Lunch for Love Raises $500K

More than 500 guests attended the Sept. 26 Lunch for Love to support Child Crisis Arizona. The inspirational mid-day event was held at the Arizona Biltmore and raised $500,000-plus to support the agency’s prevention, intervention and education programs. Board members, major donors, friends and colleagues heard about the Child Crisis Arizona mission and vision, as well as stories about the impact the organization’s programs have on children, families and the community.

Doug Diehl, board chair, spoke about the bravery and resiliency he’s witnessed when meeting children who have suffered from abuse and neglect.

In the past year, Child Crisis Arizona provided 78,000 nights of safety to children through its Emergency Children’s Placement programs. The Phillips and Yoder families, two of the hundreds of families who have been brought together through the agency’s Foster Care and Adoption program, shared their personal stories of how their lives were changed when they opened their hearts and homes to children in need of a safe place to call home.

Marge Komar spoke about her experience being a foster and adoptive parent. She adopted Evan and Dustin, who had lived in Child Crisis Arizona’s Emergency Children’s Shelter when they were young, and later adopted their biological sister Amanda. In a moving testimonial, Evan Komar said, “I have a deep gratitude for the role Child Crisis Arizona played in bringing my family together.” He added, “Without them, I am uncertain where I would be today, or if my siblings and I would even be together.”

Sumaya Gonzalez, a domestic abuse survivor whose daughter was in the organization’s early education program for five years, shared how the program staff provided services, guidance and support that empowered her to rebuild her life, start a career and create a hopeful future for her daughter.

PHOTOS BY COLLEEN KATZ PICTURES IN PIXELS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA

Alesha Nicole Corey and Karen Merkle; Sumaya Gonzalez, Joanna Bellizzi and Leah Dines

Amanda Malcolm, Abigail Shirvinski, Holly Wilson, Madison Morton and Sue Gifford

Torrie Taj, Child Crisis Arizona CEO, and Mary Riley Michel, board member; Justin Duran, Yvonne Debeauville and Roger Hill 

Harry Curtin, Jodi Stoken and Nicole Curtin; Matt, Candice, Luke, Levi and Nicholas Yoder

Marcy Cooney, Jesi Szabo, Angie Lannefeld and Anabel Olivas

Noel Williams, Maria Williams, Victor Fogie, Shirl Fogie and Kyna Rosen