About Our Organization

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION:

The Gary Morris Celebrity Invitation to Benefit TAPS began in 2006. Approached by TAPS National Board member, Brig. General Steve Ritchie, Retired,  Lynne and Bo Cottrell took on the challenge of putting this unique and wonderful event together.  

Popular singer, songwriter and friend, Gary Morris, offered to serve as our Celebrity Host, and entertainers, athletes and media personalities from all over America also quickly gave their support to our effort.

Helping to get the tournament off the ground was Jake Jabs, CEO of American Furniture Warehouse,   who was our first title sponsor and continues to provide his support. David McIntyre, CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance stepped in the following year, and we are pleased that TriWest will again be our title sponsor in 2008!  We are also grateful to Frontier Airlines  who has been with us from the beginning, sponsoring all of the flights for our out of town celebrities

We have also been very fortunate to have the involvement and endorsement of some of Colorado’s most prominent patriots! This year’s list of distinguished Honorary and Corporate Chairs include:

Corporate Chairs:

Tom Allee
Fred & Jana Bartlit
Morris Clark D.D.S. Nationwide Parking 
Dan Caplis & Aimee Sporer
Bill & Rita Bass Coors
Marilyn and Pete Coors   Coors Brewing Company 
Miles & Jan Cortez AIMCO 
Tony David
David & Sandy Evans
Gary & Nepeta Godec
Steve & Marla Grove Applebee’s 
Jake Jabs American Furniture Warehouse
Dr. Charles E. & Jane Johnson
Joe & Nicole Madril Cool River Café      
Mort & Edie Marks
 Terry & Gary Morris
Linda McCausland
Peter Nicklin
Henry Sawaged DaveCo Liquors
Lawrence Spivack, M.D Spivack Vision Center
Tom Tarver Greiner Electric

Honorary Chairs

Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
First Lady Jeannie Ritter
US Senator Wayne Allard
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave
Congressman Doug Lamborn
Congressman Ed Perlmutter
Congressman John Salazar
Congressman Tom Tancredo
Congressman Mark Udall
Secretary of State Mike Coffman
Colorado Representative Marsha Looper
Colorado Representative Nancy Todd

With the help of these elected officials, business leaders and corporations, with the generous donations of time and talent by entertainers from all over the country, and through the tireless efforts of a dedicated team of volunteers, The Gary Morris Celebrity Invitational to Benefit TAPS has raised $215,000 for TAPS, from $40,000 our first year to a whopping $175,000 last year!

 A significant part of TAPS' mission is to minister to the mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of the children, whose average ages are between 6 and 11, who have suffered the traumatic death of a parent.

TAPS holds a national "Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors" and Survivor Seminar for adults annually in Washington DC on Memorial Day Weekend. Through the “Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors”, children learn coping skills through education and age-appropriate grief work activities, develop lasting friendships with others, and learn how America honors it’s fallen service members.

It had always been their dream to expand this concept throughout the country, and we are proud to say that the money raised by The Gary Morris Celebrity Invitational to Benefit TAPS sponsored the first Colorado “Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors” and Survivor Seminar at Fort Carson held on August 17-19, 2007, and will fund another camp scheduled at Fort Carson for April 4-6, 2008. Our goal is to be able to provide ongoing funding for these worthwhile events.

The Gary Morris Celebrity Invitation to Benefit TAPS gets bigger and better every year, and we invite you to join our team! What better cause than to help the families of our fallen heroes who have given their lives in service to our great country. To learn more about TAPS, return to the TAPS home page.