Cocktails & Karaoke Goes Retro

Event on November 21 benefits chronically ill children at Kunsberg School at National Jewish Health

The popular fundraising event Cocktails & Karaoke will go retro at the Curtis Hotel in downtown Denver on Saturday, Nov. 21. Parks & Associates is the naming sponsor for this year's event, which attracts hundreds of young professionals. The event, emceed by CBS4 news personality Molly Hughes, benefits the chronically ill children who attend kindergarten through eighth grade at Kunsberg School on the campus of National Jewish Health. A small number of $75 tickets are still available by contacting Mike Meyers at (303) 398-1768 or MeyersM@njhealth.org

In addition to singing or paying to get their friends and co-workers on stage, attendees at the event can increase their philanthropy on behalf of the children at Kunsberg School by donating money for items that the children need, including school uniforms, equipment and field trips. Kunsberg School accepts children whose chronic illnesses have caused them to fall behind their peers in public school. Most of the children at Kunsberg come from families at or below the poverty level. The school charges no tuition but relies on donations from community members who make a huge difference in the lives of these young people. Kunsberg teachers provide students with individual and structured education programs that assist students in achieving academic and physical excellence and prepare them to become independent, self reliant and responsible. From three nurses, the 82 students in the school learn specific medical self-care practices, enabling them to monitor and manage their illnesses and to go on to lead productive, meaningful and active lives.

Cocktails & Karaoke Co-Chairs are Brian Parks and Dana Pluss Parks. Committee members include Berrick Abramson, Nicole Beinert, Marc Cohen, Michelle Desloge, Martha Eddy, HiDemi Ena, Amanda Fein, Zach Frisch, Barb Gallagher, Hollie Velasquez-Horvath, Alisha Madiera, Brooke and Erik Mitisek, Colleen McGrath, Kelly Maher, Matt McClintock, Stephen Miller, Emily Nelson, Julie Olson, Merc and Mary Clare Pittinos, Maximillian Potter, Rhonda Rooney, Taylor Schierburg, Gary Schwartz, Dana Seeley, Ellen Stewart and Donald Vancil. Josh Hanfling is the Kunsberg School Chair. Media sponsors are CBS4 Denver and 5280 Magazine.

National Jewish Health is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. For 12 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report ranked National Jewish the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation.