Fight Alcoholism.....With Free Jello Shots!

How's this for straight stupid.

Spady fund-raiser spurs apology

Event at bar sought to raise money for alcohol education

By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
November 16, 2004

A Fort Collins bar manager and a promoter apologized Monday for an aborted plan to donate money to an alcohol education program using proceeds from a wrestling match that offered free Jell-O shots to the first 100 women to attend.

The parents of Samantha Spady, a Colorado State University sophomore who drank herself to death in September, condemned the promoter's plan to raise money for the foundation they established in their daughter's name.

"We find it abhorrent that anyone would exploit the tragedy of her death in this manner," Rick and Patty Spady of Beatrice, Neb., said in a prepared statement. "We have not spoken with any of the organizers of this event, nor do we intend to, as this is exactly what we would like to see abolished."

On Sept. 6, Spady was found dead inside a CSU fraternity house where she had passed out after consuming a lethal level of alcohol. Her blood alcohol measured 0.43, more than five times the legal limit for Colorado drivers.

On Oct. 30, Architectural Promotions rented space from CB & Potts, a popular sports bar and  restaurant just west of the CSU campus.

Dubbed "Wrestle-O," the event was the first of what were supposed to be five tournament-style gelatin wrestling matches. About 45 people attended the first event, organizer Brian Collins said.

Collins said he planned to donate at least $100 from the proceeds to the Sam Spady Foundation.

"I offer them (Spady's parents) my condolences and an apology," said Collins, who described himself as a former CSU student. "There was no harm intended. I can understand how they could be upset. It was just us trying to be part of the community."

A general manager at CB & Potts disavowed any knowledge of the fund-raiser. He also denied offering any drink specials for the event.

"We really had nothing to do with it other than reserving him the space," said Jay Feinberg, general manager of the bar. He said the bar will no longer have anything to do with Architecture Promotions.

The Wrestle-O event was held in the Clubhouse, a room located across the parking lot from C.B. and Potts.

"We apologize and sincerely regret any ill feelings this may have caused for the community and the Spady family," CB & Potts management said in a statement.

The promotion also drew a rebuke from Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, who is chairwoman of a task force appointed to investigate campus alcohol abuse in the wake of Spady's death.

Norton called the promotion, "irresponsible and absolutely in poor taste."

"It promotes the very culture of alcohol abuse that we are trying to change," she said.

Spady's parents plan to hold a fund-raiser Nov. 24, a "soup supper" at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Beatrice.