by Chanel Ward
Hundreds gathered in support of one of Denver’s most well-respected health care organization, Clínica Tepayac, as they hosted their 24th Annual “Fiesta on the Plaza” on October 27th at Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale to raise funds for their clinic.
The event was a celebration filled with great food, entertainment and a silent auction that ranged from gift baskets, designer accessories and exclusive Get-A-Way’s, to a dinner with the founder’s Jim García and a Denver Bronco’s football signed by Terrell Davis.
The entertainment lived up to the evening, the reception allowed guests to check in, become familiar with the items up for auction, while dining on delectable appetizers and enjoying live music by Lorenzo Trujillo & The Southwest Musicians.
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and Barrio E’ performed for the opening procession. A special performance by Erica Papillion-Posey played in the background while the hundreds of guests dined on a four-course cuisine.
Welcome messages from Miguel Bedoy from Telemundo kicked off the evening, Bedoy also introduced Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.
“I didn’t ask Jim permission to do this, but I know this is a room of compassion, a room of humanity, if you’ll join me and have a moment of silence to honor the men and women who lost their lives tonight, senselessly in Pittsburg,” said Hancock, to which a 10 second pause paired with a room filled with their heads bowed down in mourning and sadness reminding the crowd to cherish that moment in happiness.
Jim García, CEO and Founder of Clínica Tepayac presented three awards at the dinner; the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award went to Silvia Almanza for her dedication and selfless demonstration of volunteer work for 17 years. The Outstanding Community Partner Award was awarded to Leevers Supermarket & Save-A-Lot for the many years of support to Tepayac and its mission. Lastly, the Corazón Y Alma (Heart and Soul) Award was presented to Dr. Tillman Farley for his dedication to providing high quality health care to the communities’ most vulnerable members.
The Fiesta Co-Chairs, Denver City Councilwoman, Deborah Ortega and President of Saint Joseph Hospital, Jameson Smith both accounted their histories with the Clínica.
Smith offered his appreciation for the work García has done over the last 24 years with Tepayac.
“They say you can judge the heart of a community by how it treats its poorest and most vulnerable people and by that standard Clínica Tepayac has been making Denver’s heart bigger for 24 years,” expressed Smith.
García thanked everyone for their attendance, the community members, sponsors and supporters, old and new, and he especially thanked his staff for all of their hard work and administrative support.
“Very rarely a day or a week goes by that I hear stories coming out of the community of something that our staff has done to support the patients and the community we serve,” said Garcia, as he welcomed his entire staff to join him onstage.
“It makes my job so much easier, knowing we have so many talented and gifted people that work on behalf of our community, so thanks to you all,” García added.
“These are very exciting times, but also challenging times for Clínica Tepayac,” said García, while adding to his closing remarks, “This past year has been a year of uncertainty and anxiety, it has become clear that safe places like Clínica Tepayac are more needed now than ever.”
García announced the major expansion in the works for the Clínica. Located on 40th Ave. and Race St. in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, sits the 6-acre parcel that Clínica Tepayac will call home, while tripling their facility size and the resources that they offer.
To learn more about Clínica Tepayac or to donate, please visit their website at www.clinicatepeyac.org.The Clínica is located at 5075 Lincoln St., Denver, 303- 458-5302.
Chanel Ward is an Independent Reporter for The Weekly Issue/El Semanario.
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