More than 1 in 4 people in Colorado–over a million people–are affected by mental illness. It affects everyone in some way, every day. How much more prevalent does it have to be before mental illness is treated as real and as serious as any physical ailment?
To answer these questions and continue the quest toward advocacy, Mental Health America of Colorado’s annual Tribute dinner drew a packed house at the Sheraton Denver Downtown hotel Saturday night.
This year’s gala paid tribute to an enterprising team of young mountaineers: the Climb Out of the Darkness Expedition. The team scaled all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks this summ
er in order to raise awareness – and reduce the stigma – of mental illness. Participants wanted to raise awareness and illustrate parallels between the challenges they faced every day–it was difficult to get up and keep at it day after day, just as it is for many people with mental illness.
MHAC is Colorado’s leading advocate for the prevention, early intervention and effective treatment of mental illness. Their annual Tribute brings together 700 supporters in an evening of celebration.Tribute is MHAC’s premier fundraiser. Proceeds from the event support their organization’s life-changing work: promoting the screening, diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders; preventing discrimination; and providing nationally recognized leadership in shaping public policy.
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- Climb Out of the Darkness Expedition members: Aaron McDowell, left, Anthony Reinert, Dan Fravenhoff, Matthew Cranston and Seth Pooler
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- MHAC’s Laura Cordes and Beth Danilson with board member Evan Silverman
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- Michael Lott-Manier and Moe Keller helped to check attendees in
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- Mary and Herbert Merrill II EdD (board member)
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- Matt and Rachel Fehr, left, with Lisa Granato and Tony Rendon
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- Angela Visconti and Craig Fales (board member)
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- Board member Tom Barrett PhD and his wife Kathy Bartlett PhD
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- Board member Kay Greene, center, with her kids Audrey Damico and Anthony Damico
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- Susan and Gary Waters, left, with Phil and Mary Waters
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- Jan Reinert and Anthony Reinert, one of the Climb Out of the Darkness expedition members
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- Mari Laing and Michael Cook
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- Mimi and Sal Tripodi, left, Mary Beth Buescher (event co-chair), Teresa Coons, Ann McCullough
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- Jim Mulligan and Joni Burleson
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- Ann Sparks, left, Event Co-Chair Bernie Buescher and Moe Keller from MHAC
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- Board member Marty and Cathi Waters
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- Craig and Kathy Wood
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- Patty and Marc Boyd
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- Rich McKenzie and Ali Demario
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- Terry Todd and Senator Nancy Todd
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- Michelle and Joe Gungler
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- Joy Chandler, left, Eileen Hyatt, Heather and Ken Truhan
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- Eugena Janssen, left, Ryan Lucas and Ashley Wiggins
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- Angela MacDonald, left, Diane Winters, Diane Kennedy and Ashleigh Phillips
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- Nancy Alterman and Adam Parker
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- Gary Corbett and Regina Huerter
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- Sara Jenson and Steve Wagner
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- Frank Johnson, left, Dr. Tina Fleishman, Dr. Bert and Dyana Furmansky (board member)
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- Board members Dyana Furmansky and Brett Spurr
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- Jackie and Len Zheleznyak
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- Lisa Williams and Dr. Larry Spivak
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- Jeanne and Dick Saunders
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- John and JoAnn Congdon
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- Jonathan and Julia Gordon, left with Susan Dell and Jim Hill
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- Dr. Michael Allen chats with Mary Beth Susman
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- Volunteers Michael Wery and Diane Wheeler
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- Honorary board member Dr. Stuart Kassan, Andrew Romanoff and Dick Saunders
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- Mark Luna and Sheila MacDonald
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- Dr. Stuart and Gail Kassan, left, Jeanne and Dick Saunders, Dr. Tina Fleishman
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- Board members Dr. Ken Krause, lelt, Dyana Furmansky, Chuck Reyman (chair)
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- Dr. Johnny Johnson and Elbra Wedgeworth
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- Audrey Yee, left, Jack Westfall, Mark and Linda Reiner
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- Brett Spurr chats with Jennifer Richer-Mouchantat
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- Hope Forti, left, Tim Brown, Justin and Ashlee Kruger and Dan Streeter
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- Mitch Berdie PsyD (board), left, and David Wright PsyD
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- Mary Waters, left, Cathi Waters and Debbie Strong
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- Taylor Johnson, left, Dr. Johnny Johnson, Craig Fales, Angela Visconti, Eula Adams
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- 2014 honoree Marguerite Salazar, left, and Sheri Cole
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- Bill Windsor and Laural Radmore
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- JB Holstan and Anne Murdaugh
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- Lorenzo and Gwen Mitchell
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- Patricia and Randall Taylor
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- Nicole and Peter Brodrick
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- Chip and Leslie Hord, left, and Patti and Brian Hickey
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- Laura Michaels, left, Jeff Olson, Shelley and Mark Scott
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- Arlan Preblud, left, Eileen Hyatt, Mary Beth Susman and Leigh Sinclair
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- Maureen and Kip Doran, left, and Jean Bullard
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- Brittany Johnstone, left, Gabrielle Witherill, Jordan Zogler-Brown
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- Gina Laskey, left, Marci Eads, Lenya Robinson, Patrick Fox, Dr. Michael Allen
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- Ruth and Don Mares
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- Shannon Gifford and Jerry Glick
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- Michael and Dr. Pegi Touff (board), left, Jeanne and Donald Rohner, Katherine Touff and Judy Bershof
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- Jeff Zinn and Denise Finn-Zinn
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- Suzanne Culin, left, and Dayna Granston
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- Beautiful flower arrangement for the stage
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- Board Chair Chuck Reyman thanks everyone for attending
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- Terry Ganey and Event Co-Chair Monica Dewitt
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- Linda Rinehart tells her story
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- Audrey Damico talks about her experiences
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- Brianna Johnson tells her story
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- Gary and Joyce Pashel
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- Board member Aaron and Niah Hyatt
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- Andrew Romanoff makes some remarks
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- Andrew Romanoff talks to the audience
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- Marguerite Salazar, Andrew Romanoff and Heather Horton on stage
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- Heather Horton, from Colorado College, was an honoree last year.
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- Marguerite Salazar, Insurance Commissioner, talks to the audience
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- Last year’s honoree Marguerite Salazar with remarks
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- The Climb out of the Darkness expedition members receiving their award on stage
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- A pensive Andrew Romanoff watches as the expedition members talk about their challenges
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- Climb Out of the Darkness members
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- Expedition members and dignitaries on stage
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- Gary Corbett was great as auctioneer
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- Jim Mulligan and Joni Burleson enjoy the auction
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- Andrew Romanoff and past CEO Don Mares promote their tennis game auction package
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- Not quite Roger Federer, but Andrew Romanoff and Don Mares still offered up a challenging tennis match
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- Andrew and Don volleying the ball
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- Event Chairs Mary Beth and Bernie Buescher
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- The Blinker Fluid Band
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- Dancers having a great time
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- The band had people on their feet immediately
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- Cuttin’ the rug
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- Havin’ a good time
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- Some great dancing
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- Dyana and Bert Furmansky had some moves
