Sanders grabs yet another pass from Peyton Manning
Quarterback Peyton Manning threw 539 touchdown passes — the most in NFL history — during an 18-season career with the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos.
One of the most memorable was in 2015 when Manning’s 75-yard “perfect pass” to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders enabled the Broncos to beat the Cleveland Browns late in the fourth quarter.
So why do we mention that now, some two years later?
Because Manning helped raise some serious money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver when he agreed to toss out a few autographed pigskins at Flight to Luxury — and guess who caught one of them?
Yep. Emmanuel Sanders. The wide receiver was among the 1,000-plus who’d assembled at two private hangars at Centennial Airport to help raise $1.2 million for this organization dedicated to helping kids between the ages of 6 and 18 plan for college or a career, live healthy lives and contribute to their community.
Anyone willing to kick in a minimum $5,000 was eligible to have Manning throw a ball to them. Sanders, who was seated at one of the prime foot-of-therunway tables, let several others take their turn before making a jaw-dropping $10,000 donation for the chance to catch another Manning pass.
As memorable as that was, the toss that pulled at everyone’s heartstrings came when another of the donors asked to have one of the Boys & Girls Club members catch the ball that he had purchased.
Flight to Luxury was started eight years ago by Larry Mueller, the founder and chief executive officer of Cuvée, a Denver-based company that offers luxury vacations at destinations around the world.
Mueller’s commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs began when he met the organization’s then-president, John Arigoni, at the Jack Vickers Invitational, a golf tournament hosted by John Elway that also benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs provide life-changing opportunities for children,” Mueller noted, “and for many of them the clubs are a second home.”
Flight to Luxury began with cocktails and food from Ocean Prime, El Five, Eddie Merlot’s, Chef Dane’s Kitchen, Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar, Denver Biscuit Company and a dozen or so others on the tarmac outside the Xjet hangar where jet planes and high-end cars were on display.
Inside, there was silent auction bidding and an art gallery with works provided by galleries that included Walker Fine Art, La Bottega Arte Toscana, Space Gallery and Someday K.
The evening concluded with a fashion show of styles appropriate for those enjoying stays at the Cuvee mountain, beach, city and international properties. Blush, Mariel, Hailee Grace, Scarpaletto, Moda Man, Cry Baby Ranch, Goorin Brothers and the Bent Lens were among the runway contributors.
Ellen Porteous, the Boys & Girls Clubs president/ CEO, and board chair Joe Smith were there to help welcome such valued supporters as Project C.U.R.E. chief Doug Jackson; The Madison Group’s Mark Richards; Perla Gheiler, director of Denver’s Office on Aging; Gloria Schoch, community affairs manager for Millercoors; Elaine Torres, a new member of the Bonfils-stanton Foundation board; Hope Grandon, public relations and events manager for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Andrew Feinstein, managing partner of EXDO Properties, and fiancée Sarah Mccarthy; Jill Hodges, the art director for Cuvee’s magazine, Ventures; philanthropist Pat Hamill; Phil and Corry Doty from Platinum Sponsor EKS&H; and Denise Snyder with her daughter, Mariel.