VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA COLORADO

Denver

News: Most people know Kevin Costner as an Academy Award-winning actor who has starred in movies like “Bull Durham,” “Dances with Wolves,” “The Bodyguard,” and “Field of Dreams.”

And for television’s popular “Yellowstone.”

But how many of us knew the guy can also sing?

Early in his career, Costner toyed with the idea of putting acting on the back burner and pursuing his love of music, instead. He formed a band, Roving Boy, with two musician friends and gigged until the big acting roles rolled in and its demands caused him to make music a private pastime.

Fast forward a few years and Costner decided to make music more of a priority and formed a new band, Modern West, that performs as schedules allow.

On Oct. 21, Costner and Modern West headlined the 30th Western Fantasy, the signature fundraiser for Volunteers of America Colorado. The Western-themed gala brought 1,300 people to the National Western Events Center and the $2 million raised that night brought the cumulative total to $35 million.

When Sharon Magness Blake and Jean Galloway came up with the idea for Western Fantasy, VOA Colorado was struggling to maintain services following funding cutbacks. So, they set out to create an event that was unique to Denver; something other than the typical black-tie gala.

Western Fantasy would be an upscale, dress-Western affair with big name country entertainment. John Denver kicked things off in 1994, and subsequent headliners included Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, Wynonna, George Jones, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis and Lee Greenwood.

In addition to a well-received performance by Kevin Costner and Modern West, Western Fantasy 30 also included presentation of two awards: Judy and Charlie McNeil received the Noel and Tammy Cunningham Humanitarian Award, and 43-year VOA staffer Michael James was surprised to learn of the creation of the Michael James Spirit and Vision Award – and that he was the first recipient.

The McNeils have supported VOA Colorado since 2009 and chaired Western Fantasy in 2019. James joined VOA Colorado in 1980 and served for decades as its development director before transitioning to senior advancement advisor.

Charlie McNeil is the chief executive officer of NexGen Resources and, with his wife Judy, he has given key support to numerous Denver-area causes, including Boy Scouts, Colorado School of Mines and the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.

Their involvement with VOA, he recalled, began some 14 years ago when Sharon and Ernie invited them to dinner at their Silverthorne ranch.

“I thought we were going there to enjoy a nice meal with them, and here we are,” he chuckled. “But Judy and are happy to support VOA and we’ll keep on working hard (for it).”

The big question that night, though, was if Western Fantasy 30 would be the last. At least in its current format.

Sharon Magness Blake has soldiered through some serious health issues in the past and has indicated this will be her last year in a leadership role. Whether that proves to be true remains to be seen.

VOA Colorado still needs to bring in the kind of money Western Fantasy raises, yet who has the connections and know-how to continue the event as we know it?

Auctioneer Grant Snyder provided a glimmer of hope as he introduced one of the items up for bid – a gold and diamond necklace from Sharon’s personal collection, whose appraised value was “North of $25,000.”

“This is Sharon’s last Western Fantasy,” Snyder reminded the crowd, adding, “Unless we can convince her otherwise.”

VOA Colorado can only hope.

About the organization: Volunteers of America Colorado is a 125-year-old nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need transform their lives. It does so by offering some 50 programs that include housing, emergency shelters, hunger, nutrition and mental health services, and military veteran outreach. In all, some 100,000 people are served annually.

Website: voacolorado.org

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