Mile High Academy Auction

Story by Jan McNutt

Photos by Jan McNutt

Mile High Academy Auction

at Curtis Ballroom benefiting Mile High Academy at 6:30 p.m.

An Old Timey Sunday Social….

Or, just another Sunday night at Comedy Works at Landmark center, in Greenwood Village. Or was it? Without a doubt it was not the traditional, colorful comedy evening in anywhere U.S.A.

In the adjoining Curtis Ballroom the crow appeared to be a gathering of PTA volunteers, teachers, parents, grandparents and, one gangly, bearded, out of pocket comedian wearing jeans, leather sneakers, and a plaid untucked shirt checking his phone constantly. He was lingering on the sidelines observing the pretty women in heels, their husbands in blue oxford shirts, dress pants and navy blue blazers discussing this year’s business at Mile High Christian Academy. Not exactly a martini-swigging audience at Comedy Works.

However, most everyone was in agreement, the event was far better than swigging martinis or noshing on a cup of honey roasted cashews. This was a night about children. The audiences’s children. And there is no better audience or live auction audience than parents who have the future of their children at heart.

After Mexican style appetizers the MHA supporters had a meal of spicy tacos, creamy mac & cheese, plenty of salad greens and M&M’s. Nothing like a handful of M&M’s.

Morre Dean, father, alumni, and long time supporter of MHA, did his schtick as emcee/auctioneer and was quite entertaining and pretty darn good considering he was able to wrangle a good bit of money out of parents for the evening. Live auction items were loving works of art created by students from Kindergarten to Seventh Grade. Art included a Colorado Flag made by the Preschoolers, a handmade quilt by First Graders, diverse art works, a beautiful cookie jar by 5th garders, a weekend golf package at Ridge at Castle Pines, professional photography and $10 – $100 games that upped the ante. Everyone joined in and with each item reaching close to or, over a $1,00, it looked as though Mile High Academy would indeed continue to prosper for years at their new location in Highlands Ranch.

After raising money for the beloved school, the evening took advantage of the Comedy Works downstairs. John Crist, a former Denverite, now a Los Angeles stand-up comic took the microphone and kept the audience laughing and covering their mouths at his sort-of-edgy monologue. Crist, who grew up in a family of eight children with a preacher father had funny quips about being the worse behaved child, his Christian home-schooling and giggled in awe at his totally suburban, white collar audience. He said, “Oh, I get it, you’re all rich, right?” He also threw in a couple of Trump jokes and laughed at himself when he felt he had gone over the top for a Christian school function. He was delightful, hilarious and professional.

The evening was a rousing success with an amazing amount of money raised for the school’s scholarships and various funds needed to keep the exceptionally high standards of MHA growing.

Mile High Christian Academy has a staff of devoted teachers, parents, and students. The proud Alumni continue to enroll their children and, as well, continue to support its goals – giving children roots and wings.

For more information please contact the Mile High Academy, 1733 Dad Clark Dr, Highlands Ranch CO 80126, 303-744-1069 www.milehighacademy.org