Beaux Arts ‘RIO’ Ball Raises $2.3 Million To Benefit National Jewish Health

On February 22, 2020, more than 1,200 guests attended the Beaux Arts ‘RIO’ Ball to raise $2.3 million for National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. The 2020 Ball honored Grand Marshals Molly and Rob Cohen, Joy and Chris Dinsdale, Katherine Gold, Judy and Charlie McNeil, and Kelly and Marc Steron and was presented by the Morgridge Family Foundation.

The 2020 Beaux Arts RIO Ball Grand Marshals Molly & Rob Cohen, Katherine Gold, National Jewish Health President and CEO, Michael Salem, MD, Judy & Charlie McNeil, Joy & Chris Dinsdale, and Kelly & Marc Steron.

In honoring the Grand Marshals, National Jewish Health President and CEO, Michael Salem, MD, said, “This is the highest recognition of community leadership and humanitarian service that National Jewish Health bestows annually at its Beaux Arts Ball. These Grand Marshals have been generous with their time and support, and we are deeply appreciative of all they have done for National Jewish Health and the larger community.”

With a 121-year history of transformative medicine, National Jewish Health is the only health care organization in the world dedicated exclusively to respiratory and related diseases. The annual Beaux Arts Ball is the largest local fundraising event benefiting National Jewish Health, and it is considered one of Denver’s premier fundraising events.

This year’s RIO themed event, inspired by Brazil’s infamous festival, included parades, costumes, street parties and dancing. The paddle-raising “fund-a-need” portion of the evening raised a record-breaking more than $800,000 for research and programming at National Jewish Health to address the nation’s vaping crisis. Nearly 6,000 youth start vaping every day. National Jewish Health is at the forefront of researching how to combat the epidemic and last summer launched the country’s only comprehensive quitline program – My Life, My Quit™ – for teens who want to quit vaping.

During the evening’s program, guests also learned about the ground-breaking asthma research National Jewish Health is doing with infants in Puerto Rico and how their extraordinary care has transformed the lives of patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). See video.

Among the dignitaries attending the event were Colorado U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.

Major sponsors included Carnival Sponsors Bank of Colorado and Joy & Chris Dinsdale, Contributing Sponsors Iris & Michael Smith, Platinum Sponsors Katherine Gold & Parker Semler, and the Baer Family. The exclusive auto sponsor for the event was Audi of Denver. See a complete list of sponsors.

In addition to the Grand Marshals, the event co-chairs provided key leadership and included Lisa &Tom Corley, Christian Dinsdale, Gail & Jack Klapper, Bonnie & David Mandarich, Brittany & Jonathan Rogers, Jamie Van Leeuwen & Andrei Parven, Viki & Jack Thompson, Amy Venturi and Kerry & Gerald Zarlengo.