The Importance of Being Holly

But Holly is only one person. Once an event becomes established, other people end up sharing in the responsibility. Mutts & Models has been Holly's baby for the past three years, and now that it's grown up a bit, she feels it might be time to let go. May 1 will mark just the fourth Mask Project gala, but because it happens every other year, it's actually been around since 1998, which means there's been plenty of time to perfect things and build recognition in the community. The event has raised $1.5 million for the care of terminally ill patients since it began.

For Holly, everything is work. During an April cocktail party at the tony furniture store Town, Holly is introduced to a modeling agent. "Do you know any Britney Spears or Beyoncé look-alikes?" she asks, hoping he can help her snag one for the Mask Project gala. He does.

Holly even hits up her out-of-town house guest, Scott O'Grady, the famous fighter pilot whose plane was shot down over Bosnia in 1995; O'Grady, who lives in Dallas, met Rich through the Young Presidents' Organization and is visiting the Kylbergs. After the two men take in a Nuggets game, they join Holly at Town. Before O'Grady leaves Denver, he'll commit to providing a mask for the hospice gala and autographing one of his books for the winning bidder.

While getting a drink at the bar, Rich overhears two women talking about Holly; one boasts to the other that she knows her. "They didn't even realize that her husband was standing right there," Rich says later. "Nobody knows who I am." But he's used to that; people often refer to him simply as "Holly's husband."

After the three leave, they head to P.F. Chang's for a late dinner, along with the Kylbergs' neighbor, Larah Thompson. Then it's on to Hush, a basement-level nightclub on Larimer Street. Holly knows the owner, natch. She also knows the lyrics to every song, from Ram Jam's "Black Betty" to the Strokes' "Last Nite." This odd group that includes an American hero and two socialites sing and dance non-stop until a fight breaks out. Glasses are thrown and shoving ensues. Ever the commander, O'Grady leads his troops to safety. Once the brawl is over and the broken glass swept up, the dancing resumes. Everyone gets excited when "Paradise City" plays. "I was a sophomore in college when this song came out," Holly yells over the music.

The group finally calls it a night when the music stops and the lights go on at 2 a.m. It's the end of a very busy week for Holly, who has been up from sunrise to midnight almost every day for fundraising meetings and parties.

It isn't easy being the boldest of boldfaced names. It isn't easy at all.