Challenge Aspen Celebrates Sold Out Golf and Music Events, Providing Possibilities For Those With Disabilities...
August 18, 2008 (Aspen, Colo.) – Challenge Aspen, with the help of Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Fred Funk and a host of visiting Senior PGA Golfers and remarkably benevolent sponsors, recently wrapped up two straight weeks of exciting golf events and concerts, bringing funds to Challenge Aspen for its recreational and cultural programs for anyone with any disability.
Grant and Gill, both avid golfers and strong supporters of Challenge Aspen, kicked off the weeklong 2008 US Senior Open festivities at The Broadmoor, the world renowned five-star resort in Colorado Springs, with an evening of entertainment. The sold out benefit concert featured strong attendance from area military posts and special guests including General Gene Renuart and Army Lieutenant General Glenn Webster; Pro Golfers Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, Bruce Fleisher, Hale Irwin, and Mark Wiebe, and local, regional and national media. Capping off the evening was a gift from CROCS of 1,200 pairs of specially designed, newly featured Challenge Aspen Crocs to guests as they exited the venue. The shoes will be sold throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and at www.challengeaspen.org, with a portion of the revenue from the shoes supporting Challenge Aspen programs.
Russ Miller, Director of Golf at The Broadmoor called the Challenge Aspen event "a spectacular lead-in to championship week for the 2008 U.S. Senior Open." Miller adds, "The electricity, emotion and heartfelt recognition acknowledged for the bravery and heroism of our injured soldiers was magical throughout the entire evening. Challenge Aspen and its mission continue to offer rewarding and opportunistic lifelong opportunities for many, many deserving people."
Bill Kisser, a guest at the event who was able to surprise his wife with tickets, adds, "What a treat to see, hear and participate in the pleasant banter and rapport Amy and Vince have woven together. I got to chat with Fred Funk and Berhard Langer before the concert. I have followed these two (et al) on the Champions' tour for years, and finally got to meet them."
One of the most profound appearances of the night came from 29-year-old Retired Staff Sergeant for the 101st Airborne Division, Heath Calhoun, whose convoy was attacked and hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in the loss of both legs. Heath and his wife, Tiffany, spoke from stage about his recovery and the powerful impact programs offered by Challenge Aspen continue to have on his healing and his family. Heath is currently a member of the Challenge Aspen Competition Program, only five years since his injury. The evening was complete with a live auction hosted by Russ Miller, Director of Golf at The Broadmoor and Jimmy Yeager, President of the Board of Challenge Aspen. Calhoun and Houston Cowan, CEO and Co-Founder of Challenge Aspen, were also honorary starters on Monday practice rounds during the 2008 US Senior Open.
Following the extremely successful Broadmoor event, Vince Gill and Amy Grant hosted another sold out event with PGA Pro Fred Funk, this time in Aspen, Colorado. The 5th Annual Golf Classic was presented by the title sponsor Dancing Bear and included additional PGA Pros Bernhard Langer, Hale Irwin and Des Smyth, all straight from the U.S. Senior Open. Vince and Amy brought some of the finest bluegrass pickers and grinners Nashville has to offer, giving guests a pre-golf night full of amazing sights, sounds and tastes, all benefiting Challenge Aspen participants and programs. Joining them was Jessica Callahan, a recording artist who has been visually impaired since birth and a Challenge Aspen participant in the 2007-2008 Visually Impaired Ski Festival. Chris Fonseca, a nationally known comedian who has cerebral palsy; Allan Harris, internationally known jazz vocalist and dear friend of Challenge Aspen, and Smokin' Joe Kelly, who is especially popular with the Aspen/Snowmass crowd, filled out the night. Local, live portrait artist Majid Kahhak painted a portrait of Amy and Vince during the concert, which was auctioned live at the concert's conclusion.
After a rare evening of music, Challenge Aspen, Amy Grant, Vince Gill and Fred Funk welcomed a full field of foursomes to great golf on Tuesday at the Snowmass Club's pristine course. Local gourmet restaurants and hole sponsors added flair complete with costumes and amazing food and drinks. Aspen Signature Properties' "Pirate" theme included decorations, blow up monkeys, pirate drinks and a huge crew to help hungry golfers. Rocky Mountain Connections' "Caddyshack" theme offered the golfers "Gofer" club covers and the works. Challenge Aspen CEO and Co-Founder Houston Cowan and Vince Gill provided curbside service, humor and delicious calories to all of the golfers, driving the cookie cart, compliments of Paradise Bakery.
Sponsors and supporters making the event what attendees called one of the best golf tournaments of the year included Title Sponsor Dancing Bear, Richard and Nancy Rogers, PGA Pro Clinic Sponsor L'Oreal, Eclipsys Corporation, Related Westpac, True Anthem, Muse Global, Michele McNeill and The Bender Foundation, Inc.
Fred Funk, runner up at the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs, ended the delightful event as emcee with an awards ceremony and a million dollar shootout for qualifiers. None of the five non-pro par three players made the hole in one shot from 165 yards, but the contest made for a fun end to a wonderful stretch of two weeks of successful fundraising for people with disabilities.
About Challenge Aspen
Since 1995, Challenge Aspen has provided adaptive recreational and cultural opportunities to thousands of individuals with disabilities from around the world. Based in Aspen, Colorado, Challenge Aspen is an internationally established charitable organization. As a leader and innovator offering participants safe, expert instruction and the best competitive ski-racing and educational programs available in the world, Challenge Aspen also provides outstanding summer therapeutic art and drama camps to children with physical and cognitive disabilities. In addition, Challenge Aspen creates adaptive wilderness experiences and provides elite race training for Veterans with disabilities. Critical partnerships with sponsors like Aspen Skiing Co., combined with the generous support of the Founders' Circle, National Council members and annual fund raisers, provide the funding necessary for Challenge Aspen to empower all participants through its outdoor and cultural experiences, regardless of financial status. For more information, visit www.challengeaspen.org.
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