Car-nivale Theme Drives Denver Auto Show Preview Party

The Denver Auto Show Charity Preview Party has got to be one of the easiest fundraisers to attend. Step 1: Arrive. Step 2: Indulge in great food and beverages. Step 3: Check out the Denver Auto Show before anyone else. This year, an attack of April snow showers may have dampened a few guest outfits, but a little champagne lifted spirits before the ribbon-cutting opening ceremony.

Emcee Glenn Thayer leads a champagne toast to the opening of the 2017 Denver Auto Show.

On Tuesday, April 4, guests were revved up at the Colorado Convention Center to get a first look at the largest consumer show of its kind between Chicago and Los Angeles … 400,000 square feet of the latest car and truck models. Simultaneously, their attendance at the party helped out The Denver Post Foundation, Clear The Air Fund and National Jewish Health nonprofits. This year’s Car-nivale theme was carried out with the sights, sounds and flavors of a Latin Carnival party, including calypso music, samba dancing, gambling stations, a lavish buffet and Caribbean-inspired cocktails.

Ready for Car-nivale: Bruce and Linda Erley, with Diamond DeJaynes (center)

Glenn Thayer emceed a short pre-opening program that included remarks from: CADA president Tim Jackson; Paul Williamson, of title sponsor UMB Bank; and auto show chair Anthony Brownlee. This year’s VIP chair, Bronco great Rod Smith, told the crowd he was doubly excited about the honor—it was his first time at the show.

VIP chair and Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee Rod Smith

Since 1899, National Jewish Health has been at the forefront of research and medicine. We are known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for ground breaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. For the past 20 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish Health the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation. For 118 years, people have traveled to Denver, Colorado seeking our expertise. Learn more at nationaljewish.org

As Colorado’s media leader, The Denver Post strives each and every day to improve and enrich the quality of life in the community. The newsroom does this by telling timely, relevant stories about people, issues and events that impact the world we live in—educating us and helping us to be informed citizens in our community. Then it’s taken a step further. The Denver Post Community Foundation has invested a value of more than $6.5 million in local nonprofit organizations and events over the past year. Through the grants, sponsorships, in-kind advertising, signature events and volunteerism, the organization strives to make a significant difference in the community. Learn more at denverpostcommunity.com

Clear the Air Foundation (CTAF) represents the charitable and educational foundation created by Colorado’s new-car dealers. CTAF supports projects that include the removal of high-emitting, old vehicles from Colorado’s traffic ways to enable replacement with newer, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient cars. Additionally, CTAF is supporting charities dedicated to helping Colorado’s citizens who suffer from environment-related health issues such as asthma and breathing disorders. CTAF also supports educational efforts for students interested in working in the automotive and technology area. Learn more at cleartheairfoundation.org.

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association was founded in 1933 by a small number of Colorado dealers organizing to protest a federal excise tax that would raise the price of vehicles for their customers and hurt what relatively few sales were present at that time. The association was officially incorporated in 1938 and has grown considerably since then. It now represents 260 new car and truck dealers throughout the state to their various publics, including: the United States Congress, the Colorado General Assembly, various federal and state regulatory agencies, city councils, the media, and the public. For more information, please visit: http://www.colorado.auto/.