Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 31 , 2001
Seeds of Hope benefit raises over $200,000
Appearance by comic Bob Newhart draws 500-plus
By Roxanne King
More than 500 turned out to see comedian Bob Newhart Oct. 26 at the Seawell Ballroom, Denver Center Performing Arts Complex, and raised over $200,000 for Seeds of Hope "Adopt-a" programs, which provide scholarships and grants to inner-city Catholic students and schools.
The $300-a-plate event served up heaping helpings of the accountant-turned comic's perfectly honed jokes. Tame? Yes. Politically correct? Not Newhart. No cultural or ethnic group was safe from his barbs. It was equal opportunity "denigration" — which he explained for the benefit of Country Western fans "is something that is seen as a put-down." Ouch.
On televangelists: "They had it in the paper just the other day, they finally got the makeup off Tammy Faye Baker — and found Jimmy Hoffa."
On growing up Catholic: "Confession. Other religions don't understand how we can do this. But we learn tricks. Watch the line that moves the fastest."
On Texans: "They put the accent on the wrong syllable — `When I was in HIGH school...'"
The other stars of the event were children.
Eighth graders Chri-stina Gonzales of Annunciation Catholic School and Christ-opher Torres of St. Francis de Sales were as poised as celebrity hosts Wendy Brock-man and Ernie Bjorkman of KWGN-Channel 2 as they told how being scholar-ship recipients has given them hope for the future.
"When I am a lawyer, I will look back and say, `thank you Seeds of Hope,'" Torres said in a loud voice, gesturing with his hands for emphasis.
Expressing gratitude for her aid, Gonzales said she "loves" attending Annunciation, adding, "It's like a family to me."
Students of the six Catholic schools that are the primary beneficiaries of Seeds of Hope funding, which was established five years ago to ensure quality education for disadvantaged children, starred in a short video, "Planting the Seed, Harvesting the Dream," that took the viewer inside those schools. The film was produced by the Office of Catholic Television and Radio.
The event was co-sponsored with WB2 Charities and Post-News Charities, funds of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation.
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