Joanne Davidson

ARVADA CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES Arvada News: Between the sequined mini dresses, platform shoes, go-go boots, paisley prints and bell-bottom pants, the 350 guests at the Arvada Center’s 1970s-themed Arts for All Gala clearly were “right on” in selecting what to wear for a “groovy” night of disco-infused fundraising. “Some of you look like you just walked out of Studio 54,” remarked board member David Martinelli, who chaired the gala with Sandy Hartgens. Hartgens, also […]

MILE HIGH UNITED WAY Denver News: The theme for the Mile High United Way’s 47th Women United Luncheon was “Timeless,” and Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen, president/CEO Christine Benero and honoree Arlene Hirschfeld thoughtfully and purposefully shared how the actions of today create ripples of change that can last forever. “One of the best ways to be outside your comfort zone is to volunteer,” Steenburgen said. “Saying yes to something is […]

COLORADO BALLET Denver News: In the 20 years that Gil Boggs has been the artistic director of Colorado Ballet, the company has been on an upward trajectory; its stature rising from mixed local reviews to the national acclaim it now enjoys. Boggs’ tenure was celebrated at the company’s April 16 fundraiser, The One Gala, a black-tie fete where the 655 guests raised a record $1 million. Chairwoman Jill Anschutz and mistress of ceremonies Lauren Whitney were just […]

COLORADO BUSINESS COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS Denver News: Call it preaching to the choir, if you will, but Mahes Prasad was spot on when he described what an important role the arts play in elevating Colorado’s quality of life. In particular, the 12 individuals and businesses that were celebrated at the April 21 Business for the Arts Awards Luncheon. Prasad, U.S. Bank’s senior vice president and private wealth management market leader for […]

FIREFLY AUTISM Lakewood News: It’s no secret that Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce CEO Simone Ross has a way with words; just ask anyone who has seen her in action at her side gig as a fundraising auctioneer with The Gala Team. She knows how to reel in the big bids by using humor, compliments, and tug-at-your-heart examples of how the money that is raised will make an impact. Every tool of her trade came […]

COLORADO SYMPHONY Denver News: The Colorado Symphony has enjoyed several defining moments over the past several months, most notably its New York tour, featuring critically acclaimed concerts at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. The orchestra added further notoriety on May 9 when Jon Batiste headlined the 2026 Symphony in the City Gala, a dinner and concert expected to raise […]

GIRLS INC. OF METRO DENVER Denver News: With United Airlines as the presenting sponsor, My Bold Future, the annual fundraising luncheon hosted by Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, provided a figurative takeoff to success for the 2026 scholarship recipients and a smooth landing for the Catalyst for Girls award recipients. The May 13 event brought some 800 supporters to Seawell […]

COLORADO OPEN LANDS Lakewood News: Wendell Fleming perhaps said it best in her explanation of the “why” behind the Lakewood-based nonprofit, Colorado Open Lands: “It’s not enough to just love this state … we have to preserve it. We have to preserve it not just for us, but for the people we’ll never meet.” Fleming, a Colorado Open Lands board member, is also executive director of the LARRK Foundation and serves on […]

MILE HIGH EARLY LEARNING Denver News: Mile High Early Learning will host its 12th Stone Soup fundraising breakfast on June 2, and the 7:30 a.m. gathering at Denver Botanic Gardens will feature interactive entertainment by the Koa String Quartet. Formed in 2003, Koa String Quartet is the Graduate String Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Colorado Boulder, where its members study […]

TEPEYAC COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER Denver News: Renee Ferrufino, president and chief executive officer of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, is the 2026 Tortilla Titan, besting field of 10 competitors at the 29th Tortillas for Tepeyac. The fast-paced, good-natured contest was part of a fundraising luncheon held May 28 in the Denver Art Museum’s Sturm Pavilion. It […]