In 1966, Denver car dealer Richard L.
Deane got a phone call from his friend, Bill Cope,
the first executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Metro Denver.
Cope said he needed a car for the
organization.
Deane said, "I'll give you a car."
Cope answered, "Great. You're on the board."
So began Deane's nearly 40-year relationship
with the Boys & Girls Clubs. His dedication was honored at
the organization's recent Youth of the Year dinner at
Invesco Field at Mile High.
"I have been deeply involved ever since that
first day," he said between greetings as many friends among
the more than 800 guests came up to shake his hand.
Deane received the organization's 2005
Champion of Youth Award for his leadership in shaping the
Clubs' success over the past four decades.
Together with the late J. Churchill Owen,
who was instrumental in founding the Metro Denver club in
1961, Deane made sure the board Cope, now deceased, had put
him on was strong and that the community's financial support
was strong.
As chairman of the board from 1978 to 1980
and 1992 to 1993, he helped secure the clubs' growth across
Denver to help at-risk kids stay in school, out of trouble
and succeed in life.
The results of efforts by people like Deane
were reflected in the young people honored as 2005 Youth of
the Year at the dinner.
The Youth of the Year Award, the clubs'
highest honor, is presented annually to its most outstanding
junior and senior clients.
The junior Youth of the Year is BreOnna
Tindall, 14, a member of the Boettcher branch for four
years. She is involved in the clubs' Keystone Club, which
promotes self-esteem and leadership, and Words Can Heal, a
national campaign to eliminate verbal violence, gossip and
promote the power of positive words. She also tutors young
club members in math and English.
The 2005 senior Colorado Youth of the Year
is Angel Gutierrez, a nine-year member of the Boys &
Girls Clubs.
Gutierrez, 19, was awarded a $2,500
scholarship from Allstate, a $1,000 scholarship from the
Reader's Digest Foundation and additional scholarship money
to be provided by the clubs' J. Reid Lichtenfels Memorial
Scholarship.
The Youth of the Year honorees are selected
for their leadership skills, academic excellence, community
service and success in conquering obstacles in their lives.
Gutierrez had to drop out of school at 16 to
become the sole caretaker of two younger brothers when a
family crisis occurred. Eventually, the boys moved back in
with their mother, allowing her to return to school.
She joined the Medical Assistant Program at
the Concord Career Institute and plans to transfer to Adams
State College to continue pursuing a career where she can
help others.
Other junior honorees were
Shantaya
Martinez, 12, Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Clubs;
Amaryss Rodriguez, 12, William E. Cope branch;
Gabriel Rodriguez, 15, Arthur E. Johnson branch;
T'Keyah Henry, 13, George M. Wilfley branch; and
Dominic Martin, 14, J. Chuchill Owen branch.
Other senior honorees are
David Olivas,
17, George M. Wilfley branch;
Andrew Martinez, 17,
Arthur E. Johnson branch;
Nicole Carlson, 18, William
E. Cope branch;
Romeo Lovelace, 19, Denver Broncos
Boys & Girls Club; and
Rashinda Lee, 18, Boettcher
branch.
Supporters at the event included Boys &
Girls Clubs President and CEO
John Arigoni; event
co-chairwoman and board member
Teresa Immel; event
co-chairwoman
Cappy Shopneck, wife of board chairman
Robert Shopneck; big bidders including
Angela
and Greg Fortune, who bought a full basement buildout
including flooring, a fireplace, bathroom fixtures, a wet
bar, an entertainment center and more, and
Nancy Gegenheimer,
who got a four-night vacation for up to 10 guests in an
Exclusive Resorts vacation home in Los Cabos, Mexico;
Snowmass; Telluride; or Scottsdale, Ariz.
Five couples bought seats to dine with
Mayor John Hickenlooper at Cableland: Ramey and
Max Caulkins; Mary and Don Elliman; Meg and Fred Franko; Pegi and Michael Touff; and Sharon and Bob
Sanderman.
The silent and live auctions brought in
$120,000.
WB2 Gives and Denver Broncos Charities were
key partners with Boys & Girls Clubs for the Youth of the
Year event, helping bring the total take for the night to
$481,000.
For more information about the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Metro Denver, call 303-892-9200.
