A friend’s dainty baby girl was born much too early and like so many preemies suffered immediate health obstacles. This tiny one had respiratory distress syndrome and, sadly, died.

Zoya Dickins Miller wanted others among the smallest little ones to have a fighting chance in life and in 1973 pulled together friends for an elegant benefit “November Noel” luncheon and fashion show to raise resources to help medical personnel and families acquire the training and means to care for newborns that get their starts in life too soon. Perhaps, too, they thought, some premature births could be prevented and preemie babies could be helped to live healthy, happy lives.

Fourteen financially successful and very popular years later “November Noel” took the steps to become a nonprofit, Newborn Hope, continuing the luncheon/fashion show fundraisers.

At this year’s 42nd annual Newborn Hope benefit Nov. 13 at The Broadmoor, called the 2015 “Stars of Hope,” luncheon attendees learned about “Zoya’s Legacy of Hope,” a fund to keep the Newborn Hope financial goal sustainable into the future. The initial gift came from the estate of Richard Ducommun. Longtime Newborn Hope volunteers, board members and friends called Miller at her home with family in Mexico to share the news.

Providing for Colorado babies and families impacted by prematurity, Newborn Hope has raised over $5 million and received a White House Points of Light in 1992.

Almost $200,000 was raised at this year’s event under the direction of Jackie Gunn, Kirsten Hillstrom and Lori Kurtz, who introduced the 2016 luncheon chair, Marne O’Brien-Hillis.

As is tradition, local youngsters whose parents and sometimes grandparents are Newborn Hope patrons and have themselves modeled at the benefit, walked the runway to the delight of the crowd. They were followed by professional adult models in the season’s special looks from Frank Lyman, Colorado Co-op, Kirk and Hill, Macy’s, Something New Boutique, The Shops at the Broadmoor and William Kurtz, Ltd.

Also taking a turn on the runway were Scott and Jonna Dauffenbach and son Jay Michael, who had spent 115 days in the neonatal intensive care unit when he was born weighing 1 pound 4 ounces. His tiny twin brother hadn’t survived.

Receiving the Cindy Fowler Award of Hope was the family’s neonatal nurse practitioner, Janet Rae Wilson from Penrose-St. Francis Medical Center.

Introduced as the new Newborn Hope executive director was Andrea Pineda. Board president is Lynn Pelz.

More photos: gazettedev.gazette.com/life/around-town