Once upon a time there was a splendid party. It was called "Fractured Fairytales," and it made a record $48,000 for Mt. Evans Hospice.

Mount Vernon Country Club was transformed into an enchanted kingdom on February 21, 2009, as more than 240 fairy-tale characters left their pumpkin coaches and magic carpets with the valets and paraded up the grand staircase to the evening’s festivities. The wizards on the decoration committee, headed by Pam Reitan and Dale & Peggy Fetchenhier, conjured up a magical setting with hand-painted fairy-tale characters and murals, twinkly lights, a full-size gingerbread house, and a wishing well built by Rich Reynolds.

Many revelers at the sold-out event revealed the “fractured” aspect of the theme in their attire: Big Bad Wolf showed up in a black leather jacket; a distinctly feminine frog didn’t turn into a prince when kissed by her cross-dressing “princess”; a spritely Pinocchio marionette danced at the end of strings guided by an invisible puppeteer. Mt. Vernon’s chef presented a meal fit for royalty including hearty hors d’oeuvres, grilled steak, coconut shrimp and asparagus bundles, with “Rocky & Bullwinkle” mousse for dessert.

A silent auction with 160 items that ranged from fine art to fishing trips and facials to footballs preceded a live auction called by Mt. Evans board member Greg Dobbs, an international journalist and HDNet anchor. Dobbs also donated one of the most popular items: a chance to view a space shuttle launch from the media site at Kennedy Space Center. The high bidder was Curt Harris, who attended the March 15 launch with his daughter, Lisa.

Another winning father-daughter combination cropped up in the silent auction when Mt. Evans board member Steve Browne topped the bidding for a chance to be Tawnya Rush’s cooking assistant on Channel 9’s Colorado & Co. He presented the honor to his daughter, Kristin May, an aspiring chef; she will be appearing with Tawnya in an upcoming episode of “Meals in a Rush.”

Other exciting auction items were an NFL game-day football signed by Jay Cutler, a one-hour bagpipe performance by Dan Hock, and a three-day stay at an exclusive Everland resort.    

As part of the live auction, Dobbs gave bidders an opportunity to provide scholarships for Camp Comfort, Mt. Evans’ bereavement camp for children. His efforts spurred bighearted bidders to contribute over $20,000 to sponsor children from families who can’t afford the tuition for the weekend program.

Overall, the benefit raised about $48,000, a record amount for the hospice. “We are amazed and grateful,” says Mt. Evans executive director Louisa Walthers. “In light of the current economic situation, we were immensely touched by the kindness of our friends and neighbors whose generosity and enthusiasm made this event such a success.”

Funds raised  by “Fractured Fairytales” will help Mt. Evans Hospice and Home Health Care provide services for underinsured or uninsured patients as well as support numerous programs provided by Mt. Evans, including grief counseling, transportation for patients to medical appointments, respite care for family caregivers, and Camp Comfort.