
Starlight, star bright. Everyone who wished upon a star for good things to happen at this year’s Children’s Hospital Colorado Gala had their wish granted with an evening full of fun, enlightenment and generous donations that will continue to fuel the organization’s mission. Using the metaphor that we’re all connected, just like star constellations in the sky, the 2019 fundraiser sparkled with decor, food and entertainment…along with the light of donors, supporters, staff and patients. The event raised a record-setting $3.4 million for Children’s Colorado.

RJ Clark Family Foundation girls’ night at the reception.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, more than 1,400 guests made their way to the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center to celebrate the gala’s 42nd year raising funds to continue the good works of Children’s Colorado that help its young patients thrive. The evening began with a silent auction, and food and beverage stations galore. Guests then adjourned to the ballroom for a sumptuous dinner. (Savvy event returnees knew not to completely fill up at the reception.)

(l to r): Children’s Colorado Ambassadors Maggie, Jalen, Mateo and Emilia, and Reggie Rivers
The evening’s program included personal stories, lots of laughs and a few heartfelt tears. Those who took the stage included: Children’s Hospital’s president and CEO Jena Hausmann; Children’s Foundation president and CEO Jen Darling; the Ed and Jeannette Kerr family, gala hosts, with a personal Children’s Colorado story from Remington Kerr; former Denver Bronco, the always amiable Reggie Rivers; and ABC TV’s “The Bachelor” Colton Underwood. The real stars were five Children’s Colorado Ambassadors who charmed the crowd: Mateo and Emilia, Hunter, Maggie and Jalen. The live auction and paddle raise alone raised more than $1 million for the cause. The evening concluded with a spirited concert by Fitz and the Tantrums, along with even more after-party activities and edible enticements.
Children’s Hospital Colorado is a nonprofit fueled by its donors, treating kids and only kids. The hospital has defined and delivered pediatric health care excellence for more than a century, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on both patient and family.
Children’s Colorado once again has been recognized as a one of the nation’s best. According to the 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings released this summer by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Colorado earned a spot among the best-of-the-best children’s hospitals on the Honor Roll, and for the first time ranked in the Top 20 in all ten recognized specialty areas. The nonprofit pediatric health system is the only ranked children’s hospital in Colorado, and the top-ranked children’s hospital in the surrounding 12 states. For more information, visit https://www.childrenscolorado.org.

Foundation President and CEO Jen Darling, with Ambassador Mateo
Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation was established in 1978 and is dedicated solely to advancing the mission of Children’s Hospital Colorado. From conducting cutting-edge research and treatment to building kids’ confidence through the hospital sports program, providing family sleep rooms and integrating arts therapy into the healing process, Children’s Colorado is truly unique in its approach to treatment.
Every dollar received is used to further Children’s Colorado’s mission of caring for and curing children. Donor support helps expand its reach nationally and internationally, and makes Children’s Colorado one of the world’s preeminent institutions of medicine and science. To learn more, please go to http://www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org.
- Event hosts Jeannette and Ed Kerr
- (l to r): Event hosts Ed and Jeannette Kerr; Children’s Colorado Foundation’s president and CEO Jen Darling, and Dan Serwitz
- Maria Devalera and Tim Leonard
- (l to r): Kaitlin Kirschner, Jenny Orren, Kacie Thomas and Logan Christensen
- Paul and Stephanie Graber, parents of Children’s Colorado president and CEO Jena Hausman
- Sarah Coleman (left) and Abby Boyer are surrounded by teddy bears destined for Children’s Colorado patients with a $100 or $250 Make A Difference donation.
- At the Love and Libations Wall, guests chose an envelope with a mystery prize and then were able to write a personal note to be delivered to a Children’s Colorado patient.
- (l to r): Andy and Janelle Calerich, with Raelene and Andre Wilkie
- (l to r): Marianne, Nicholas and Sherwood Owen
- Diego Munoz and Chessa Kerr, of the event host family
- Correll family and friends
- (l to r): Cindy and Joe Grubenhoff, with Molly Broeren, Foundation board secretary
- (l to r): Jenny Orren, Emily Kotas and Kaitlin Kirschner
- (l to r): Molly Broeren, Foundation board secretary; with Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maggie, Caroline and Meredith Coors
- Tom and Julianna Inge
- Regina Reynolds and Jason Crawford
- Event sponsors William Matthews and Foundation board member Laura Barton
- (l to r): Tim Leonard, Maria Devalera, Leslie Schaeffer and Bob Kershaw
- Guests enjoy the plentiful seafood buffet.
- Foundation President and CEO Jen Darling, with Ambassador Mateo
- Reception decor and happy guests
- Scott and Laura Esmond
- Keri and Chuck Binder
- (l to r): Todd Roebkin, Jessica Kovish and Peter Schippits
- (l to r): KP and Sara Velpaala, Tasha Jones and Kenn Seaman
- Todd Roebkin, with Elly (left) and Maddy Bante
- (l to r): Katy, Elly, Maddy and Greg Bante
- Dave Barnes and Scottie Iverson, Villager Woman of the Year
- Writing a message to a Children’s Colorado patient at the Love and Libations Wall
- Studying an item at the silent auction
- (l to r): John and Ann Jordan, with Kristin and Heiko Freitag
- (l to r): Scott Nycum, and Cathey and Dick Finlon
- RJ Clark Family Foundation girls’ night at the reception.
- RJ Clark Family Foundation
- Jamie and Foundation board member Rick Stoddard
- Blake and Emily O’Shaughnessy
- Children’s Colorado board chair Barth Whitham, with President and CEO Jena Hausmann
- (l to r): Adam and Stephanie Donner, Jack Finlaw and Greg Movesian
- Martine Hyland (left) and Melissa Brooks, M.D.
- Michelle and Lee Guthrie
- Tables are set for 1,400 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
- Dinner settings sparkle at the 2019 Children’s Hospital Colorado Gala.
- DJ Ripm, with fans
- Remington Kerr, and the Ed and Jeannette Kerr family
- Remington Kerr
- Jena Hausmann and Jen Darling present a Children’s Colorado red wagon in the Ed Kerr family name.
- Hugs all around for the Ed and Jeannette Kerr family
- Jen Darling, Children’s Colorado Foundation president and CEO (left) and Jena Hausmann, Children’s Hospital Colorado president and CEO
- (l to r): Jen Darling, Children’s Colorado Ambassadors Mateo and Emilia, and Jena Hausmann
- High five: Reggie Rivers (left) and Children’s Colorado Ambassador Mateo
- Former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers leads a spirited live auction.
- (l to r): Children’s Colorado Ambassadors Maggie, Jalen, Mateo and Emilia, and Reggie Rivers
- Children’s Colorado Ambassador Hunter
- Ed Kerr hugs Children’s Colorado Ambassador Maggie
- Ed Kerr adds an on-the-spot $500,000 donation after meeting the Children’s Colorado Ambassadors.
- Bid cards of generous donors
- ABC TV’s “The Bachelor” Colton Underwood (left) and Reggie Rivers
- Headline entertainment Fitz and the Tantrums
- Double-duty Fitz and the Tantrums musician
- Fitz and the Tantrums sparkled.
- The crowd can’t sit down for Fitz and the Tantrums.
- The after-party reception showcased quotes about Children’s Hospital Colorado.
- Children’s Hospital Colorado logo cookies were available at the reception.
- For a $100 donation, guests could be admitted to a meet-and-greet with The Bachelor Colton Underwood.
- (l to r): Stacey Miller, Eric Taylor, Nandini Bisk and Kari Lawson
- Liz and Dave Deveau
- Solvey Tschud and Kathryn Stalmack
- Laura Edwards tweets out a photo of a Children’s Hospital Colorado logo cookie.