Ah, springtime in the Rockies! Sun, flowers blooming, some snowflakes—and for sports fans, watching the NCAA basketball semifinals at National Jewish Health’s Hoops & Hoopla. For the past 11 years, the annual fundraiser has become a rite of spring in Denver for both b-ball fans and NJH supporters. It’s always a slam dunk to host a party surrounding the last four men’s college basketball teams as they battle it out for a spot in the national championship game. But NJH planners take it above and beyond with accompanying party details that are sumptuous and guest-friendly. Ultimately the true winners are always the event’s beneficiaries: students at the Morgridge Academy on the NJH campus.
On Saturday, April 5, almost 400 settled in at Sports Authority Field’s East Club Level to catch the hoops action on tons of TVs. The event began with a pre-game open bar and snacks, along with a busy silent auction. Guests also had the opportunity to test their athletic skills with a spectrum of sports games plus some just-for-fun gaming tables including poker and roulette. Epicurean Catering provided a hearty gourmet buffet as event-goers sat down to watch the end of the UConn-Florida game while indulging in tasty chow.
Honorees: Heart of a Champion award, Bill Gregor (left); and Rookie of the Year, Ryan Wilson
Between games, a short program included remarks by board chair Rich Schierburg, who talked about the mission to house, feed, educate and treat students with chronic illnesses at Morgridge Academy, and the goal to get them back to public schools—all provided at no cost. Three awards were presented to deserving honorees: Greiner Electric, whose employees raised $40,000 for the cause, accepted the MVP trophy; Bill Gregor was honored with the Heart of a Champion award; and Ryan Wilson was named Rookie of the Year. As the second game began, guests finalized auction bids and settled in for a nail-biter between Kentucky and Wisconsin. The last two teams standing at night’s end: 7 and 8 seeds, UConn and Kentucky.
The Morgridge Academy is a unique, day school program for approximately 90 students in grades K-8 who require medical assistance during the normal school day. The school, approved by the Colorado Department of Education, is dedicated to help children who have medical problems that have caused frequent absences from mainstream schools.
National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded 115 years ago as a nonprofit hospital, NJH today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. For a resource to stay informed about what is happening at the institution and to learn more about the conditions treated, please visit: NJHealth.org.
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- “Coach” Tom Tarver and NJH media rep Amy Hoffman Morris in the stadium’s east lobby with bronco sculptures.
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- Mitch Cornwall (left) and jeff Shigeno
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- Brandon and Sarah Bergholz (left), with Bill Gregor
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- Melinda and Greg Hogemann (left), with Mike Hren
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- Ken Doerdelmann and Shasta Kretzer
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- Angela and Mark Kirksey (left), with Robert and Sharon Wilton
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- Matt Arias (left) and “Coach” Jerry Laflen
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- Mark Dean (left) and Doug Hoff
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- (l to r): David Rodriquez, Mark Fletcher and Joe Nelson
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- (l to r): Maurice Walker, Dex Hopes and Mark Dean
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- (l to r): Dave Lottie, Quincy Sanders and Bill Murchie
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- Elaine Greiner (left) and Theresa Mazurek
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- “Coach” Kris Wintroub, with Mike Mattie (center) and Ken Shanahan
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- Kim Uhrig and Ray Drinkwater
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- (l to r): John Falzone, Bernie Hockenberry, Rob McDaniel and Steve Kuger
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- Brent Greiner with mom Elaine Greiner
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- James Bracey (left) and Ronnie DeGray
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- (l to r): Zach Wolfel, Luke Volker, Ben Kurtz and Jake Wuest prepare for another hand dealt by poker dealer Robert.
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- (l to r): Kristin Buchanan, Eric Kosters and Erin Little
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- The MVP trophy awaits this year’s presentation.
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- Dinner tables are readied for almost 400 basketball and NJH fans.
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- It’s Shasta Kretzer and Ken Doerdelmann (left) vs Angela and Mark Kirksey for foosball supremacy.
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- Jennifer Davis (left) and Kristine Mayers
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- Yvonne and Scott Christensen
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- Sally and John Falzone (left), with Blake Winter
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- Brian Hodson (left) and Dustin Ditri
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- Erica Garcia and Peter Fox
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- Checking out the autographed 2014 Nuggets basketball at the silent auction.
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- (l to r): Harley Wilson, Mike Mattie and Travis Seabolt
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- (l to r): Brad Staib, AJ Stapleton and Chris O’Reilly
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- The Adkins family and cousin Hector
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- Mark Ortiz and Lynn Moore
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- (l to r): Nick Grimstad, Dustin Ditri, Nic Howell and Brian Hodson
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- (l to r): Bruce Osborn, Johnny Brown, Blake Winter, “Coach” Peter Fox, Gavin Chapman and Eric Orstead
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- (l to r): Erica Garcia, Peter Fox, George Wortman and Amber Vanden Haut
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- (l to r): Bob and Kathy Shafer, Kristine Koblenzer and Robert McCoy
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- The silent auction table remained busy throughout the evening.
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- Amy and Larry Elarton
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- The prime-rib carving stations were popular stops at the buffet tables.
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- Catching game action and some chow at the bar (l to r): Elizabeth Coatney, Jill and Jerry Laflen, and Kyle Coatney
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- (l to r): Clay Robinson, Jim Licko, Travis Webb and Ramonna Robinson
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- Epicurean Catering provided a hearty buffet for Hoops & Hoopla guests.
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- Nick Graham and Maria Martin
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- Paul and Agnes Martin admire the Denver skyline.
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- Dinner and hoops at the East Club Level inside Sports Authority Field at Mile High
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- Jim Licko and Ramonna Robinson
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- Darron Rolle, with Davin (left) and Miles Rolle
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- The evening’s youngest no-gambling-allowed poker participant awaits another card.
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- Watching the NJH video brought home the reason for raising funds.
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- East Club Level windows capture downtown Denver during dinner.
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- The 2014 Coaches Committee gathers after the short program.
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- Jim Licko watches the NJH video presentation.
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- The NJH video presentation had all eyes on TV screens.
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- Board chair Rich Schierburg addresses the crowd of almost 400.
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- Greiner Electric reps raised $40,000 for National Jewish Health.
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- Greiner Electric, MVP honorees, celebrate.
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- Honorees: Heart of a Champion award, Bill Gregor (left); and Rookie of the Year, Ryan Wilson
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- (l to r): Alana Berland, Kris Wintroub, Kim Uhrig, Elaine Greiner, and Jill and Jerry Laflen
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- Dex Hopes (left) and Mark Dean
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- This father-son duo enjoyed the passed ice-cream sandwiches for dessert.
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- Rob Edwards and Erin Walsh relax in front of the fire.
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- (l to r): Rachel Adkins, Steve Foote, Ray Drinkwater and Rob Adkins
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- Chris Rapp (left) and Daniel Rapp
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- Patrick Wothe (left) and Nick Kviatkofsky shoot some pool during the first semifinal basketball game.
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- (l to r): Brent Greiner, Dave Greiner and “Coach” Ryan Wilson
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- Board chair Rich Schierburg and Lisa Tadiri
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- (l to r): “Coach” Bill Gregor, Taylor Surroz and Eric Schierburg
