Quincy Jones has a motto: “Love, Laugh, Live and Give.”
No better words to describe the huge and glorious fundraiser to benefit the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, where a sold-out crowd of 1,300 people raised more than $2.5 million to give to the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the Sie Center for Down Syndrome. This astounding figure didn’t even include a $1 million gift from the Salah Foundation, announced by Noreen Salah Burpee.
But what makes this event so much fun and memorable are the models, who are completely uninhibited and brimming with happiness and creativity on the runway. The show was the culmination of a magical evening in which the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award was given to Madeline Stuart and actress Eva Longoria. “How fitting that the Quincy Jones award was given by Quincy Jones,” remarked co-emcee Tom Green–and it was good to see Mr. Jones back on the Denver stage.
Michelle Sie Whitten, president and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, is a tireless advocate for improving the lives of those with Down Syndrome, and she surrounds herself with the best in the medical, political, business, community and family fields who have the same goal in mind. Yes, Michelle and all those involved, you get an A+ for this evening.
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- Tom Whitten and Michelle Sie Whitten, president and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, left, with JT and Dawn Kohl
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- Jennifer Nelson and her son Brett Logan (one of the models for the fashion show)
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- Big thank-yous
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- Volunteers Jasmine Bagher, Crystal Chilicott, Anna Winebarger, Michelle Silk, Ryan Cirasiello
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- Rachel Greenlaw and Brett Logan
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- Shawn and Charlene Pierce
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- Nicole and Justin Fraley
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- Tiffany Cechini, left, and Amy Atkinson
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- Tiffany Cechini, left, Nicole and Justin Fraley, Carolos Melgar and Amy Atkinson
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- Raz Gnat and Roberta Accioly
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- Kelly Roberts and Julie Haase
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- Broncos cheerleaders Jozie LaViolette, left, and McKenna Hester
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- Gertie and Heidi Munholland
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- Corissa and Larry Gold
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- Rio Pizzo, left, Kiana Akina, Jay Mills, Chris Pizzo
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- Jan Turner Hering and Clark Booth
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- The Capuanos: Carol, left, Dominic, Clarissa, Jesse Rusch and Alec Rusch
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- Jonathan Saiber, left, Susan Karsh, Joan Holmes, Toni Saiber
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- Azul, Ella and Paloma
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- Janet and Gregg Hodges
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- Vito and Jennifer Solimene
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- Bret Zingula, left, and Auction Chair Andy Irvine
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- Tom Whitten, left, John Sie and Jules Haimovitz
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- Jules Haimovitz and Marisa Tomei
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- Michael Pollak, left, and Lex Atencio
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- Brenda King, left, Larry Mizel and Carylyn Bell
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- Model Amanda Booth and her son Micah
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- John, Parker and Sarah Rotella
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- Actor John C McGinley and his family pose on the red carpet
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- Michelle Sie Whitten gives a hug to DeOndra Dixon
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- DeOndra Dixon and Michelle Sie Whitten
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- Jamie Foxx, his sister DeOndra Dixon and Michelle Sie Whitten
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- Jamie Foxx and Eva Longoria
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- Eva Longoria, left, DeOndra Dixon, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Sie Whitten
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- Edie Marks, Marlo and Lori Marks Connors
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- Dr Jose Orcasita, left, and Dr Joaquin Espinosa
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- David and Kay Morrison
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- Dr Fran Hickey and his wife Kris
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- The Rotella family
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- Argentina Romero, left, Emma, Gregg and Janet Hodges
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- Angela Lieurance, left, with Michael and Cheri Foss
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- Deana Perlmutter, left, Carylyn Bell, Libby Weaver, Bonnie Mandarich
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- Will Matthews and Laura Barton
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- Ernie Blake and Sharon Magness Blake
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- Tom and Lisa Kessler, left, Zack Neumeyer, Joy and Chris Dinsdale
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- Extended family of Jamie Foxx, George Dixon (center) and the Hutchins
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- Jamie Foxx’s daughter Analise and her mom Kristin Grannis
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- Brett Logan and Gertie Munholland
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- Actor Matt Dillon is interviewed on the red carpet
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- Actor Denis O’Hare chats with Kathy Green
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- Volunteers Michael Waters, left, Reid McGraw, Katie Folven and Abigail Frary
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- Paul Heitzenrater and John Farname
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- Kiana Akina, left, Kim Rodgers and Joella Rodarte
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- Patricia and Andre Perkins
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- Jason Mitchell, left, Aimee Marth, Bill and Leslie Vollbracht and Larry Mizel
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- Bill Vollbracht and Larry Mizel
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- Paul Tate, left, and Jeff Dorsey
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- John and Irina Grohne, left, with Sydney and TJ Green
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- Lynn Bartels and Congressman Mike Coffman
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- Dave and Ricki Rest
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- Mike Drew and Cookie Gold
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- Casey Perry hosted a girls’ night out
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- Steve Levin, left, Chris Levin, Brian Levin
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- Emcees Kim Christiansen and Tom Green
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- 2017 Ambassador Marcus Sikora on stage with his mom, Mardra
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- Mardra and Marcus Sikora
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- DeOndra Dixon, left, talks to the crowd as Analise, Jamie Foxx and Michelle Sie Whitten look on
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- Madeline Stuart accepts her Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy award. She is from Brisbane, Australia and is a successful model.
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- Madeline Stuart
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- DeOndra Dixon, Michelle Sie Whitten and Madeline Stuart
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- Event Chair Peter Kudla welcomes everyone
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- Quincy Jones chats with Tom Whitten
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- Edie Marks watches for auction bidders
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- Jamie Foxx says he will attend the dinner of the winner of the piano
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- Jamie Foxx
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- Peter Kudla, left, Marcus Sikora, auction winners Marsha and Mark Wright flank Jamie Foxx
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- Denis Hall and Joe Manganiello and a young guest
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- Matt Dillon, left, Marisa Tomei and Dr. Joaquin Espinosa
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- Dr. Fran Hickey and Emma
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- John Sie gets ready to introduce his old friend Quincy Jones
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- John Sie with remarks
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- John Sie and Quincy Jones on stage
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- John Sie listens as Quincy Jones says a few words
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- Quincy Jones and John Sie watch as Eva Longoria accepts the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award
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- Eva Longoria hugs Quincy Jones and John Sie
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- Noreen Salah Burpee announced a $1 million gift from the Salah Foundation
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- Marcus Sikora on the runway with Marisa Tomei
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- Madeline Stuart
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- Clarissa Capuano, left, and Sahriyah Stewart on the runway with Joe Manganiello
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- Clarissa Capuano, left, and Sahriyah Stewart on the runway with Joe Manganiello
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- Brett Logan with Minnesota United player Sam Cronin
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- Brett Logan and Sam Cronin
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- Sam Cronin and Brett Logan
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- Walt Snodgrass, left, Broncos cheerleader Jozie LaViolette and Tyreese Martinez
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- Tyreese Martinez hams it up with Walt Snodgrass and Jozie LaViolette
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- Kylee Nevergall and Sheena Peda with John C McGinley
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- Sheena Peda, John C McGinley and Kylee Nevergall
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- Sam Hamilton of the Colorado Rapids with Andre Perkins Jr.
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- Sam Hamilton and Andre Perkins Jr.
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- Jacob Gehringer, left, actress and model Amanda Booth and Timothy McLaurin
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- Jacob Gehringer, left, Amanda Booth and Timothy McLaurin
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- Timothy McLaurin, Amanda Booth and Jacob Gehringer have a great time on stage
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- Jacob, Amanda and Timothy strike a pose
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- Regina Janga, left, who came all the way from Aruba, with Colorado Rapids star Kortne Ford and Lauren Duran
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- Regina Janga, Kortne Ford and Lauren Duran wave to the crowd
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- Actor Matt Dillon and his nephew Ty Dillon
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- Ty Dillon has some dance moves as his uncle Matt Dillon looks on
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- Carly Puccio, actor Denis O’Hare and Sarah Boyles
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- Carly Puccio, left, Denis O’Hare and Sarah Boyles
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- Alexandra Shankle is escorted on stage by Miss Colorado, Meredith Winnefeld
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- Alexandra Shankle and Miss Colorado Meredith Winnefeld
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- Kate Vecchiet, Jamie Foxx ad Kate Winfield gets some moves going on stage
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- Kate Winfield, Jamie Foxx and Kate Vecchiet
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- Jamie and the two Kates having fun on stage
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- Kirsten Stafford, left, Broncos cheerleader McKenna Hester and Emma Toohey
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- Kirsten, McKenna and Emma have a good time strutting the runway
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- Kirsten, McKenna and Emma wave to the crowd
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- DeOndra Dixon and Eva Longoria strike a pose
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- DeOndra Dixon and Eva Longoria
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- DeOndra and Eva strutting the runway
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- Marisa Tomei, Marcus Sikora and Madeline Stewart
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- Models and celebrities join in for “We Are The World”
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- Everyone waves at the end of the fashion show
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- The fashion show was a big success.
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- Big waves from models and celebrities
