Donna Pratt (left) and Carolyn Larsen of Sun Lakes prepare for the upcoming Assistance League fashion show and luncheon, which will help support children and families.
Sarah Auffret
The spring fashion show for Assistance League of East Valley last March had a pronounced effect on Donna Pratt of Sun Lakes. Sitting in the audience after modeling in the show, she was struck by what she heard.
“There was a teacher who told a story about a boy sharing his sweater with his sister,” said Pratt. “On the third day of class, he came to school without the sweater, and he told her, ‘My sister and I are sharing it. She gets colder than I do, so she gets it more days.’ That was it for me. I was in tears. I said, ‘That’s it, I’m in.’ I joined Assistance League right away.”
This year’s fashion show and luncheon, Runway for Hope, will be held on March 1 at Marriott Phoenix Chandler located at 1600 S. Price Road, Chandler. Proceeds from the event will help provide new school clothing for about 6,000 elementary students whose families are struggling.
In a special presentation, several young children from Chandler School District will model uniforms they received from the organization. Frank Narducci, superintendent of the Chandler District, will accompany the young models and speak at the event.
Fashions from Macy’s featuring 21 models will also highlight the event, which begins with boutique shopping and an auction at 9:30 a.m. and the luncheon at noon. Among the models will be Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke; Dr. Nilam Khurana, Chandler pediatrician; Pat Wolf of Sun Lakes; and Kanika Henry, crisis interventionist with the Chandler Fire Department.
Simone Cuccurullo, reporter at Arizona’s Family 3TV and CBS5, will emcee the event. Auction items will include tickets to Gammage Auditorium, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Cubs, and Chandler Center for the Arts, in addition to jewelry, wine tastings, and beauty products.
Assistance League of East Valley also provides 14 college scholarships, 3,700 assault survivor kits for hospitals and police/fire agencies, support for more than 500 homeless teens in Chandler and Gilbert school districts, and monthly socials at an adult daycare center.
The Assistance League Thrift Shop located at 2326 N. Alma School Road in Chandler is an upscale outlet that provides much of the funding, in addition to grants and the annual fashion show.
Sponsors at all levels are needed for the March 1 event, with program recognition at all levels. For information on sponsorships, contact Carolyn Bosserman at [email protected].
Tickets for the event are $100 and $125. You can purchase tickets and find sponsorship information at www.al-eastvalley.org.