The Children’s Diabetes Foundation was awarded the Best Social Event Produced By a Nonprofit Organization at the 2017 ICON Awards for the Carousel Ball, the Denver gala that benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

By Joanne Davidson
Originally seen on The Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/18/seen-icon-awards-gala-an-over-the-top-celebration/
March 18, 2017

Not everyone agrees that a sixth sense — intuition, or extra-sensory perception — exists.

But for those who do, the 18th ICON Awards Gala was the place to be.

Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and, yes, intuition, could all be experienced at this over-the-top celebration of the creative forces behind the metro area’s special events industry.

Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Denver, in cooperation with Colorado Expression and Confetti magazines, the guests negotiated a maze-like path to the Grand Hyatt Denver’s Aspen Ballroom where the evening’s only-black-only-white color scheme was carried out in lighting, refreshments and a 3-D video, shot underwater at the Four Seasons Denver pool by Zorn Photography and projected on a floor-to-ceiling screen. The visuals and sound were enhanced by having viewers wear neon-trimmed headphones.

After the social hour, it was on to the Grand Ballroom for dinner, presentation of the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice awards in categories ranging from best entertainment concept and execution to best wedding over $75,000, and entertainment.

Alisa Zapiler, the founder of Creative Events + Occasions, planned the event, working hand-in-hand with publisher Terry Vitale. Zapiler may have thought she knew the minute-by-minute schedule, but was in for a big surprise when Vitale presented her with the 2017 award for Lifetime Achievement.

Other big winners included AXS Group, Moment’s Notice Entertainment, Signed & Sealed by Steph, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Design Works, Affair With Flair, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, Andrew Clark Cinematography, Newberry Brothers, Amp the Cause and Catering by Design.

The ICON Awards Gala also gives back by donating $50 from each ticket sold to the charity of the purchaser’s choice and putting $25 from each ticket into a winner-takes-all drawing. This year’s winner was Metro Caring, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and reducing food waste.

The evening’s dress code of only black, only white and interpretations were fun to see.

A group from the Four Seasons hotels in Denver and Vail — including regional vice president Thierry Kennel; Vail’s general manager Brent J. Martin; Jim Guttau, the senior director of public relations and communications; and director of marketing Jolinda Cohavi — let a cocktail menu determine what they wore. Half of them were white Russians and the others were black Russians.

Dana Davis, executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, was among the women opting for the traditional Little Black Dress. Other ladies in black included Kristina Davidson, Janice Case, Piper Vitale, Michelle Sie Whitten and Marilyn Spinner.

Anca Elena Call, Diane Huttner and Keri Christiansen were in white.

Others joining in the fun were Walter and Christie Isenberg, David Alexander, Nancy Sagar, Ellen Robinson, Jerri Thiel, George and Gail Johnson, Steve Edmonds, Daniel Kopnisky, Craig Fleishman, Josh Hanfling, Stan and Sarah Sena, John Head, Al and Terri Fisher, Syd Sexton and John Faught.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, partiwriter@hotmail.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter