AROUND TOWN: Rotary Club's Butterflies & Friends

Any chance that three successful years of the colorful butterflies program started by Colorado Springs Rotary Club and local artists has worn out its welcome?

Not on your life.

The fourth annual fundraiser was bigger and better, bringing in $100,000 for struggling arts programs at Mark Twain and Will Rogers elementary schools, the District 11 Musical Instrument Program and the Rotary Club’s extensive Community Service Fund.

Chairman Maile Foster is still smiling about the results, as is busy “artist wrangler” Cass Mullane.

The 31 colorful pieces of art were displayed all summer in area yards, gardens and in public art locations. Before the Sept. 17 auction, they lined the walkways, deck and lobby of Cheyenne Mountain Resort, beckoning passersby to stop and enjoy. And to read about the Rotary Club’s program.

There were unexpected results. A woman attending a conference at the resort had a bid placed on her favorite. A bride had her wedding photos shot with a butterfly background. Bidders came from other states.

Add all of that to a ballroom filled with conviviality, laughter and 213 bidders and artists, and you have quite an evening of fundraising. The Kevin Patterson-directed auction kept things galloping along at the speed of sound and some bids soaring into the $2,000-$3,000 range.

Some of the butterflies were headed for people’s private lawns and gardens. Karen and Bob Elliott bought one for Two-Eight West, a luxury development on Monument Valley Park, and it was slated for a location where people walking the park’s trail could see it. A keyboard butterfly was purchased by Gary Peacock for the new home of the Colorado Springs Conservatory. Still another was destined for the Bear Creek Dog Park.

Presenting sponsor Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was represented by Mary Lou Makepeace, who cheered for an opportunity to advance arts programs in schools, where parental involvement and the extras are not always available for youngsters. Monarch butterfly-level sponsors included GE Johnson Construction, Kuni Lexus of Colorado Springs, The Gazette and KKTV 11 News.

More Photos: http://tinyurl.com/4x85m5r and http://tinyurl.com/3zypr6n