Facts and figures are fine, but juicy little tidbits — stories behind the story — are what I’m trolling for at every event that I cover. Here are a few gleaned from Campy Couture, the cocktail party and fashion show held at Saks Fifth Avenue Cherry Creek to kick off Janet’s Camp 2007.
* Every football fan in town knows what a star safety John Lynch is for the Denver Broncos, but how many knew that his wife, Linda, used to compete on the pro tennis tour?
* Milan Hejduk and his wife, Zlata, met in high school in their native Czech Republic.
* Realtor Rollie Jordan was at the event with boyfriend Bruce Granger to see her son Rhett’s girlfriend, Reyna Bryan, model in the show. Since it also was Rollie’s birthday, she and Bruce went on to Barolo Grill for a celebratory dinner.
Janet’s Camp debuted in 2006, when Galloway Group principal Jean Galloway contacted Janet Elway about lending her name to a fund-raising effort on behalf of the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver. Elway didn’t hesitate to say “yes.”
“She said, ‘Not only will I lend my name, I’ll do whatever it takes” to raise as much money as possible, Galloway related to the 200-some who’d gathered in the Saks couture department.
The result was a night of fun and games at Elway’s home in Cherry Hills Village. It raised $111,000 — enough to send 228 inner-city children to the Y’s summer day camp.
Janet’s Camp 2007 will be on June 9, again at Elway’s home. There will be food, games, a swimsuit fashion show and more. “It’ll be a hoedown the likes of which this city has never seen,” Galloway promised.
For the kickoff, guests were treated to champagne, martinis and tasty nibbles from Epicurean Catering, plus a fashion show featuring both pro and celebrity models.
In the latter category: Peggy Shanahan, wife of Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan; former Bronco Ed McCaffrey and his wife, Lisa; Colorado Mammoth head coach Gary Gait and his wife, Nicole; the Lynches, Hejduks and Janet Elway.
Wells Fargo Bank is the presenting sponsor for Janet’s Camp and regional chief Tom Honig was on hand for the kickoff with his wife, Dianne. He observed that the YMCA is a longtime Wells Fargo client — and that he hoped to sign up new depositors as a result of the benefit. “I’ve locked the doors (to Saks) and have plenty of deposit slips available,” he joked.
Store manager Kay Cline not only hosted the show, she advised anyone interested in shopping that a portion of the night’s sales would go to Janet’s Camp.
Guests included CBS4 General Manager Walt DeHaven with fiancee Wendy Aiello; Wells Fargo VPs Pat Cortez and Jan Chase; Sassy Radio personality Gloria Neal, who emceed the show; and Mark and Wendy Brodsky, who won a basket of Revive skin care products in a prize drawing.
Others pledging their support were Julie Kucera, Gail Johnson, Kristina Davidson, Pamela O’Neal, Adrienne Fitzgibbons, Manuel Martinez, Mark Cordova, Heather Dines, Angela Baier, Andrea Bankoff, CeeCee Allen, Jenny Scott, Hayley Cross, Louise Richardson, Keri Christiansen, Maureen Regan, Josh Hanfling, Susan Napheys, Steve Perkins, and Nastassia Zappolo.
Pictures from Campy Couture can be viewed at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.
Society editor Joanne Davidson’s column appears every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in the Scene section. She can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Janet Elway’s affection for the Y began as a child, when she learned to swim in a YMCA pool. Joanne is enthusiastic in her support of Janet’s efforts on behalf of the Y, even though she learned how to swim in the Russian River of Northern California.
↧
Let’s go camping
↧