12 years of premieres

The movie, alas, wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but whether or not you enjoyed “I Am Legend,” you couldn’t help but be happy that Reel Hope: Take 12 netted a half-million dollars for Jewish Family Service of Colorado.
Intense and scary, the sci-fi drama starring Will Smith was the 12th regional premiere that JFS has enjoyed. The Variety Club of Colorado has partnered with JFS for the past several years to ensure that Reel Hope has what promises to be a box office favorite for its signature fund-raiser.
Chaircouples Will and Sheri Gold, Perry and Susie Moss and Dan and Marian Seff worked with ticket committee chairs Sheryl Feiler, Vicki Goldman and Ellen Pollock to see to it that nearly all 870 seats in the United Artists Continental Theatre’s main auditorium were sold. Sponsorships were secured by Steve and Julie Roitman and Francine Topelson.
Guests entering the theater were greeted by Chet Schwartz, chairman of the JFS board, and Bruce Proctor, Schwartz’s counterpart at the Variety Club of Colorado.
Boxed suppers from Millenson Catering were distributed as folks took their seats, and while everyone munched on the kosher meals, master of ceremonies Alan Mayer, chair of the JFS board’s development committee, introduced a video that described programs that JFS offers in the metro Denver area, including the new homecare division, JFS at Home. It offers top-quality, non-medical in-home care that is available 24/7 to seniors and those with medical conditions that would otherwise prohibit them from living in their own homes. The video was the work of Lindsey Gutterman, a member of the JFS board and daughter of it chairman, Chet Schwartz.
The pre-movie festivities also included presentation of two awards. The Jack Shapiro Community Service Award went to Blanca and Howard Lerman while Steve Kris was given the Kal Zeff Business Leader Award.
Blanca Lerman was raised in Thailand and met her husband in Denver in 1982. He was a single father, and shortly after their marriage the family moved to Los Angeles and then Tucson before returning to Denver in 1999.
Howard Lerman, whose father came to the United States as an immigrant from Russia, has degrees in accounting and economics and after working as a certified public accountant he built a successful energy company and then sold it in 1984. A trained architect, Blanca Lerman’s local projects include being part of the design team for the Molly Blank and Michael and Iris Smith buildings at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. She also had a role in two renovation projects at Temple Emanuel. She is on the National Jewish board and teaches English to Russian immigrants.
Steve Kris, who retired in 2001, joined the JFS board at the suggestion of his friend Dan Seff; he has served as treasurer and as a member of the investment committee.
Kris grew up in Denver, is married to Elizabeth and is the father of Kaley and Allison. He enjoys golf and volunteering at the JFS food pantry.
Guests included JFS President/CEO Yana Vishnitsky; therapist Arleen Gershen; the immediate past board chair, Joyce Foster; honorary life chair Joyce Zeff; Marlin and Ed Barad; Norm Brownstein; Bill and Bei-Lee Gold; Elaine Wolf with daughter and son-in-law Sandy and Walt Yearick; David and Mia Berlin; Sharon Whiton Gelt; Judy and Ken Robins; Steve Rosdal; Sheryl and Ken Feiler; Susy Grazi; Gloria and Elliott Husney; Lisa Taussig; Andy Levy; Geri and Meyer Saltzman; Sandy Vinnik; Vicki Trachten-Schwartz; Doug Seserman; and Michel and Elizabeth Seff.