Our Annual Honor Award Banquets
are an evening of inspiration, encouragement and FUN!
Enjoy a delicious dinner, great speakers, incredible award winners making a difference in their communities, a live and silent auction and meet new friends!
2012 HONOR AWARDS BANQUET
Check Out All of Our Incredible 2012 Award Recipients!
This year, IDA was delighted to have Roselyn Saunders join us as Honorary Chair. Roselyn as lived in Denver for over the past 40 years. She is originally from Minot, ND. She earned a Bachelor’s in Interior Design & Business Management and Masters in Business Administration from Regis University and spent almost a decade as an Administrator for Mechanical Engineering at Lockheed Martin. Even though Roselyn has an extensive background in business management, her real passion is in community volunteering.
According to Nancy Koontz of Blacktie Colorado, “Roselyn is very committed to helping the community in any way she can, and there’s no “donor fatigue” here, she just keeps on giving. She’s always thinking of the less fortunate who need a helping hand, and she likes getting involved in causes that are close to her heart rather than just showing up for an event.” – Detailed Bio Here
Keynote Speakers – Antarctic Mike and Angela Pierce
Mike Pierce aka Antarctic Mike and Angela Pierce. Mike is a professional speaker, executive recruiter, an avid adventure athlete, world record holder and a husband. Angela Pierce is a wife, a blogger and someone who lives daily with disability and has so most of her life. Together, they are an amazing team!
Mike has completed marathons in some of the world’s coldest climates including the Canadian Arctic, Siberia and twice in the Antarctic. He has set world records in endurance swimming and cycling as well. Adventure sports have changed Mike’s life in many ways, including teaching him the importance of being mentally focused and conditioned to run the most challenging and important marathon, that of helping Angela manage her lifetime disability. Join the expedition! Care giving is a worthwhile adventure.
Master of Ceremonies – Rick Crandall, KEZW
Rick Crandall is the Host of the Breakfast Club – KEZW 1430 AM. Rick has been honored for his dedication to Denver’s adult community with the Volunteers of America Special Friend Award, The Colorado Broadcasters Association Citizen Of The Year Award twice and The Colorado Broadcasters Association Harry Hoth Award for Public Service. During Rick’s 15-years at KEZW the station has been a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Adult Standards station of the year seven times, and has won the award once. He celebrated his 5,000 show this past June. Rick was one of five finalists for the Marconi Award as Personality Of The Year. Rick is also the Colorado Freedom Memorial President.
Auctioneer – Gary Corbett
Gary Corbett is widely accepted as one of the country’s premier fundraising auctioneers, Gary has conducted benefit auctions in Colorado and across the country for 25 years. He’s a long-standing member of the Colorado Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). He has given seminars on benefit auctions at the NAA annual conference and is on the faculty of the World Wide College of Auctioneering, assisting aspiring and fellow auctioneers in the techniques of conducting successful benefit auctions.
2011 HONOR AWARDS BANQUET
Check Out All of Our Incredible 2011 Award Recipients!
The 2011 Honor Awards Banquet was incredible! Attendees enjoyed an inspirational evening of fabulous speakers.
Our Keynote Speaker was New York Times Bestselling Author and Fmr Captain, Luis Carlos Montalván and his Service Dog, Tuesday. Luis is the author of Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. Luis shared his amazing story of the war after the war with invisible disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how his service dog, Tuesday, has given him hope and healing.
Our Master of Ceremonies was the ever popular DJ for the Breakfast Club, Rick Crandall of KEZW. Rick has a heart for those who serve in the military, as well as those who live with illness, pain and injury. As always, Rick lent his talents, humor and compassion.
Hall of Fame Speaker, Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN attended again this year as our Special Guest. Karyn lit up the stage as always with her love for others and keen sense of humor.
In light of IDA’s new project, Invisible No More TV, the attendees were graced with the presence of two very special friends who shared their inspirational stories and passion to be Invisible No More! Lori Frisher, a woman who has lived with severe hearing impairment and 2 bouts of cancer, touched upon her passion about living with invisible disability. Lori was nominated for an Emmy for her documentary on her journey. Matt Barrett, shared his life-long battles with 11 types of cancer since he was a child, 4 brain tumors, over 1700 surgeries and homelessness. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Everyone was touched and forever changed by these amazing stories!
2010 HONOR AWARDS BANQUET
Check Out All of Our Incredible 2010 Award Recipients!
The 2010 Honor Awards Banquet was fabulous! Attendees enjoyed an inspirational evening of incredible speakers.
Our Keynote Speaker was Ed Hearn, Member of the 1986 New York Mets World Championship Team! Hearn’s very promising baseball career came to a sudden halt with a shoulder injury. Less than 6 months later, he was diagnosed with three potentially life threatening health conditions, followed by three kidney transplants! Ed understands what it is like to be at the top, only to lose it all due to health. Hearn shared his personal, inspirational story of the thrill of success and perseverance through the tough times, as well as his passion for others who live with serious health challenges and how to be an encouragement to them. Ed is the author of Conquering Life’s Curves.
Our Master of Ceremonies was sports reporter, speaker and author, Mark McIntosh. McIntosh is a well-known personality in the Colorado and extending states television region. Mark has a warm smile, compassionate heart and his personal life challenges have earned him the title of the “Comeback Coach.”
Hall of Fame Speaker, Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN attended as our Special Guest. As usual, our IDA Honor Award Winners had spectacular stories and words to share with our guests!
What a wonderful evening of great new friends and fun auction items. We had an official Bronocos jersey signed by Daniel Graham that came with a suite at the game, ”white buck” shoes signed especially for the evening by Pat Boone, as well as a guitar personally autographed by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and more.
2009 HONOR AWARDS BANQUET
Check Out All of Our Incredible 2009 Award Recipients!
The 2009 Honor Awards Banquet was incredible! Attendee’s enjoyed a beautiful meal of steak with wine sauce, chicken with mushroom sauce or vegetable ravioli. The decor was fabulous and the company was even better!
Nurse, Humorist and Award-Winning Speaker, Karyn Buxman was amazing! karyn is a nurse, humorist and award-winning speaker. She is a member of with the likes of Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar and Norman Vincent Peale (only 30 of them women). Karyn brings her medical expertise, personal life experiences and contagious humor to the stage with style and flair! www.KarynBuxman.com
Karyn’s husband and Bestselling Author Greg Godek made a surprise guest appearance and read a story from his new book, which was about IDA! Then he gave everyone a limited edition copy and personally signed it for them!
Rick Crandall of KEZW radio was a joy! Rick is a DJ for KEZW Radio in Denver, CO. His show, the Breakfast Club is one of the most popular shows on the air. Rick has been honored for his dedication to Denver’s adult community with the Volunteers of America Special Friend Award and other accomplishments.
The Honor Award Winners were inspirational and our guests were a delight! Everyone went home with gifts and many went home with wonderful auction items! We wish you all could have been there! We will be making DVD’s of the event available soon!
Order the 2 DVD Set of the 2009 Banquet! Enjoy 2 beautifully filmed DVD’s of an Amazing Night with IDA! Special guest speaker, Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN. Master of Ceremonies CBS Channel 7News Reporter, Jayson Luber and 10 incredible Honor Award Winners! Be enlightened! Be encouraged! Share with loved ones!Order the DVD Set of the entire 2009 Banquet – Coming soon!
2008 HONOR AWARDS BANQUET
Check Out All of Our Incredible 2008 Award Recipients!
IDA’s 2008 First Annual Honors Banquet was a hit! This banquet was not your run of the mill fundraiser! 10 individuals and businesses were given Honors Awards for the differences they have made in their communities! Each were introduced to the audience, thanked for their service and given beautiful, customized awards.
Banquet participants were brought to tears with these amazing award recipients’ stories of courage and outreach: Founder and President, Wayne Connell, spoke about the prevalence and challenges of living with debilitating chronic illness, pain and injury. Board Members, Ginger Goins and Rick Watson spoke about the work of The Invisible Disabilities Advocate. Our Special Guest Musician was Dana Vernon, a local musical artist.
Attendees also enjoyed a delicious dinner, silent and live auction, as well as an inspirational message from Kris Harty. Kris also received the Perseverance Honors Award for her resilience despite a life long battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Kris continues to display her perseverance despite the obstacles. She is the President of Strong Spirit Unlimited, where she offers keynote speaking and coaching to businesses and organizations. Kris is known for her “Stick to it – no matter what!” message, which is both inspirational and humerous!
Award Winning Reporter and Helicopter Pilot for ABC 7NEWS, Jayson Luber, was the Master of Ceremonies. Jayson’s professionalism, compassion and sense of humor was exactly what we needed to top off a very enjoyable evening!
IDA Executive Board: Jim Kirk MBA (CCU Director of Development); Ginger Goins (Business Professional); Ali Garrett RN, BSN (Children’s Hospital); Carole Mitchell (Retired Business Professional): Rick Watson (President of Memory Bridging Inc); Kris Harty (Keynote Speaker, President of Strong Spirit Unlimited) and Wayne Connell BA (Television/Radio Broadcasting, Telecom Engineer).
All in all it was a wonderful evening of education, hope and inspiration for people living with chronic conditions, loved ones, physicians, nurses, attorneys and businesses.
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