Helping raise epidermolysis bullosa awareness
By Mindy Stone; photo courtesy of Kristen Narlinger
The Narlinger family (left to right): Alexa (20), Todd, Kristen, Emma (18) and Gordon, their golden retriever. The family helps to raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado epidermolysis bullosa program.
Castle Pines residents Todd and Kristen Narlinger have lived in the City of Castle Pines Forest Park subdivision for 20 years with their two daughters, Alexa (20), a sophomore at Penn State, Emma (18), a senior at Rock Canyon High School, and their 8-year-old golden retriever named Gordon.
The Narlingers are world travelers and always have a vacation booked somewhere. “Last summer we had a family reunion in Ibiza, Spain with 30 family members from two different continents,” shared Kristen.
If not skiing in the winter, or running in the summer, you can find Todd and Kristen on the links at The Ridge golf course. Todd organizes a men’s golf league in the summer with friends in the Castle Pines community. Kristen does the same with a ladies’ league.
Todd founded Madison & Company Properties in August 2008. The family-owned real estate company now operates six Denver metro area offices with 190 agents, many of whom live in Castle Pines.
Larina McClain, realtor and managing partner at Madison & Company, asked Todd and Kristen to help raise awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic skin disorder that McClain’s 11-year-old nephew, William was diagnosed with at birth. The Narlinger family saw it as an opportunity to give back from their success.
“Knowing that we have two healthy kids and hearing about this horrible disease really touched our hearts and made us want to do something for the good of these kids,” said Kristen.
Sticking with Todd and Kristen’s passion for golf, Madison & Company has become the main sponsor of Birdies for Butterflies, a biennial charity golf tournament and silent auction event, benefiting Children’s Hospital Colorado EB program (see related story page 19).
“I was just thrilled they were able to do this. Rare disorders don’t get a lot of publicity and they don’t get a lot of funding,” said Philanthropy Fellow Les Lee of Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.
“As small as it is just to raise money. At least it’s something we can do,” said Kristen. The Narlingers have made it a family affair involving their two daughters with the charitable giving.
“It’s moving for them as well to help out kids that are less fortunate and don’t have healthy bodies like they do,” said Kristen.
This golf tournament is hosted every other year and will be back in September 2023. The Narlingers will stand behind it for many years to come and give back to this particular life-threatening disease.
