ADMHN Hosts 60th Anniversary Celebration: Shine On
Mariel Hemingway quickly made about 700 friends at the Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network’s 60th anniversary shindig Wednesday night. The crowd instantly loved her honest and forthright manner in describing her life of suicidal relatives (the most famous being her grandfather, Ernest Hemingway and her sister, Margot), tumultuous family fights and the roller coaster of mental illness.
Ms Hemingway took guests through a tour “in her mind” of her life, including “hangin'” with the Dalai Lama, being part of the Hollywood movie scene, and discovering that “being around thrown glass and trying to fix my relatives wasn’t really normal for everyone like I thought.”
Her speech was very much on point, as discussions in this country are beginning to be more and more centered around mental illness and treating it just like any other physical ailment, without the embarrassment and attempts to keep it in the shadows. Or we can only hope so.
ADMHN CEO Joan DiMaria was seen everywhere greeting guests and thanking supporters. The Visionary Leadership Award was given to George DelGrosso (just retired as CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council) and the Visionary Partner Award was presented to Centura/Colorado Health Neighborhoods.
Kim Christiansen, as always, did a stellar job as emcee, and Event Chairs Cindi Burge and Kay Burke took the stage to kick off the program.
Since 1955, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network has provided mental health and substance abuse services in the south metro area. The 60th anniversary gala, Shine On, celebrated past accomplishments and future goals of the organization, its partners and all of the clients and families served. Proceeds from the event support suicide prevention services and mental health crisis care.
To find out how you can help, log on to www.admhn.org
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- Martha Caschette, left, Stephanie Firman and CEO Joan DiMaria
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- Event Co-Chair Cindi Burge and Keith Burge with Keri Christiansen (committee)
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- Eula Adams, left, Dr. Larry Spivak and Lisa Williams
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- Bryan Axtnan, left, Kathi and George DelGrosso (honoree), Vienna Grant, Maria Herriges
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- Stephanie Bender, left, Doug Tisdale (committee) and Lark Katchur (committee)
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- Wes Kemp, left, Abbey Hayden, Mark Hadley, Shannon Hirman
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- Wendy Morrison, left, Brandon Carrino, Marc Metzger, Samantha Metzger, Emily Metzger, Judy Metzger, Christian Parrinello
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- Keith and Sharon Larson, left, Jeff Nelson, Jay Kleiber
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- Shawn Turner (board), Joan DiMaria, Aaron Bradford
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- Marilynn Carroll (committee and sponsor), left, Gloria Matthews, Linda Hulick
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- Trisha Hood (committee) and Jim Phelan (artists who both donated artwork to the auction)
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- Gail and George Johnson (she was on the committee)
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- Margot Gilbert Frank, left, Julie Hill, Kristina Davidson
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- Daniel Kopnisky, left, and Steve Edmonds (both on committee)
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- Keri Christiansen, left, Louise Richardson, Pam Sletten and Jan Hammond (all on committee)
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- Malik and Tara Duncan, back left, Vienna Grant (in black and white), Richelle McCullough and Jackie Eller
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- Bev Marquez, CEO of Rocky Mtn. Crisis Partners, with Nathan Hopp, also with RMCP
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- Lorraine Salazar (committee), left, Lark Katchur (committee) and Susan Stiff
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- Bryan Nelson, left, Martha Caschette, Sarah Hueni, Jerad Denton
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- John Suits, left, Dr. Steve Milligan, Dr. Lynn Milligan, Pam Nicholson, Paul Staley, Dr. Kit Brekus
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- Kelley Hamm, left, Shelly Rule, John Vellos (board) and Nancy Alterman
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- Judy McDonough, left, Jacy Conradt of ADMHN and Cheryl Beddington
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- Randy Stith, left, (former CEO), Carolyn Hill, Harrison Cochran, Nancy Wilkinson, Mark Stephenson
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- Sally Lewis, left, and Lisa Schmidt
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- Marilyn Spinner, left, and Michelle Livingston
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- Steve and Laurie Elliott (ADMHN Clinical Director), Mary Thornton from the Jefferson Center
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- Kiara Kuenzler, left, Rose Stauffer, Sue Williamson, Scott Jones, Cathy Michopoulos, Jim Bonk, Lisa Clements, Debbie Keairness
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- Jody and David Charmatz, left, Jeffrey Call, Stephanie Doss-Odak (committee)
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- Event Co-Chair Kay Burke, left, with Jared Keeoe and Martha Cronen
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- Volunteers helped at the check-in table
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- Jeffrey and Anca Call
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- Linda Laganga chats with Bill Myers
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- Beautiful sisters Keri and Kim Christiansen
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- Erika Hammond and Mark Newport
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- Ken Carroll (sponsor), left, and Fred Deloizagh from Eddie Merlots
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- Garrett Kane, left, Kelli Kane, Carla and John Vellos (board), Jose Reyes (board), Iris Reyes, Gary and Margo Jamieson
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- George Sharp, left, and Doug Tisdale (committee)
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- Louise Richardson and Lee Bowen
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- Ray and Denise Bellucci
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- Lynn Bronikowski (committee), Frances Owens and Linda Christie-Horn (committee and event sponsor)
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- Beautiful centerpieces from Newberry Brothers
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- Kurt Backes, left, Andrew Brodie and Cindy Kennedy (committee)
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- Kee Liakos and Board Chair John Phillips
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- Joan DiMaria, left, Teri Clough and Paula Smith (both board members)
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- Don and Arlene Johnson
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- Event Chairs Kay Burke, left, and Cindi Burge
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- Joan DiMaria, left, chats with Robin Loup
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- Joan DiMaria and honoree George DelGrosso (who also contributed artwork)
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- Linda Feighery (board) and Shawn Fury
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- Kim Christiansen expertly navigated the program
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- Kim Christiansen makes a point
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- Joan DiMaria, Cindi Burge and Kay Burke get ready to take the stage
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- Cindi Burge and Kay Burke welcome everyone
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- Joan DiMaria thanks supporters
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- Joan DiMaria talked about the accomplishments of ADMHN
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- Honoree George DelGrosso and Joan DiMaria
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- Honoree George DelGrosso accepts the Visionary Leadership award
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- George DelGrosso thanks everyone for his award
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- The group from Centura/Colorado Health Neighborhoods accepts the Visionary Partner award
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- Paul Staley says a few words on behalf of Colorado Health Neighborhoods
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- Mariel Hemingway talks about her life experiences
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- Mariel Hemingway makes a point
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- Mariel Hemingway has overcome a lifetime and a family full of mental challenges
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- Mariel Hemingway in one of her many charming moments
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- Joan DiMaria and Mariel Hemingway enjoy a laugh on stage
