
It has become a given that Children’s Hospital Colorado puts on a gala to remember. There’s always a ton of food and fun musical entertainment. The live auction features unique items that inspire high bids. But the important part is never forgotten. Guests have the opportunity to meet and hear the stories of patients who become Children’s Colorado Ambassadors—always engaging and funny, but overall, brave kids who want to spread the word about their medical and life successes, as well as help raise money for Children’s Colorado. This year’s gala raised $2.4 million.

(l to r): Tomme Kaplan, Doug Bader, Vicki Bader, Scott Adams and Jennie Kaplan
On Saturday, Sept. 29, around 1,300 supporters gathered at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center for this year’s fall fundraiser. The evening began with a cocktail reception and food stations galore, along with a silent auction and other opportunities for guests to support Children’s Colorado patients and services. After a sumptuous sit-down dinner, the evening’s program began with remarks by Jena Hausmann, Children’s Colorado CEO and Jen Darling, Children’s Colorado Foundation president. Event co-hosts Bruce and Bev Wagner, business leaders and philanthropists, addressed the crowd and were presented with a Children’s red wagon to be placed into service at the hospital in their name. Sisters Maya and Marley joined Hausmann and Darling on stage to talk about their unique story—Marley was a bone-marrow donor for Maya, afflicted with a disease that literally no one else in the world has. Maya also told guests about Dave, her constant stuffed-animal companion, and how he helped her through her medical struggles.

Better than Christmas, because it was a surprise.
Bronco great, Reggie Rivers, presided over an energetic live auction, and then welcomed all of the Children’s Colorado Ambassadors front and center for an informal interview and chat: Nate, 12, and his sister Maddy, 12; Thomas, age 9; Lillian, 11; and Maya. Before a paddle raise, Rivers told the crowd that the Wagners would match the first $200,000 raised during the evening. Generous donors stepped up, with yellow bid cards in abundance.
Zach Heckendorf got the crowd up and dancing with folk-rock tunes—he is a Denver native and former Children’s patient. Following his set, first-ever female rap crew Salt-N-Pepa stormed the stage with continued musical energy. Meanwhile, the after-party outside the ballroom was full of culinary treats and chatter, designed to encourage the crowd to linger and enjoy the evening’s end before traveling home.
Children’s Hospital Colorado is the only nonprofit pediatric hospital in a seven-state region, providing world-class care for more than 230,000 patients every year. Donors allow Children’s Colorado to give families from rural states to major metropolitan areas unprecedented access to expert care and the latest innovations in pediatric medicine. Children’s Colorado is there for every patient in need and embodies its “Here, it’s different” slogan. To learn more, please visit ChildrensColorado.org.
Not only do donations support outstanding clinical programs, but also groundbreaking research to find new treatments and cures for children facing debilitating diseases. Because of generous donors, more kids are healthy, thriving and reaching their full potential. For more information, please visit ChildrensColoradoFoundation.org.
- On stage with Salt-N-Pepa (Photo courtesy of Jensen Sutta Photography)
- Salt-N-Pepa (Photo courtesy of Jensen Sutta Photography)
Save the date for next year’s Children’s Hospital Colorado Gala: October 5, 2019.
- Alida and Paul Hilton
- Executive Chef Paul French (left) and Executive Sous Chef Pierson Shields
- Maureen and Barth Whitham
- (l to r, front): Kali Wallace, Nicholas Owens and Jeffri Mulder; (back, l to r): Keith Wallace, Marianne Owens, Sherwood
- (l to r): Cindy and Joe Grubenhoff, with Jennifer and Jason Knievel
- Julie and Josh,with daughter Zoe
- (l to r): Bill Mosher, Kate Lynch and Alex Brachfeld
- Matthew and Stephanie Seebaum
- Leah Correll and Adam Williamson
- Event co-hosts Bev and Bruce Wagner, with family and friends (l to r): Braden Wagner, Chris Chase; Tyler, Nina and Megan Holtmeyer; Bev and Bruce Wagner, Stephanie Locke and Taylor Wagner
- Nina, Tyler and Megan Holtmeyer
- (l to r): Rebecca Franciscus, Brook Griese, Children’s Colorado CEO Jena Hausmann and Molly Broeren
- (l to r): Kelly Kindel, Suzanne Martinez and Bruce Schneider
- With one of the live auction items: Dan Serwitz and Children’s Hospital Foundation President Jen Darling
- Brian and Lindsay Fenley
- Putting in a bid at the silent auction
- (l to r): Jim and Sherry Keller, with Barb and George Eidsness
- At the reception
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maya, with the iconic “Dave”
- (l to r): Megan, Maya and Mike Delaney, with “Dave”
- (l to r): Volunteers at the “Dave” station: Matt Palinuro, Danielle Winslow, Megan Rooke, Ryan Dorsey
- (l to r): Blake Hutchison, Jo Deziel, Jeff and Yvonne Keller, and Jim and Sherry Keller
- Trip and Damayanti Stoddard
- (l to r): Mike and Kelly Kennedy, with Laura and Doug Wright
- Peter Asher (far right) and friends
- Posing in front of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Gala logo
- Neill Epperson (left) and Kristina Thomsen
- Tables are set for 1,300.
- A portion of the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center ballroom, ready for 1,300 guests
- Stephanie and Paul Graber
- Lorie and Henry Gordon
- Children’s Ambassadors Maddy and Nate, with Bill and Cindy Barrett
- Event emcee and former Bronco Reggie and Stephanie Rivers, with another Bronco great, Larry Brunson
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maya, with “Dave” and sister Marley, Maya’s bone-marrow donor
- At the Love and Libations Wall, guests could write a note to a patient, and receive a surprise gift card.
- Glenn Miller and Chloe Ries
- (l to r): Victor and Daisy Perez, Vincenzo LaCroce and Rob Simmons
- Tami and Tom Jorden
- (l to r): Tomme Kaplan, Doug Bader, Vicki Bader, Scott Adams and Jennie Kaplan
- At the silent auction
- Randal Meske (left) and Pat Spieles
- (l to r): Andi Freyer, Cristen Calamari, Cameron Burk
- (l to r): Carl and Susan Eisdorfer, and David Kaplan
- Jenna and Walker Stapleton
- Kathy and Rob Francescon
- Libbie and Jeff Oakes
- Alberto Pena (left), Andrea Bischoff, Barth Whitham
- Three generations (l to r): Kevin and Carson Hausmann, and Paul Graber
- (l to r): Jena, Kevin and Carson Hausmann, with Paul Graber
- Guests make their way into the dinner area.
- Megan and Dan Fearnow
- Children’s Colorado Foundation President Jen Darling (left) and Children’s Hospital Colorado CEO Jena Hausmann
- 2018 gala co-hosts Bruce and Bev Wagner
- Bruce and Bev Wagner (left) are presented a Children’s Colorado wagon to be put into service in their name by Jen Darling and Jena Hausmann
- Jen Darling, Jena Hausmann, Maya and her sister Marley
- Maya, Jena Hausmann, Reggie Rivers and Marley
- Emcee-auctioneer Reggie Rivers
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Lillian
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maddy
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Nate
- Sister-brother duo Maddy and Nate
- Maya (left) and Lillian
- Lillian and Thomas
- Maya presents Reggie Rivers with a Dave replica.
- Reggie Rivers and a “Dave” replica
- Better than Christmas, because it was a surprise.
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Lillian
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Nate
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Lillian is delighted with all the bid cards.
- Nate keeps an eye on his Dave replica
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maddy keeps an eye on the bid cards.
- Reggie Rivers
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Lillian
- Maya with the original Dave
- Zack Heckendorf celebrates a large bid with Children’s Ambassador Lillian
- Zach Heckendorf (left) and crew
- Zach Heckendorf
- Sampling a vapor treat (note the vapor trail on the right)
- Ian Kleinman (right) serves up vapor treats at the after-party.
- A little oasis in the midst of a boisterous after-party
- Adults at play
- The crowd at the Gala after-party