Byline: Dahlia Jean Weinstein, Rocky Mountain News
Sometimes, a hot bowl of soup can soothe someone who is sick. Other times it takes much more.
The annual Soup for the Soul benefit raises funds to help those who are terminally ill and under the care of the staff of Porter Hospice and Hospice of Peace, two of Denver's longest-running hospice programs.
Both offer pain and symptom management by addressing the physical, spiritual, social and emotional needs of patients and families facing end-of-life decisions.
Porter Hospice and Hospice of Peace are part of Centura Health at Home, whose mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ by caring for the ill and nurturing the healthy.
This year marked the sixth anniversary for the soup soiree, where gourmet soups and appetizers were prepared by some of Denver's finest chefs for the fundraiser held at the Adam's Mark hotel.
Colorado first lady Frances Owens was among the soup sippers. She attended with Gov. Bill Owens' sisters, Mary Kay Lowe and Kelly Tschatschula.
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, and his wife, Wilma, were also on hand to sample soups and snacks from stations manned by Catering by Design (whose owner Ruth P. Carney chaired the event), Elway's, San Lorenzo Ristorante, Highland's Garden Cafe, Opus, Amore, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Bruno's Italian Bistro, Dazzle, Japon, Mission Trujillo and Pesce Fresco. Mizuna and Luca D'Italia shared a station, as did Ventura Grille and Ocotillo.
Hospice supporter LaFawn Biddle was seated with Linda and Leo Goto, owner of the Wellshire Inn, which provided one of its signature soups for the fete. Greg Burfitt, the newly appointed CEO of Centura Health, joined Centura Health at Home CEO Erin Denholm at a table.
Denholm and emcee and 9News anchorwoman Kim Christiansen co-hosted the the evening, which featured a beautiful video tribute to The Butterfly Program. This palliative care program for children is offered through a collaboration between The Children's Hospital Denver, Children's Pharmaceutical Services (CPS), Centura Home Care and Hospice and the Porter Foundation.
Palliative care is given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a life-threatening disease.
The philosophy of the program differs from that of traditional hospice care in that patients are accepted into the program with a life expectancy of 12 months or less.
Doug Turner, the father of one of the program's former patients, gave testimony to its success in comforting his daughter - and the rest of his family - before her death.
Dr. Brian Greffe, founder and medical director of The Butterfly Program at The Children's Hospital, was presented with the courage award for his outstanding contributions to the program.
Those on hand to applaud Greffe and the program included Littleton Adventist Hospital CEO Dave Crane; Avista Adventist Hospital CEO John Sackett; Porter Adventist Hospital CEO Jim Boyle; Jon Hoehn, president and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation, and his wife, Tammi; Paul Brewster, president and CEO of St. Anthony Health Foundation; and former Tante Louise proprietor Corky Douglass.
Soup for the Soul committee members included Corinne Ablin, Chris Agnew, Jennifer Ballentine, Jeannie Bennington, Janis Borie, Pam Grange, Linda Kropf, Judi Kugler, Linda Bandt-Law, Neysa Lettin, Sara Loss, Carol Matthews, Margy McKenna, Patty Pisani, Holly Stabler, Barb Wagner and Debbie Younggren.
The committee gathered together wonderful auction items for guests to bid on, such as fine arts, ceramics and jewelry donated by local and national artists, including local public television pioneer Trudy Fowler and Broadway star Tommy Tune.
Auction proceeds were added to ticket sales bringing in more than $175,000 for hospice programs.
For more information about Porter Hospice and Hospice of Peace, call Centura Health at Home, 303-561-5000 or visit www.centurahealthathome.org.
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Porter Hospice Foundation board memberAngela Williams, right, and Reggie Reynolds stand in front of a handmade quilt donated to the hospice fundraiser by Joan Walker.
CAPTION: Soup for the Soul committee member Sara Loss, left, joins former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, his wife, Wilma, and Porter Hospice Foundation members Michael Thompson and Chris Agnew at the 2006 soup-sipping soiree. PORTER HOSPICE AND HOSPICE OF PEACE
