{"id":2446991,"date":"2019-07-31T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=310431"},"modified":"2019-07-31T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T11:00:00","slug":"challenge-aspen-hosts-annual-gala-golf-tournament-in-snowmass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/challenge-aspen-hosts-annual-gala-golf-tournament-in-snowmass\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge Aspen hosts annual gala, golf tournament in Snowmass"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8080168776371\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-310431-666\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Sander Olson\/courtesy | People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.<\/strong><br \/>Sander Olson\/courtesy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1.jpg\" alt=\"People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Sander Olson\/courtesy | People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.<\/strong><br \/>Sander Olson\/courtesy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Challenge Aspen CEO Jeff Hauser talks prior to the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Challenge Aspen CEO Jeff Hauser talks prior to the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Challenge Aspen CEO Jeff Hauser talks prior to the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Basalt's Ross Ziets plays in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Basalt&#8217;s Ross Ziets plays in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"Basalt's Ross Ziets plays in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | A golfer tries hitting the ball like an adaptive athlete during the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A golfer tries hitting the ball like an adaptive athlete during the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"A golfer tries hitting the ball like an adaptive athlete during the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | People take to the driving range ahead of the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>People take to the driving range ahead of the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club.<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/challengeaspen-svs-073119-1-5.jpg\" alt=\"People take to the driving range ahead of the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Snowmass Club. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-hosts-annual-gala-golf-tournament-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-hosts-annual-gala-golf-tournament-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">For Jeff Hauser, the chief executive officer of Challenge Aspen, the best part of its annual gala and golf tournament is that it gets others from outside the organization to talk to the community about what it does.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got folks that really understand our mission (and) talking to new people who don\u2019t understand it,\u201d Hauser said Monday from Snowmass Club. \u201cThey are not hearing it from me, they are hearing it from each other. It seems to have more power and weight that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Challenge Aspen hosted its 16th annual event earlier this week, which included a gala July 28 followed the golf tournament July 29. Hauser, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/leadership-changes-at-challenge-aspen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">took over in June 2017<\/a> for co-founder Houston Cowan, said they typically raise about 20% of their annual operating budget in this one weekend each year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Based out of Snowmass, Challenge Aspen works to create \u201cadaptive experiences for individuals faced with cognitive and\/or physical disabilities,\u201d according to their mission statement. This can include rafting during the summer and skiing during the winter, and Challenge Aspen is well-known for its work with military veterans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The gala and golf tournament are ways for the community to come together in support of that cause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cDonors are really unique people in that you just have to give them an opportunity,\u201d Hauser said. \u201cIt\u2019s great to get 300 people that know and support us in the same room. It\u2019s really gratifying. People are bringing new folks in and they are becoming friends of the organization and it\u2019s part of how we have sustained for 24 years as an organization, is we keep building friends and people keep getting drawn to our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The gala has long been known for the entertainment provided by musicians Vince Gill and Amy Grant, who are married. The couple did not take part the past two years, however, opening doors for others to get involved. Challenge Aspen brought in Houston-based singer Kechi Okwuchi, who rose to fame after being a finalist on America\u2019s Got Talent in 2017. In 2005, she was one of only two survivors of a plane crash that killed 107 people in her native Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Challenge Aspen also brought in Kansas City-based artist Jeff Hanson, whose acrylic-on-canvas pieces have raised millions for various charities and can be found in the homes of many celebrities around the world. Hanson is visually impaired due to a rare brain tumor and will likely be fully blind within the next five years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt was really great having both of those professionals working with us as we were focusing on the participants,\u201d Hauser said of Okwuchi and Hanson. \u201cThe whole theme of the evening was focusing on our participants. The posters and everything, the theme said, \u2018An Evening with the Stars,\u2019 and the stars were our participants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In the past few years, the gala had been held in Aspen, although the golf tournament has long been held at Snowmass Club. With their headquarters based in the Snowmass Mall, Hauser said this year provided a good opportunity to bring it all back to Snowmass, a community it has a close bond with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere is just a really great buzz in Snowmass with the Base Village and with all the events they are having this summer. We just thought this was the summer to kind of come home,\u201d Hauser said. \u201cIt\u2019s not written in stone, but we kind of envision that the next few years will be here in Snowmass. This is where we do business. This is where people know us. We have a lot of support in this community, as we do in the whole valley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:acolbert@aspentimes.com\">acolbert@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/challenge-aspen-hosts-annual-gala-golf-tournament-in-snowmass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.Sander Olson\/courtesy People take part in the 16th annual Challenge Aspen gala on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Viceroy Snowmass.Sander Olson\/courtesy Challenge Aspen CEO Jeff Hauser talks prior to the 16th annual Challenge Aspen golf classic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2446991","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-24 05:41:23","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2446991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446991\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2446991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2446991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2446991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}