Aspen Bella Sera on Aug. 9 Raises More than $118,000 for National Jewish Health

More than 125 philanthropic leaders in the Aspen community raised over $118,000 to benefit National Jewish Health at the fifth annual Aspen Bella Sera on Aug. 9 at Maroon Creek Club. The cocktail party honored world-renowned artist Betty Weiss and Aspen community leaders Betty and Bob Gates.

National Jewish Health, ranked the nation’s #1 respiratory hospital for 14 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report,is based in Denver and has been part of the Aspen Valley medical community for years. National Jewish Health physicians from the institution treat children and adults with respiratory, allergy and immune diseases at clinics in Aspen, Basalt and New Castle. The physicians also work closely with other doctors who have practices in the Aspen Valley.

Attendees heard National Jewish Health Board of Directors Chair Thomas Gart and President and CEO Michael Salem, MD, describe the institution’s most recent efforts in groundbreaking,internationally-recognized research and treatment of respiratory, cardiac,immune and related diseases. They also heard from Bella Sera co-chair and longtime National Jewish Health supporter Barbara Fleck.

“When people talk to me about their serious medical issues, I have always said, ‘Goto National Jewish Health,’” Fleck said. She and her husband and co-chair,Aaron Fleck, are past honorees who have been active committee members since the event’s 2007 inception. “I can’t say enough about the services Drs. Gary Cott,Dan Atkins and Carl White provide in the Aspen Valley during the 1,200 patient visits they have each year, including visits with indigent patients.”

Each year Bella Sera introduces musicians who create unique performances to celebrate the honorees. This year the entertainment was The Three Divas, professional singers Jeannie Walla, Tracy McMullen and Meredith Daniel. They were backed by pianist Bob Finney and bassist Tom Paxton.

In addition to Barbara and Aaron Fleck, event co-chairs included Denise and Warren Cohen, Alex Kaufman and Natasha Kerek, Madeleine and Karl Larson, Patricia and Richard Kent, Dorothy and Hal Thau, and Kathy Weiss and Dick Stephenson. The host committee included Judi and Alan Altman, Patricia Eltinge and Milton Dresner, Suellen and Mel Estrin, Betsy and Jim Fifield, Golda and Shelly Friedstein, Marilyn and William Getz, Louise and David Gitlitz, Barbara and Jerry Glauser, Susan and Mort Gurrentz, Lita Heller, Marcia Jobe, Donald L.Keltner, Paula and Monty Loud, Marlene and Frederic Malek, Beth and Josh Mondry, Victoria and Mike Nunez, Amy and Richard Pearlstone, Essie and Jordon Perlmutter, Amy Roe, Marcia and Philip Rothblum, Linda and Rich Schierburg,Linda and David Stein, Melanie Sturm, and Elle and Philip Winn.

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 Health remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. Since 1998, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish Health the#1 respiratory hospital in the nation.