Aris Sophocles, Jr., MD and his guests enjoying the evening.

The beginning of June is always a bustling and exciting time with the completion of summer staff training and the start of summer programming. But the first weeks of June also mean it’s time to celebrate and support BOEC during the annual Fiesta for BOEC! On Thursday, June, 8th Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, hosted BOEC for the third annual fundraising dinner, an evolution of the longtime Cinco de Mayo event. The incredible fundraising total for the evening reached $121,000 for BOEC’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard and Wilderness Programs – making this the highest-grossing fundraiser in BOEC’s history. Ninety friends, new and old, gathered together for an evening of food, laughter, and celebration as many shared the significance BOEC has to them personally and the larger community. From the passed hors d’oeuvres and accompanying silent auction, to the delectable four-course Mexican dinner skillfully prepared by Executive Chef Bruce Carlton, to the creative tequila cocktail pairings sponsored by Tequila Herradura, to the beautiful flower arrangements donated by Petal and Bean, and party favors donated by Stingray Worldwide, the evening could not have been a more perfect way to start the summer season. 

The beautiful table setting at Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina and former owner Dick Carleton have been longtime supporters of BOEC, hosting fundraisers for over thirty years and raising over $500,000 for BOEC’s adaptive programming. It was also Dick’s prompting and encouragement that sparked Fiesta for BOEC. However, all good things must come to an end, and 2023 marked the passing of the Mi Casa “baton” to the capable hands of Jack Wolfe, Pete Joyce, and Matt Vawter, the new owners of Mi Casa. As is often the case in Breckenridge, Jack, Pete, and Matt all had previous connections to the BOEC with Jack having served as a board member and Pete playing a key role in BOEC’s 2019 capital campaign. The three new owners were committed to keeping Fiesta for BOEC at Mi Casa, and we could not be more thankful to continue this impactful and fun-filled event!

Jack Wolfe, Mi Casa co-owner, thanking the staff at Mi Casa.

In line with the start of a new chapter for Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, the whole evening had an air of hope and boundless possibility. Jack Wolfe shared about his time volunteering with BOEC, witnessing the transformation and joy of participants who experienced adaptive skiing for the first time. Later in the evening, Beth Newsom, a longtime participant of BOEC’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program and Adaptive Bike Program, shared about her journey with BOEC, specifically highlighting instructor’s ability to pivot and be creative, meeting participants where they are at and encouraging them to both challenge themselves while also have fun.

Beth Newsom, guest of honor and participant, shares her experience with BOEC.

The success of this evening would not have been possible without the hard work of the entire team at Mi Casa including Jack Wolfe, Pete Joyce, Matt Vawter, Bruce Carlton, Mike Zehnder, Katie Jordan, Tanner Shelden, and all the cooks and servers who ran the night beautifully. Thank you, as well, to each of the guests who purchased tables, donated, and won items in the silent auction. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Mike Dudick and the team at Breckenridge Grand Vacations for the incredibly generous lead gift of $25,000 that jump-started the evening’s generous giving!

Our hearts and bellies are still full from this past Thursday, and we are already looking forward to fiestaing again with the amazing team at Mi Casa next year.

With any questions about the event or future BOEC happenings, please reach out to Marketing Manager, Pauli Novak, [email protected].