White Christmas Gala Celebrates 2 Fifth Anniversaries
On a night that marked its fifth anniversary, the White Christmas fundraising event also celebrated the fifth anniversary of the organization it supports, The Board of Visitors Ryan House. A one-of-a-kind respite and end-of-life facility in Phoenix, Ryan House serves children from birth to age 17.
Funds raised from the Dec. 11 dinner gala at the Arizona Biltmore will be donated to the Story of Me Room at Ryan House, a multi-media room where children can build their own legacies by recording daily experiences and personal messages for loved ones and friends. The messages document the children’s personal journeys, a gift that is later priceless for parents and families.
The evening occasion takes as its theme White Christmas, commemorating the classic song composed by Irving Berlin in 1940 at the Arizona Biltmore, and it was timed perfectly as the weather turned colder and began to feel a lot like Christmas.
The Gold Room marquee, created for the event, greeted guests as they entered a chic, elegant nightclub, complete with white ostrich feather and flower décor. Many male guests sported white dinner jackets and black-and-white wing-tip shoes, while the ladies wore evening gowns and furs.
Highlights included cigarette girls with their trays, handing out boutonnieres, as well as elaborate Phoenix Theatre productions. The entire room joined in singing during the show’s production of “God Bless America” and later “White Christmas” as snow fell on the terrace.
Seven key founding community partners who supported the vision, planning, building and development of Ryan House more than five years ago were recognized, including The Board of Visitors, Junior League of Phoenix, Hospice of the Valley, Kitchell, Orcutt | Winslow Partnership, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, and St. Luke’s Health Initiatives.
Following the production, guests stayed for dancing and entertainment by Affinity, plus an after party on the Gold Room Terrace. Jan Johnson and Judy Shannon co-chaired the event.
GINA SANTI PHOTOGRAPHY
Lin Sue Cooney, community relations director, Hospice of the Valley; Jan Johnson, event co-chair; Debbie Shumway, senior vice president/COO, Hospice of the Valley; Susan Levine, executive director Hospice of the Valley; and Judy Shannon, event co-chair
Front, Kathryn Petsas, Ange Pappas, Dena Economopoulos and Jacque Petroulakis. Back, Paul Sarantes, Bill Petsas, Chris Petroulakis and Christos Economopoulos
Bob and Karen Hobbs, and Dr. Mark and Maria Syms
Linda and Jim Ballinger; Ina and Murray Manaster
Top row: Dan Pierce, president, Kitchell; Suzanne Pfister, president/CEO, St. Luke’s Health Initiatives; Herman Orcutt, founder, Orcutt | Winslow Partnership. Middle row: Sarah Mayer, board member, Junior League of Phoenix; Judy Shannon, event co-chair; Susan Levine, executive director, Hospice of the Valley; and Debbie Shumway, senior vice president/COO, Hospice of the Valley. Bottom row: Cathy Comer, incoming president, Junior League of Phoenix; Jan Johnson, event founder and co-chair; and Linda Hunt, president/CEO, Arizona Service Area Office of Dignity Health Arizona. PHOTO COURTESY COPPERPOINT MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
Julie and Matt Winter
Table décor
