Jessie Valenti speaks at NARAL Pro-Choice Gala

NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado’s 33rd Annual Gala & Silent Auction was a certified hit. Held at the Westin Hotel in downtown Denver it proved to be the event of the night. After all, the event and organization is about women. And, every one loves women.

With the fundraising season in full swing the event welcomed the hundreds of people who strive daily to make a difference for Pro-Choice Colorado. The turn-out was impressive. Honoring the battle cry for, “Women’s Equality Requires Freedom of Choice.” The program was designed not to push buttons but to bring awareness to unintended pregnancies.

Bringing the crises of unintended pregnancies to the forefront, Mayor Hancock praised NARAL for their outstanding work.  Stating with pride, “Through their diligence, there has been a 60% decrease in unintended pregnancies in Denver and 40% throughout Colorado.” Sen Michael Bennet and Rep Diana DeGette noted the complicated bills they’re working on in Washington can be easily misinterpreted yet, both continue to fight for a woman’s choice.

The list of people who were there to support women were Denver’s Mayor Michael Hancock; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet; Congresswoman Diana DeGette; Speaker of the House, Dickey Lee Hullinghorst; State Representative Jonathan Singer and Jessie Danielson; Senate Majority Leader Morgan Carroll; State Representatives Steve Lebsock, Angela Williams, Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Rhonda Fields, and KC Becker; the Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth and the Honorable Mike Cerbo; Senator Rollie Heath and feminine movers and shakers such as Anne Murdaugh and Jessica Valenti.

Valenti, the keynote speaker, is the author of four books and was named in “a top 100 women,” by “The Guardian.”  She’s been called an inspiration by Gloria Steinem for her work to bring the feminist movement online.

Folks congregated around the silent auction tables until they were shooed into the ballroom for dinner and the program. Lots of generous businesses and individuals assured an abundance of donated items from original art, custom jewelry, a wall of wine, a wall of beer as well, a trip to Hawaii, a power lunch with Speaker of the House, Dickey Lee Hullinghorst and  Andrew Romanoff, Mark Ferrandino and Terrance Carroll. There was a heavenly week in Grand Lake open to the highest bidder, a weekend in a Denver Loft, and the ultimate, a South African Safari package for two.

For more information on NARAL Colorado, NARAL ProChoice Colorado, contact them at 303-394-1973 or visit 1905 Sherman Street, Suite 800, Denver 80203. www.prochoicecolorado.org