Annual Movie Fundraiser Provides “Reel Hope” for JFS Clients

Jewish Family Service recently honored community leaders Brent and Julie Morse, and David Friedman at Reel Hope-Take 14, our annual movie-themed fundraiser at Regal Cinemas Continental Theatre in Denver. Despite difficult economic times, the event grossed $370,000! Our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful community-minded individuals and organizations that support the agency through this event!

Now in its 14th year, Reel Hope benefits the programs of Jewish Family Service and is held in partnership with Variety of Colorado, the children’s charity with its roots in the entertainment industry. Variety helped secure the venue and the special benefit screening of Summit Entertainment’s New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s successful Twilight romance series. We thank Variety, Regal Cinemas, and the filmmakers for making this event possible.

Complete with Hollywood-style lighting effects, the festivities featured the movie screening, the presentation of a touching JFS agency video, a brief awards ceremony, a box dinner, and dessert reception. Gary Shapiro, 9News morning news anchor, made his debut as a JFS event Master of Ceremonies. Heartfelt and entertaining videos introducing the honorees were generously produced by JFS Board Member Lindsey Gutterman with the assistance of Steve Pettit of Starwest Productions.

Ernie Johnson, president and “chief barker” of Variety of Colorado and Steve Kris, JFS board chair, spoke briefly and thanked the evening’s sponsors and attendees. After a video introduction of Brent and Julie Morse, Event Co-Chairs Rocky and Suzi Miller spoke about the Morses and presented the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award. Brent and Julie then spoke eloquently, speaking of their volunteer experiences with JFS and on accepting the award.

Sheryl Goodman, event co-chair and longtime friend of David Friedman, along with David’s father, Shel, introduced David and presented the Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award to him. Shel added humor to the ceremony by saying, “David, I am proud of you for following in my footsteps. JFS, as other nonprofits, has had a difficult financial year; therefore we decided David should get my award from seven years ago.” As anyone who knows David would expect, he accepted the award with humor and grace.

Yana Vishnitsky, JFS president and CEO, spoke from the heart about the help JFS provides for those in need and how much we need the community’s generous support. She shared that JFS provided Thanksgiving meals to 180 families this year. “There were many children running around waiting in line with their parents. I looked into their eyes. There was joy and hope. The parents’ eyes expressed fear and pain. People come to us when their lives are broken, when their hope is lost, when their strength is challenged.”

Our deepest and sincere thanks go out to Dean Prina, M.D., JFS development chair; Rocky and Suzi Miller and Sheryl Goodman, event chairs; and the extraordinary Reel Hope committee who made the event such a success: Douglas Antonoff, Carla Bartell, Shell and Lisa Cook, Cami Cooper, Steven and Faye Demby, Lisa Eller Davis, Sanford Feld, David Fried, Ellen Friedman, Michelle Friedman, Elaine Gampel, Brett Goldberg, Carol Karsh, Donald Kortz, Jeff and Jocelyn Kraus, Gary and Connie Levine, Alan and Peggy Mayer, Rick and Mindy Miller, Larry A. and Carol Mizel, Anita Niebrugge, Devra Ochs, Jay and Lisa Perlmutter, Michael and Shereen Pollak, Dean Prina, M.D., Andrew Raabe, Jane E. Rosenbaum, Linda Schatz, Michael Schatz, Chet Schwartz, Michelle Toltz, Marci Waldman, and Leslie Williams-Heins.

Check out this year's agency video that was shown at Reel Hope!

View more photos from the event! Thank you to Howard Lutz for donating his time and photography skills again this year!