Gay & Lesbian Fund gives honors

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 9, 2007 | by LINDA NAVARRO

An enthusiastic holiday crowd representing almost every part of the community celebrated at the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado's annual party Wednesday. The loudest cheers were for the four individuals and organizations named as winners of the 2007 Advancing Equality Awards -- and for the man who is the Gill Foundation, Tim Gill.

Several hundred voices chorused approval when Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Fund, named Colorado Springs Conservatory as Outstanding Nonprofit Organization. Executive director Linda Weise was in tears as the award was read, citing "unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the lives of at- risk youth through the gift of music. The conservatory is an outspoken advocate for respecting human differences and helping kids to understand that every individual, despite his or her challenges, has something meaningful to contribute."

Weise said that when working with children "you have one chance to do the right thing."

Conservatory musicians provided the music for the holiday party.

Outstanding Community Supporters for 2007 were Will Temby and Glen Bruels, founding co-chairmen of the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum, "one of the first organizations to be vocal in its support of equality for all diverse populations to include gay men and lesbians among the business community.

Temby and Bruels have championed many activities, such as the 'Everybody Welcome' cultural festival."

Colorado State Sen. Jennifer Veiga was named Outstanding Public Official as "either a prime or secondary sponsor of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) each year for 11 years. In 2007, Governor Bill Ritter signed ENDA into legislation, making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender expression."

Each honoree received a check for $5,000.

Makepeace said, "The work of all of these winners is exemplary, and we can't thank them enough for their willingness to stand up for the rights of their fellow Coloradans. Together, we can all make Colorado a more just and equitable place to live."

Tim Sweeney was welcomed as the new executive director of the Gill Foundation. He offered a salute to "advancing equality" and, he said with a laugh, "raising some hell."

Honored by Makepeace were the after-hours coordinators at the Gay & Lesbian Fund offices, Jan Garverick and Fran Gimbel.

Among those at the festive event were Eve Tilley, whose signature hats will be the subject of an art project at Bemis School of Art in the spring; Bruni Berkowitz; Pat Peterson; Alma Cremonesi, director of the Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival; Gerald Albrent; Susan Presti; Pam McManus; Lynn Pelz; Chris Garvin; Amy Julye; Jan Martin; Richard Tucey; Beth Kosley; John McIlwee; Wendy Mike; Ken Robinson; Gladys Harris; Steve Sletta; David Carroll; Scott Hente; Cynthia Nimerichter and Ted Worcester; Lynne Telford; Sen. John Morse; Dwight and Sue Brothers; Ruth Roland; and Jesse Trevino.

YOT Club party

It was time to put on the holiday party clothes, join friends for martinis and do some holiday celebrating.

And for the 11th-straight year, the YOT Club members helped hundreds of local children as well.

More than 500 elegantly attired members jammed The Vue on Nov. 8 and brought along 1,000 books and toys for elementary school kids in the region.

YOT (toy spelled backward) tapped three beneficiaries: Centennial Elementary School, a Head Start through 5th-grade school in Harrison School District 2; Odyssey Elementary School in Falcon, which received 638 books to help stock the shelves of its new library; and Workout Ltd., a nonprofit that provides work rehabilitation for juvenile offenders and collects and distributes restitution to victims of juvenile crimes.

Over the years YOT has taken this "Voyage for Children" and collected more than 5,000 new toys and books for nonprofits and charities.

Committee members included Jill Baker, Sarah Chambers, Lindsay DeWall, Erica Gioga, Nicole Jomantas, David McIver, Dave Newman, Sage Taylor, Kathleen Venezia, Chad White, Chris White and Kristin Wills.

Sponsors of the 2007 event were Insurance Technologies, Morley Companies, Vintage Cos., Keller Williams Partners, Porchlight, Ray O'Sullivan and Nicole Jomantas.

CASA Drive to Thrive

Eighty community volunteers joined forces to ensure safe homes for more abused and neglected children, and the 2007 CASA Drive to Thrive smashed all records.

Led by chairman Josh Waymire, Jennifer Eckels, Rob McDonald, Jennifer McHugh and Julie Phillips, the volunteers used a telephone campaign that wrapped up in November, bringing in $72,250 to assist 36 children.

In 2005, CASA Drive to Thrive for Children Campaign raised $25,769, providing services for 12 children; in 2006 $46,636 was raised, providing services for 23 children.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) served 626 children in 2006, but hundreds more await advocacy in the court system, according to CASA officials. The goal is to serve every child in need of advocacy and to place them in save, loving homes where they can thrive.