Volunteers of America 2018 Service with Style luncheon
The old saying “Waste not, want not” isn’t heard that often anymore. But it well could be the motto for the Washington family, recipients of Volunteers of America ‘s 2018 Service with Style award.
“We live in a throwaway society,” noted award presenter Susan Kiely, “but Faye and Reggie, along with their children, never throw away anything that can be put to use by someone else. They give it to their church, or to an organization like VOA that assists those who’ve fallen on hard times.”
Reginald Washington, a pediatric cardiologist, is chief medical officer for the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children and Presbyterian/st. Luke’s Medical Center. He is a past president of the American Heart Association’s national board of directors and is a member of the Expert Committee on Obesity for the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2006, he was a finalist for U.S. Surgeon General.
His wife, Faye, is vice chairwoman of the Voa-colorado board and has been active in the Junior League of Denver, the Porter Billups Leadership Academy, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the local American Heart Association.
Their son, Quinn, is a hospitality industry veteran who has helped muster the support of young professionals for some 20 area nonprofits and such major Denver fundraisers as Western Fantasy, Janet’s Camp, the Heart Ball and Cancer League of Colorado’s Hope Ball. His sister, Danielle Washington Lacabe, is married to promoter Alvin Lacabe and worked at Denver Health before becoming a stay-at-home mom to their sons Jaren and AJ. Like her brother, she has given time to a variety of nonprofits, including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, the American Heart Association and the Denver Rescue Mission.
Reggie Washington said that his family’s involvement with VOA stems from an appreciation for such programs as Meals on Wheels, which “Feeds people who (otherwise would) wake up every day wondering where their next meal would come from,” and the help it extends to single parents, the homeless, senior citizens and veterans who had “put their lives in peril and are now in need of a hand up.”
The Service with Style award, Faye Washington added, “Means the world to us.”
This marked the first time that VOA has given the Service with Style award to a family. It was presented at a luncheon held in the Grand Hyatt’s Pinnacle Club.
Betty Kuhl and Kathy Klugman were the Emerald, or presenting, sponsors, and Ed Greene was master of ceremonies.
The money that was raised goes to VOA’S Irving Street Women’s Shelter, which provides safety and shelter to 25 women who have been homeless for at least a year and are coping with a mental health issue or a physical disability.
Service with Style began with cocktails and the opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping at pop-up shops that included Mariel, Icon Custom Suits, homebody and Ladybird Poppy floral design. Fashions from Mariel and Icon were also featured in the style show that followed the award presentation.
The 300 guests included Gayle Novak, the reigning Ms. Senior America, with Colorado pageant director Rene Green; former Colorado first lady Frances Owens and her daughter, Monica Owens Beauprez; Juanita Chacon; Pat Cortez; Janet Adams; Adrienne and Jack Fitzgibbons; Dena Pastorini; Jill Behr; sisters Kim Pope Myers and Kindall Pope; Malik Robinson; Sarah Mccarthy and hubby Andrew Feinstein; Leah Shafer; Angie Austin; Cyndy Marsh; Deborah Massa; Sue Pobrislo; Victoria Frank; Denise and Ray Bellucci; Louise Richardson; Andrea Frieson and her mom, Jo Dutton; Helenn Franzgrote; Joan Swinehart; Jill Dipasquale; Mary Thoms; Emily Tarleton; Lyn Schaffer; and David Alexander.