PUSH Gala Celebrates 20 Years With Record-Breaking Results
July 14, 2021
Craig Hospital’s 2021 PUSH Gala, held virtually on June 26, raised a record-setting $3.3 million for Craig programs, patients, and spinal cord and brain injury research. Nearly 500 people, companies, and foundations supported the event.
The 20th-anniversary Gala was recorded live in Craig’s PEAK Center. 9News anchor Kim Christiansen hosted the program that included features on Culture of Care programs, Research, and Patient Assistance recipient Meredith Berkowitz. The program also included appearances by several graduates, Craig CEO Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, Foundation President Serena Bruzgo, and PUSH Chair and Presenting Sponsor Peter Kudla.
Throughout the event, two generous donors challenged viewers to give by matching donations.
Jeff and Sharon Richardson matched $500,000 in honor of their son Bryan, who was a patient at Craig. Jim and Bet Schuler matched $250,000 to provide a van for patient transport, therapeutic recreation equipment, and patient scholarships. During the evening’s broadcast, the Schulers also gave an additional $500,000. Peter Kudla donated the balance to bring the Schuler/Kudla gifts to $1 million.
The PUSH silent auction, featuring more than 140 items ranging from trips to jewelry to artwork created by Craig graduates, raised $159,136.
Craig inpatients and staff were able to join in the fun. Thanks to Patient and Staff Experience Sponsor Burg Simpson, all Craig patients received a PUSH Celebration box featuring Craig goodies. Evening staff, patients, and caregivers were also treated to a special PUSH dinner, and the program streamed on inpatient room TVs.
PUSH was founded in 2001 by Art Seiden, in honor of his wife Julie. She was paralyzed in 1996 following a horse jumping accident and spent 120 days at Craig.
Art approached then-CEO Denny O’Malley about starting a fundraiser for research. The first “Push for the Cure” dinner supported the Craig Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Over the years, the event’s focus has expanded to meet other needs of the hospital and patients, while maintaining a focus on SCI and BI research.
Currently, proceeds from PUSH support patient assistance needs, cutting-edge equipment, and programs like our free Nurse Advice Line and our Therapeutic Recreation program.
Additionally, funds raised through PUSH are used to support the Craig Research Department in conducting high-quality research that further promotes optimal health, independence, and life quality for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries.
The 2022 PUSH Gala is tentatively scheduled for April and will honor two Craig graduates: Austin Brotman with the Spirit of Craig award and world-record bike racer Lauren DeCrescenzo with the Impact Award.
Gallery
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PUSH host Kim Christiansen from 9News
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Craig CEO Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis and PUSH host Kim Christiansen -
PUSH Chair and presenting sponsor Peter Kudla makes an entrance
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PUSH crew members busy behind-the-scenes
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Craig Foundation President Serena Bruzgo with PUSH host Kim Christiansen
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Craig graduate Enrique "Kikeh" Elizondo sang a song that he wrote while in therapy at Craig
We thank all of our generous sponsors and contributors*:
Presenting Sponsor | $50,000
The Peter A. Kudla Family
Major Contributors | $40,000-$50,000
Bet & Jim Schuler
The Bryan Richardson Family
The Galena Foundation
The Peter A. Kudla Family
The Makarechian Family
The Maurice Marciano Family Foundation
The Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
Dave & Gail Liniger
Auction Sponsor | $40,000

Beverage Sponsor | $40,000
The Staenberg Group
Story Sponsors | $25,000



The Anna Flori Family
MDC/Richmond American Foundation
Ellen Scott

Thiry-O'Leary Foundation
The Angelina & Gerlando Traina Family
Gold Sponsors | $15,000
Jandel Allen-Davis, MD & Anthony Davis
Steve & Melissa Elken/Elkco Properties
Empower Retirement
The Hilltop Foundation
Andrew Klein
Polsinelli PC
Al & Frances Troppmann
Silver Sponsors | $10,000
AGL Construction
Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh, & Jardine, P.C.
Lisa & Rich Cohn
Concrete Frame Associates
Eric & Kitty Feagler
Richard & Maureen Graff
Jim & Kim Jannicelli
Keating, Wagner, Polidori, & Free, P.C.
Keybank
Land Title Guarantee Company
Gary & Connie Levine
Lockton Companies, Llc
Timothy Mcentee
Cheri Meyn
Mile High Metal Works
PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc.
Platte River Plumbing
John & Lisa Robinson
Mark Schuler Family Foundation
Mary & George Sissel
Standard Interiors
Elaine Strauch
Tristar Drywall
U.S. Bank
Bronze Sponsors | $5,000+
ARB Midstream
Jeff Aronheim
Bioness Technologies
BKD CPAs & Advisors
Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, LLP
Builders Appliance Center
Jay and Bunnie Busch
Campbell Beard Roofing
CBS4
Centennial Concrete & Waterproofing
Centre for Neuro Skills
Chase Bank
CNS Medical Group (2)
Christine Classick
Coloplast
Colten Mortgage
COPIC Insurance Company
Davis Partnership, PC
Design Studio Architects, Inc.
Stanton Dodge
Dan & Alea Dye
EON Office
Essex Financial Group
Ewing Law, P.C.
Daniel Feiner
Margot Gilbert Frank
Freedom Fire Protection, Llc
Diane & Charlie Gallagher
Jerry Gart Family Foundation
The Goldberg Family
Gypsum Floors
Harris Kocher Smith
Riki & Ashley Hashimoto
Jenny & Mark Hopkins/Catalyst Foundation
Ibex Investors
IMA, Inc.
JE Dunn Construction
JHM Roddy Family Foundation
Johns Manville Company
Mike & Pam Jones
Ken & Sue Kelley
Gary & Kathy Kortz/In Loving Honor Of Alex & Dorrace Brewer
LDI Mechanical
Learning Services
Gerry & Robb Lewis-Jenkins
Lokal Homes
Charlie & Judy McNeil/Nexgen Resources
Medtronic
David & Laura Merage Foundation
MidFirst Bank
Eric & Mindy Miller
Brent & Julie Morse
National Jewish Health
Numotion
William & Verna Pauls
Russ Pitto
Plante Moran
PNC Bank
Michael Pollack
Teresa Porter
Quality Living, Inc.
Riveron
Chris & Shawn Schuler Family Foundation
Jeffrey & Suzanne Robinson
Scott Robinson
Saunders Construction, Inc.
Art Seiden
Jay & Pamela Shepard
Swedish Medical Center
Jack Taylor & Ann Marie Damian
TIAA
United Access
U.S. Engineering Construction
Vectra Bank Colorado/Todd & Sue Munson
Warner Pacific Insurance Services
Christopher & Karen Waters
Maribeth & Christopher Younger
Special Thanks | $2,500-$4,999
Arnold-Newman Foundation
Berkeley Homes
Bradbury Family Partnership, LLC
Denver Health
Edifice North, LLC
Ali & David Foster
Deborah Green & Family
James Klein
Monarch Casino Black Hawk
Mountain High Appliance, Inc.
Dana & Jay Polonsky
Steve Robbins
The Singleton Family Foundation
Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis, & Goldberg
Trio, Inc.
Vander Vegt & Associates
Gary Yourtz
Evan Zucker/Black Creek Capital
*List as of June 26, 2021