Guests donned Derby hats, enjoyed live music and dined on gourmet appetizers from Denver restaurants to support the Dominican Home Health Agency at the third annual Dominican Derby May 1.
The event raised $145,000 in support of the DHHA that cares for Denver’s poor, sick elderly. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor, the agency has been providing free in-home nursing care and other health services for 92 years.
“Our Denver community is so fortunate to have benefited from the fruits of the sisters’ good works for so many years,” said, Mary Morroni, board and event chairman, “and Dominican Home Health Agency is the continuation of their legacy, providing Catholic health care to ‘the least of these.’”
Eighty-one percent of DHHA patients have an income of less than $12,000 per year, and little or no family support. In 2014, DHHA provided more than 25,000 free patient visits, generating $4 million in charity health-care service to the community and saving Colorado taxpayers an estimated $20 million.
Honorary chairs for the derby, held at the Cable Center, were Bill and Maribeth Hanzlik. Reed Saunders, Voice of Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies, and Les Shapiro of ESPN Denver emceed. Restaurants participating included Gaetano’s, Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar, Panzano and Tapas D’Jerez. Celebrity judges for Best Tapas Chef included former Denver Broncos Rich Karlis and Steve Foley, former Denver Nugget, Walter Davis, and event designer, John Tobey. Winner of the People’s Choice Award was Chef José Manuel Marquez of Tapas D’Jerez Restaurant. The judges award winner was Panzano and Chef Aaron Bernstein.
For more information, visit www.DominicanHHA.org.