Zac Brown fundraiser for Camp Southern Ground
It’s not every day that one can celebrate a Grammy-winning musician’s birthday with the birthday boy himself.
But when Zac Brown and his band came to town last week for a sold-out concert at Coors Field, he preceded that gig with Zac Brown’s Exclusive Birthday Event — a dinner, auction and performance that raised almost $1 million for his Camp Southern Ground.
A Ferrari with the Zac Brown Band logo painted on its hood will be auctioned in January, and proceeds from that sale will be included in the Birthday Event’s total proceeds.
The birthday party was held on July 28 — his birthday is the 31st — at the Vehicle Vault in Parker. The Vehicle Vault and the Hutchison Family Trust were the presenting sponsors; Angela and Glenn Goad were the executive chair sponsors.
Vehicle Vault owners Daniel and Erin Dilley, along with her father, Lou Hutchison, were on hand to help welcome a crowd that included Doug Friednash, chief of staff for Gov. John Hickenlooper; Greg Feasel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Colorado Rockies; Bob and Claudia Beauprez; Deana Perlmutter, president and managing partner of Fairfield and Woods Strategies; and David Marsh, senior vice president of operations of Sage Restaurant Group, and his wife, Diane.
Marsh shared that he had gone fishing with Brown during the recent Aspen Food & Wine festival.
Brown started Camp Southern Ground, which is situated on 400 acres in Atlanta, to “Make something extraordinary” happen for children from all walks of life but with a special emphasis on those on the autism spectrum and those who have a parent in the military. “Camp changed my life,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today without camp, and so I want share the perspective that I gained about my life — and what real love and acceptance is — with kids who have been dealt a raw deal.”
Brown’s wife, Shelly, added: “This isn’t just something he’s doing based on his level of success. It’s a long-term priority for both of us.”
Following a social hour where guests enjoyed cocktails and canapes while checking out the rare and classic cars that are housed at the Vehicle Vault, dinner with a Southern twist was served.
The four-course meal that included green tomato gazpacho, chili-rubbed beef tenderloin and Aunt Granny’s sugar pie, with Z. Alexander Brown wines, was inspired by Rusty Hamlin, executive chef for the Zac Brown Band and prepared by Denver’s award-winning Catering by Design.
Others taking part in this festive occasion were Adam Daurio, director of administration for the Temple Grandin Equine Center, and his wife, Jennifer; Wayne and Debra Berger with their daughter Sarah and her husband, Brady Flowers; Jerri Thiel; Nancy Levine and her husband, Dan Obarski; Nancy and Bob Koontz; Carolyn and Craig Jackson; Sami and Steve Lockton; 9News anchor Kim Christiansen and her son, Tanner; retired Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Joey Jones, and event planner Ellen Robinson, who had mustered much of the local support for this event when she hosted a kickoff party at Shanahan’s earlier this summer.