The promise coming out of Washington, as Barack Obama prepares for his inauguration as the nation’s 44th president is “Change is coming.”
In Colorado, change — on one front, at least — has been taking hold by leaps and bounds for some 20 years as the Women’s Foundation lives its motto of “Think Big. Be Bold. Make Change.”
The Women’s Foundation was formed to give women and girls both the opportunity and incentive to break down barriers that may have prevented them from getting an education and finding a good-paying job.
The power to make that happen got an $800,000 boost following a luncheon last week that brought 2,400 people to the Colorado Convention Center to hear Joy Behar share the changes and chances that led her from being a single parent struggling to make ends meet to a star on one of daytime TV’s most popular shows, “The View.”
Arlene Hirschfeld and Caz Matthews chaired the event that was presented by Bank of Choice and Holme Roberts & Owen. Other corporate support, including Aetna’s underwriting of Behar’s appearance, was obtained by a committee headed by Carol Burt, Margie Gart and Fred Taylor.
The amazing response made this the largest, single-day event for women in Colorado — a fact appreciated by such VIP guests as Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter; Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien; Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and his wife, Helen Thorpe; former first ladies Dottie Lamm and Frances Owens. Merle Chambers offered to match, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 any additional donations made to the foundation that day. Mile High United Way chief Christine Benero, is to succeed attorney Mary Stuart as chair of the Women’s Foundation board.
Lamm was the first chairwoman of the foundation board and was seated with the teen recipients of the 2008 Dottie Lamm Award, Emily Marquess and Marissa Shevins.
Marquess attends Liberty High School in Colorado Springs and plans to become a special education teacher. Shevins, a student at Alexander Dawson School in Lafayette, spent last summer in Uganda establishing a day-care center for children orphaned by AIDS.
And, there’s more.
Opera Rocks! made up of kids interested in opera, meets at a private home for a doll and teddy bear tea at 11 a.m. Saturday before traveling with adult chaperones to Belcaro Park to visit homes on the Central City Opera’s L’Esprit de Noel tour. Join the group by e-mailing wendycogdal@mac .com. . . . Bessie’s Hope receives proceeds from the Local Legends book and CD signing from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Unity Church of Denver, 3021 S. University Blvd. Admission is $5 and among those scheduled to appear are authors Marion Downs, Catherine Canny and Mark McIntosh, plus musical performers Linda Holloway, Jeff King and Lisa Miller. . . . The 2008 Nutcracker Sugarplums are to be introduced at a black-tie gala Nov. 28 at the Brown Palace Hotel. They’ll also be presented onstage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House the following evening, just before the curtain rises on Colorado Ballet’s season-opening performance of “The Nutcracker.” . . . And speaking of The Ellie, a new Founder’s Room there is to be named after the late Nat Merrill, co- founder of Opera Colorado. It will be on the east side of the building, overlooking 14th and Champa streets. Humphries Poli Architects did the design plan; construction is to begin in January.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com
