform education and

plex and Project Safeguard provides the expertise and

help build a path for tomorrow’s leaders. MindSpark

support that can bring healing and peace to victims of

has supported education at our Morgridge Academy for

domestic violence.”

chronically ill children, and other schools nationwide.

The Joshua School

And, we have a longtime appreciation for the work accomplished by Jewish Family Service, too.”

The Gathering Place

SIX TEACHERS WHO WERE DETERMINED TO

IN THE MID-1980S, TONI SCHMID AND KATHY

Joshua School 10 years ago. Today it is one of the top

Carfrae were students at the University of Denver

schools of its type in the nation. Some 70 students

Graduate School of Social Work and serving as interns

between the ages of 2 and 21 attend classes on the

at various Denver-area homeless shelters. Every morn-

school’s Denver and Boulder campuses, learning from

ing they were dismayed by the fact that the women

a highly skilled staff dedicated to helping them attain

and children had to leave the safety of the shelter and

the highest quality of life. “My favorite service is the

return to the harsh reality of the streets. So they did

1:1 faculty-student relationship because in doing so,

something about it. Armed with a $6,000 donation,

we provide each student the tailored care to meet

they rented a small facility on Santa Fe Drive that

his or her particular needs,” says executive director

would offer day shelter to as many as 25 women and

Ed Nichols. “This assures the dignity each student

children who were homeless or experiencing poverty.

deserves.” When he is not on campus, Nichols can be

That was in 1986 and marked the start of The Gath-

found giving time, talent and treasure to the Central

ering Place. Today, in more spacious quarters on High

City Opera. An honorary member of the company’s

Street, The Gathering Place serves up to 350 women,

board of directors, Nichols commends that organiza-

110

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

better serve children on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities started The

tion for “producing highest-quality opera entertainment while educating young voices, mixing them with seasoned professionals and extraordinary instruction.”

“More families have been helped during the past year than ever before.”

Volunteers of America president/CEO Dianna Kunz

Volunteers of America Colorado Branch

tivities for the foundation’s Greatest Gift Program is the

TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND COLORADANS EACH

or arranging spa treatments for caregivers, each of these

year depend on Volunteers of America for help with

Greatest Gifts “help create the positive experiences that

housing, food, early childhood education and services

improve a patient’s quality of life, reduce stress levels

to veterans, seniors and those fleeing domestic violence.

and aid in recovery.” Emphasizing that the ZBPF is “all

most rewarding element of her job. Whether it’s providing tickets to sporting events, setting up a stadium tour

Z

“More families have been helped during the past year

about collaboration,” Gart and Beadles say they derive

than ever before in our 119-year history,” says pres-

much satisfaction from helping such Denver-area non-

ident/CEO Dianna Kunz. A hands-on administrator,

profits as Brent’s Place, the Gabby Krause Foundation

Kunz says one of her most gratifying duties is to deliver

and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, where ZBPF

Meals on Wheels to seniors in the Five Points neighbor-

volunteers make weekly visits to the newborn intensive

hood. “The men and women on our route all share the

care unit to participate in the Cuddle Program.

deep desire to remain independent and stay in their

my favorite days because that’s when I can see seven

Zoology Foundation

special friends who are always glad to see me.” A favor-

THE ZOOLOGY FOUNDATION, SAYS EXECUTIVE

ite cause besides VOA is participating in the quarterly

director Avie Rosacci, is an educational sanctuary

meeting where the CEOs of VOA, the Salvation Army,

located in Larkspur that focuses on the human-animal

Catholic Charities and Denver Rescue Mission share

connection. “We work tirelessly to educate in an effort

information, best practices, challenges and triumphs

to lessen the need to rescue. We gear our rescue efforts

associated with their respective efforts on behalf of the

toward helping those well-established organizations that

homeless.

specialize in rescues involving natural or man-made

own homes for as long as possible. Those Fridays are

Zane Beadles Parade Foundation

disasters.” She adds that through educational programs such as Camp Critters, which is her favorite element within the Zoology Foundation, staffers are able to “teach our youth that they are intrinsically connected to the animals and environment in which they live. We

FORMER DENVER BRONCO ZANE BEADLES, WHO

teach children that animals are living, feeling beings

now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, started this non-

with a right to a dignified and humane life.” Rosacci, a

profit with the goal of giving the gifts of fun, excitement

certified rescue diver and retired barrel racer, has 38

and joy to children and young adults facing significant

years of experience in marketing, sales and catering for

health challenges. The foundation is headquartered in

her family’s iconic business, Tony’s Meats. When she’s

Denver but also has a presence in Jacksonville, Fla., Salt

not on duty at the Zoology Foundation she devotes time

Lake City and the San Francisco Bay Area. Executive

to the Wellspring Community, which, coincidentally,

director Julie Gart says that helping Beadles line up ac-

has begun programming at the Zoology Foundation.

Joanne Davidson spent 30 years as society editor of The Denver Post. Prior to that, she was San Francisco bureau chief for US News & World Report magazine, society editor of the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and education editor for the Pittsburg (Calif.) Post-Dispatch.

She is currently freelancing for The Denver Post and Colorado Expression.

112

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

6885 S. University Blvd.

Centennial, CO 80122 (303) 759-9661 www.tricejewelers.com