PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING Denver Actors Fund Volunteer Coordinator ESTHER VARNEY, who has just received the Denver Art Museum’s prestigious 2026 Cile Bach Award, which honors exceptional volunteers for their dedication and service.
Esther is involved with several initiatives at the museum, including the Volunteer Book Club. “Esther brings energy, warmth and humor to all she does,” the museum said in a statement.
The Bach Award was founded in 1978 to honor those who foster connection and provide meaningful visitor experiences.
For the Denver Actors Fund, Esther takes the initial call whenever a qualified applicant reaches out to us not for momentary medical assistance but rather for practical, neighborly support related to a medical incident. The DAF has a team of more than 60 DAF angels standing at the ready for whenever there is a new call for help.
What makes Esther’s service to the DAF all the more achingly meaningful to us is that her husband, Scott Varney, passed away in October from complications of an aneurysm eight months before. Scott and Esther are the parents of five children, including one with lifelong special needs. But Esther, who is the volunteer backbone of the Denver Fringe Festival and also assists at Wonderbound, the Clyfford Still Museum and Denver Arts & Venues, has found returning to service to be a key coping mechanism.
If you are a qualifying member of the Colorado theater community and you find yourself in need of help with transportation related to a medical situation, or with help around the house or basic chores housecleaning or grocery delivery, use the “community care” link in our bio to request assistance from a friend at the DAF.
Esther works to match each applicant and with a volunteer who lives nearby and might be available to to fulfill the request whenever possible. (Service is not guaranteed.)
Congratulations, Esther!
@esmov@denverartmuseum@denfringe@annsabbah@still_museum@denverarts@denvercenter
03.28.2026: Today’s Smile
Participating in history: the first Denver Summit FC game (vs Washington Spirit)!!! Go WOMEN IN SPORTS!!! ⚽️
Update: I was still riding that perfect-day high and I forgot to thank @p.il.ar and @jessielow_say for the ticket!! Love you guys!!
02.06.2026: Today’s Smile
I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!! The Opening Ceremonies were spectacular!! If you need me, I’ll be up at 3a watching ski mountaineering or skeleton or bobsleigh and cheering for Andorra or Macedonia or some other country that I only think about during the Olympics!!
01.09.2026: Today Smile
This is our shoveled walk that no one in our house shoveled. There are good people out there and I am beyond fortunate to know so many of them. 🥹
01.02.2026: Today’s Smile
I am reminded that we do not live in a world of absolutes. Nothing is entirely good or bad, light or dark, positive or negative. It is in the gray that I find the wiggle room for imagination, creativity, and hope.
