Just a few weeks ago, nearly 65 JCLF guests, sponsors, Board members and supporters made sure their little pinkies were all arched and ready to join the Jefferson County Library Foundation (JCLF) at its Royal Tea with Royalty benefit. This first-of-its-kind fall fundraiser was held on Friday, November 10, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the ever-elegant Briarwood Inn in Golden Tickets were $75 per person, and the simply smashing afternoon featured a four-course tea service (including a signature cocktail) along with a fabulous “mystery” auction and tea cup sale.

Our “royal” guest list included current and former pageant and scholarship winners from throughout Colorado, such as: 2017 Miss Wheelchair Colorado, 2017 Ms. Colorado Senior America, former Miss Fraternidad Hispana Colorado, former Miss Colorado USA, along with the 2018 Evergreen Rodeo Queen, Princess, and Jr. Princess. These stellar guests, all in their glittering tiaras and signature sashes, were seated among our paying guests all throughout the tea party.

But these royals weren’t the only headliners of the day. The afternoon’s entertainment featured a guest appearance by 2014 Ms. Colorado Senior America, Sharon Nuanes, a professional magician, who dazzled our audience with her clever sleight of hand by performing Le Magique Royale. Adding another special touch, 9NEWS Meteorologist Danielle Grant served as the celebrity emcee and took on the role as our “Vanna White” in helping to showcase the live auction items up for bid.

As a high point of the event, JCLF presented its 2017 Legacy Award to Board President Tami Bandimere. Tami, who has served on the JCLF Board for the past nine years, has worked tirelessly to assist JCLF, and she is also president of Bandimere Speedway.

We want to applaud and thank our event sponsors: Allegro Coffee Company, Cat Care Society, Frederick G. Fish Foundation, Genesee Commercial Group, Solera Bank, High Point Financial Group, Guaranty Bank and the Taurus Fund. And we give special thanks to JCLF’s continuing supporters, our Friends Community Partners: Westerra Credit Union, Bandimere Speedway and Pinkard Construction. We also want to acknowledge our terrific volunteer committee for helping to make the day a success: Kay Rowland, Char Harrington and Laura Kepler.

All told, the event helped us raise nearly $8,ooo, and proceeds will help support JCLF along with special Jefferson County Public Library programs and events, such as Summer Reading, Early Childhood Literacy and STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities. To see more photos from our Royal Tea with Royalty, visit www.jeffcolibraryfoundation.org, and click on the events page.