Hunter S. Thompson, Dr. Seuss and Agatha Christie were all represented, as well as Cinderella, Cat in the Hat, Lady DeWinter and Katniss Everdeen. It was an enchanted evening to celebrate beloved authors, characters and books at The Bookworm Ball, a dinner, dance and auction to benefit Mt. Evan’s Home Health & Hospice.
The sold-out, 320-person event spanned across two floors and weaved into multiple rooms at its longtime host site, the Mount Vernon Country Club. Yet, it still felt intimate as audiovisual experts kept everyone in the know. They skillfully filmed and ran sound so that each costumed character could easily see and hear key presenters.
The phrase “something for everyone” summed up the volume of silent auction items. Volunteers collected more than 250 goodies to go up for bid. “That’s almost one for everyone,” joked Board of Directors Past President Bill Manning. Live auction items included a football signed by Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and real-time art created by local award-winning artist Julianne Miller.
“Mt. Evans is very dear to my heart,” conveyed the artist. “They have been there for me, sadly, more times than I would like, but they have always been there.”
The decorations went well beyond books. Instead, the committee of 40 put touches of tales everywhere, including silhouettes of famous characters cut out of Masonite, to flowing ribbons with genres dripping down from the ceiling, to delightful hand-made centerpieces of rolled magazine pages on vases and book-page flowers.
“We estimate we rolled about 8,500 pieces of magazine paper to create the beads for the vases,” said Decorations Committee co-chair Peggy Fetchenhier with a laugh.
The committee was in good creative hands as Fetchenhier has been leading the decorations drive for the event for nearly 20 years. “I just keep coming back,” said the experienced set designer.
“It’s like a storybook fairytale in here,” said Executive Director Kathy Engel as she referenced the details around the rooms.
Mt. Evans Home Health & Hospice began in Evergreen in 1980 in response to the community’s need for hospice care—allowing terminally ill patients to die with dignity in the comfort of their own homes. Mt. Evans was one of the first hospice organizations in Colorado and served 15 patients in its first year. It’s reach if far beyond that now. Today, the organization provides compassionate in-home health care and hospice services to Colorado mountain-area residents, as well as grief support to adults and children. Mt. Evans will accept any patient regardless of pay source or age and works with most insurance companies, including Medicare, Medicaid and long-term health care. Currently 65 employees, 20 volunteer board members, and more than 400 volunteers serve and support Mt. Evans Home Health & Hospice. It’s award winning bereavement camp, Camp Comfort, is just shy of 20 years of operating. The camp, offered two weekends each summer, has served more than 1,110 children from numerous states in the U.S., Canada and Mexico
To understand part of how Mt. Evans Home Health & Hospice touches lives, think about how you hold a good book as you come to its final page. Perhaps you reflect on the journey you took as you read the last paragraph. Perhaps you gently close the cover and set it on the nightstand with your own nod to the author’s good work. Mt. Evans compassionately helps so many in its community (and far beyond) reflect on the story of loved ones, whose lives will be treasured forever, like a good book.
It’s a fun evening out for Deb and Jim Stellini
Arija Williams, bottom left, with circus performer friends Cassidy Vallin, Kristine Shelton, Sarah Fisher, top left, and Jessica Hellmuth
Linda Drexel and Stephanie Roberts
Lee Wandling channels Hunter S. Thompson, with a smiling Barb Lamperski
Maud Galloway, left, smiles with Tracy Galloway and Bob and Laurie Troud
Jim Kreider, left, with Anita Kreider and Ginny Ades
Bringing the Three Musketeers to life: Jonathan and Robyn Ramsey
Enticing silent auction items
Harriet Sear, left and Jo Powers get into the spirit of the evening
Tom and Serena Young honor “Where the Wild Things Are”
Mother-daughter costume team: Pamela Reitan and Serena Young
Les and Teedee Johnson enjoy the event
Leslie Caimi, left, with Roger Turek, Rita Oliver, Tony Oliver and Diane Turek
One of the many, many silent auction tables
Kenneth Wonstolen and Laura Belsten take time for a picture
Rhonda Voisinet and Waye Lundhagen catch up before dinner
Tom and Janet Quinn, left, enjoy a playful moment with Larry Sohrweid and Tom and Barb Scripps
Serious fun with Tom and Barb Scripps and Larry Sohrweid
Brad and Gigi Robinson are pleased to support Mt. Evan Home Health and Hospice
Beth Foster, left, smiles with Carrie Nelson and Sallie Wandling
A fun night in costume for Carrie Nelson, left, and Sallie Wandling
A gorgeous Kathy Engel and Bill Manning take time for a photo
Marla Asheim, left, interrogates Therese Wahlstrom at The Bookworm Ball
Greg and Carol Dobbs are proud to be a part of The Bookworm Ball
Carolyn Hock, left, catches up with Cathy and Jim Tellman
Fred Van Dusen and Deborah Deeg enjoy the event
Team Seracuse: Allie, left, Peg and Emily Seracuse
Amy Rabbio, left, and Heather Boor are pleased to be a part of such a successful event
Mark Meyer with Therese Wahlstrom
An artist in action: Julianne Miller
Julianne Miller takes a moment for a photo
Greeting guests with smiles: Amy Propernick, left, Amber Bonasera and Liz Hansen
Never-ending decorations. Here genres hang from the ceiling
Warm smiles from Shelly Gilliland and Diane Bruneau
Famous verses and author silhouettes add to the ambiance
Decoration leaders: Dale and Peggy Fetchenhier
Kathy Engel welcomes the crowd
Board President David Graham warmly thanks all the supporters
Working with love for Mt. Evans: Lori Carpenter, left, Suzanne Feroldi, Debbie Schwartz, Heather Boor and Kathy Engel
Lori Carpenter, left, Suzanne Feroldi, Debbie Schwartz, Heather Boor and Kathy Engel take a moment for a photo
Peyton Manning signed on to support for Mt. Evans Home Health and Hospice
Kathy Engel with Greg Dobbs
Melinda Fisher, left, with Ceci Nowack and Harriet Sear
Sandra and Mike Conroy are pleased to support Mt. Evans
A few of the 85 hand-made centerpieces
Auction items for every need and want
Lines of goodies to bid on
Jonathan Ramsey, left, takes time out for a John Farnsworth
Rob Baker and Paula Barnes enjoy The Bookworm Ball
An enchanted evening for Tom Meyers and Janee Weinberger
High-tech AV played a big role in uniting rooms of supporters
A toast to a wonderful, meaningful evening
Jim and Terry Ritter enjoy the event
A table in the spirit of being bookworms
Julianne Millers sets down her pastels to take a picture with Preston Camp
Lori Carpenter, left, with Janee Weinberger
Bill and Debbie Schwartz have fun at The Bookworm Ball
Dianne Berk, left, with friend Janna Myers
Emma Cohen, left, enjoys helping with her mom Mary Alice Cohen
Mark and Kim Meyer smiles for a picture
Sinking into the theme are Warren Rose, left, and Betsy Rose
Warren and Betsy Rose made a colorful duo at The Bookworm Ball
Carrie Nelson, left, with Carly Nelson
Kristin and Karl Andersen, left, with friends Nica Hoshijo and Mike Asheim
Allen IT, Bank of the West, Dale & Linda Lovin, Ed & Mary Steinbrecher, Evergreen Fine Art, Evergreen Vision Clinic, Gordon & Rees, LLP, Hill Center for Dermatology, Jim & Karen Aleta Smith, Mountain Mini Storage, New West Physicians, Paul Regan DMD, Rising Graphics & Printing, Rotary Clubs, Sells Law Firm, Susan Stearns, Wells Fargo Advisors