Allison Klein, left, Jennifer Daurio and Monica Owens organized the party held at Shanahan's. (Joanne Davidson, The Denver Post)
With the main event a little over a month away, the Young Professionals of Western Fantasy rallied the troops at Shanahan’s Monday evening and ended up selling about a dozen more tickets for this Oct. 23 benefit starring Wynonna Judd.
The biggest score was an entire table purchased by Melissa Meyer; Shane Nowak bought a pair of tickets and others promised they’d come through after their next payday. “Our tickets are $150, which is half of what a regular adult ticket costs,” explained Monica Owens. “But for us it’s a lot of money, especially if we are ones who go to a lot of benefits. So we take credit cards and offer a payment plan, whatever it takes to make buying a bit easier.”
Young Professional ticket-buyers will also receive admission to an after-party at the Grizzly Rose.
Owens, whose dad, former Gov. Bill Owens, dropped by for a few minutes to see how things were going, has been involved with Western Fantasy for the past four years, coming aboard when her mother, Frances Owens, chaired it. Monica organized the Shanahan’s get-together with Allison Klein and Jennifer Daurio.
Western Fantasy is a benefit for Volunteers of America and is held at the National Western Events Center. This year’s headliner is Wynonna Judd; emcees will be Angie Austin and Chris Parente from Channel 2. On Wednesday night, Western Fantasy chairs Gayle and Ed Novak will welcome patron-level supporters at a cocktail party held at Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek.
At Shanahan’s, managing partner Marc Steron and Devonne Marcove, the sales and marketing director, treated the 100 guests to sliders, shrimp, prime rib and parmesan-dusted French fries. Marcove, formerly director of the Fifth Avenue Club at Saks, is a blushing bride, having recently married David Nations.
Others enjoying a pleasant night on the patio were Quinn Washington, marketing director for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance; Rachel Scott and Mary Catherine Moss from the Colorado Neurological Institute; jewelry designer Cyndy Everett; Jeff Steepleton from the Galloway Group; Heather Brecl; Josh Hanfling; makeup artist Bev Black; Dana Berry and John Tobey from the new Four Seasons Denver Hotel; Jenny Salimi; publicist Jim Guttau; Ted Ciccone; Tera Haselden and Garrick Keatts; Chad Chisholm; Tara Tongco Rojas and VOA staffer Michael James.
For ticket info, visit westernfantasy.com
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, GetItWrite on Twitter