Blog Archives

30 Sep

The Anchor Center Celebrates 2025 Sunset in the City

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This year’s 29th Annual Sunset in the City fundraiser benefiting the Anchor Center for Blind Children honored the Class of 2025 including preschool children and Anchor Center alumni high school grads who completed Anchor Center programming.

The signature event, held at ReelWorks, also honors the organization’s achievements, parents and children, Anchor alumni and many community supporters. Emceed by 9News reporter Steve Staeger, the event provided another fun-filled evening complete with heartfelt stories of children with visual impairments now pursuing active and fulfilling lives.

 

9News reporter Steve Staeger shares the Anchor Center’s stories and mission

This year’s preschool grads are Bentley, Charlie, Olivia, Rowen, Winnie, and Connor. Keynote speaker Michaela Wright shared her story about the successful pathway for her son Connor. “We went from scared and uncertain to happy and hopeful—all because of the Anchor Center’s teachers, therapists, and support,” she said. Among the Anchor Center alumni who graduated high school this year are: Carlie, Julianna, Hallie, and Caden.

The Anchor Center provides early intervention and education services, therapy, and family coaching to foster the full potential of children who are visually impaired and blind. Scientists tell us that the majority of our perception or roughly 80% of our learning and activity is mediated through vision. And a large portion of what we learn, remember, and understand is connected to visual input.

Keynote speaker Michaela Wright described the successful journey of her son who has made use of Anchor Center programs

According to Anchor Center Executive Director Meghan Klassen, 90% of brain development happens before age 5—when children’s brains are most adaptable and when intervention is most important. Anchor Center programs help set children up for success in elementary school and beyond.

The Anchor Center has been a pioneer in providing comprehensive services for children from birth to five years old who are blind or visually impaired. It all began more than 40 years ago with the Delta Gamma sorority. Through its Denver Alumnae Chapter and in keeping with its “Service for Sight” philanthropy, Delta Gamma founded the Center in 1982. Today, the Center’s programs are a testament to the sorority’s commitment to supporting the visually impaired community.

Linda and John Bell

This year’s Visionary Sponsors were made in memory of Mark D. Yaron and the Davis family. The Champion Sponsor was Cheryl and Bruce Blankenship. Special thanks to Anchor Center volunteers, Office Manager Michael Barla, staff, board, Dinah Sink, the Mark Yaron Family, and Steve Staeger.

 

Creative table sponsor teams enjoy producing a unique theme for dozens of centerpieces. Among some favorites were the orange and navy Denver Broncos centerpiece complete with NFL goal posts; the “Cat in the Hat” red and white motif; and even a mysterious and intriguing James Bond/007 setting.

For those interested in volunteering, donating or hosting a table at next year’s 2026 Sunset in the City please contact Savannah Wippel at 303-377-9732 x156 or email swippel@anchorcenter.org. For additional information please visit www.anchorcenter.org

 

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17 Aug

Aurora Vistas Annual Mayor's Cup Golf Tournament

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The Aurora Vistas 22nd Annual Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament received a capacity crowd this year in support of mental health services for children and families.

The “Fore Our Kids” Mayor’s Cup Golf Challenge was held Monday, August 17th on a spectacular sunny Colorado day along the rolling slopes of Aurora’s Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, Arvada Mayor Marc Williams, and Sheridan Mayor Dallas Hall participated in the 18-hole event with some 120 philanthropic golfers. The event began around sunrise with a 6:30 a.m. breakfast and a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start.

Event organizer Debbie Stafford — with help from Tawney Bass, Troy Bowman, Tim Huffman and Golf Chair Terry Todd — coordinated the presentation of several golfing awards including men’s and women’s longest drive, longest putt, and closest to the pin. The challenging 18-hole course kept the event competitive with certificates and prize drawings awarded after a luncheon of grilled chicken breasts and hamburgers.

Aurora Mental Health Center staffers Cindy Bohl and Heather Dolan were on hand to help coordinate planning and media coverage. Presenting Sponsor Citywide Banks were represented by Senior VP Stephan Ghadaifchian and VP Debra Neeley.

The Aurora Vistas Foundation raises awareness and funds to support Aurora Mental Health Center’s programs for children and their families. Aurora Vistas President Sandy Sweeney and Aurora Mental Health Center Executive Director Dr. Randy Stith thanked generous supporters for their long years of sponsorship and in-kind donations that make this annual end of summer event possible.

Aurora Vistas seeks community support throughout the year to make a difference in the lives of Aurora’s children. Among the several ways to help support the organization is by individual and in-kind individual donations of products and services, applying to serve as an Auxiliary, Committee or Board member, or by providing sponsorship for one of the organization’s annual events.

For more information on helping out the organization please visit www.aumhc.org/AuroraVistasFoundation or call 303-617-2361.

 

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04 Apr

National Jewish Hoops and Hoopla

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This year’s sold out event celebrates the 12th annual Hoops & Hoopla hosted at Infinity Park and presented by Greiner Electric to help support Morgridge Academy, a free school for chronically ill children that is located on the National Jewish Hospital campus.

Each year, Hoops & Hoopla highlights the NCAA Final Four Championships with arcade games, interactive sports games and a silent auction. There were plenty of interactive challenges to keep the 400 plus guests entertained. Not to mention six big screen projection TVs to cheer on the Final Four Championship teams.

Brian Parks, a former student of the Academy, provided the introduction. Jennifer McCullough, Principal of Morgridge Academy gave a brief keynote presentation acknowledging members of the leadership team, called “coaches” for their fundraising efforts in support of Morgridge Academy. Last year’s event raised more than $40,000. They are confident this year’s sold out event will meet and even exceed last year’s goal.

Additional coaches for the event were Denise Cito, CED; Peter Fox, Trautman & Shreve, Inc.; William Gregor, Mortenson Construction: Jerry Laflen, BKD LLP; Ashley Lyon, RJM Construction; Ward Mahanke, TST, Inc. of Denver; Tom Tarver, Greiner Electric, Ryan Wilson, GE Johnson Construction, and Kris Wintroub, Greiner Electric.

Morgridge Academy is a free day school for 90 chronically ill students in kindergarten through eighth grades. Its mission is to provide a safe, friendly and healthy school environment where students succeed academically, medically and socially.

The not-for-profit National Jewish Health is the nation’s leading respiratory hospital in the nation.

 

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