For Immediate Release
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver Media Contact: Lauren Kamm, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, laurenk@bgcmd.org
Barb Paton Media Contact: Tim Gelt, timonygelt@gmail.com
November 1, 2023
Barb Paton’s Holiday Huddle Brings Together Colorado Sports Team GM Wives, Raises Money for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Colorado Sports Families Unite Over Shared Cause for Kids this Holiday Season
Denver, CO (November 1, 2023) – In 2022, Barb Paton, wife of Denver Broncos General Manager George Paton, launched a community event called the “Holiday Huddle” to raise funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and bring together a group of women whose husbands serve as GMs and coaches for Colorado sports teams. Last year, Paton’s Huddle raised over $8,000 to benefit kids and teens who attend Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, and members of the community group volunteered at William E. Cope Boys & Girls Club’s holiday party to help Club members build gingerbread houses, pick out holiday gifts, and commemorate the first, full-scale holiday celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holiday Huddle leaders and members of William E. Cope Boys & Girls Club pose at the Club on December 16, 2022. Colorado sports leaders participating included Nathanial Hackett, former coach of the Denver Broncos, and his wife, Megan Hackett; Alicia Self, wife of Colorado Mammoth General Manager, Brian Self; Chandra MacFarland, wife of Colorado Avalanche General Manager, Chris MacFarland; Barb Paton, wife of Denver Broncos General Manager, George Paton; Jared Bednar, coach of the Colorado Avalanche, and his wife, Susan Bednar; and Erin Porteous, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
Since 2022’s successful event, Holiday Huddle leaders have grown to a group of six women on a mission to support kids. The group, who also support A Precious Child throughout the year, includes: Barb Paton, wife of Broncos General Manager, George Paton; Alicia Self, wife of Mammoth General Manager, Brad Self; Linda Schmidt, wife of Colorado Rockies General Manager, Bill Schmidt; Keisha Booth, wife of Nuggets General Manager, Calvin Booth; Chandra MacFarland, wife of Colorado Avalanche General Manager, Chris MacFarland; and Alyssa Smith, wife of Colorado Rapids wife of Colorado Rapids President, Pádraig Smith.
Barb Paton and Nicole Breheny help Club members collect gifts from the Santa Shop to take home for Christmas.
Erin Porteous, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, said, “We are incredibly grateful to Barb and the team of powerful, caring women who participate in the Holiday Huddle. Barb and the Huddle members helped create special memories for our members last season, and the money they raised goes to supporting the more than 28,000 kids and teens we reach each year. We look forward to more fun and magical holiday moments with Barb and her team this year!”
Upon her arrival in Denver in 2021, Barb Paton envisioned unifying the general manager’s wives of all of the city’s professional sports organizations in order to serve the Denver community as one and to provide good will and additional resources for area kids in need, which resulted in the establishment of the Holiday Huddle initiative.
Chandra MacFarland helps a Club member build her gingerbread house.
Alicia Self poses with a Club member whose gingerbread house she’s helping to decorate.
“The outpouring of support and thoughtfulness that we received last year for the inaugural Holiday Huddle was incredibly inspiring and we know that year two of this campaign will allow us to help even more Colorado kids be able to celebrate the holidays with happy hearts.” said Paton.
“Seeing the joy on the kiddo’s faces was so fulfilling and the youth leaders were the most impressive. The Holiday Huddle melted my heart!” said Chandra MacFarland.
The group will host this year’s Holiday Huddle party at William E. Cope Boys & Girls Club at 808 Inca St, Denver, CO 80204 on December 15, 2023. Media are invited to attend from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. to obtain B-roll footage of the festivities (Santa Shop, gingerbread station and other crafts etc.) and interviews of designated participants. Interested media must RSVP to Lauren Kamm, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, by December 13th, 2023.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and the Holiday Huddle fundraiser, visit bgcmd.org/holidayhuddle.
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About the Holiday Huddle
Barb Paton’s Holiday Huddle was one of the manifestations of her vision to unite the wives of Denver’s six professional sports organizations together with the single goal of improving the lives of Colorado’s youth. The two universal charitable organizations that her group is devoted to helping are Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and A Precious Child. Both organizations serve and specialize in the improvement and well-being of the lives of Denver and Colorado area children.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver changes lives. From the first day of kindergarten through high school graduation, we help kids succeed in school, develop good character and citizenship, and live healthy lives. At 25 neighborhood Clubs and our summer camp in Ward, CO, we provide our members with safe, supportive, fun, and enriching environments that inspire and empower them to achieve their greatest potential.