Richard and Jan Hawkes and Jeanne and Pat Duncan
Jan Hawkes and Jeanne Becker
The Greater Sun Lakes Community Foundation’s annual premier fundraising event this year is called Candy Cane Christmas Gala, and tickets for the glamorous event are now on sale on our website at slcommunityfoundation.com. Event coordinator Jan Hawkes, with a team of Foundation Friends volunteers, are arranging an elegant, semi-formal dinner dance to be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, in the San Tan Ballroom at Cottonwood Country Club. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with a cash bar, elaborate basket raffles, and a silent auction featuring many unique, donated prizes. A lovely plated dinner will be served at 6 p.m. featuring Chicken Cordon Bleu with salad, sides, and dessert. Then, live music will be presented by the popular Thaddeus Rose Band, with dancing starting at 7:30 p.m. The $70 per-person ticket price includes tax and tip.
This gala event is our biggest fundraiser of the season and, as always, we are featuring a fabulous array of raffle baskets and silent auction items, along with our voluntary Crystal Donations Bowl, to raise funds to support the mission of the Foundation: “to enhance the quality of life for senior residents in the Greater Sun Lakes area in the areas of health, education, and culture.”
Since our inception in 2015, the Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in grants and donations to multiple organizations that serve the older population in the East Valley. Some organizations that have received funding include the Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) for the Firefighters’ Food Fund; Neighbors Who Care to support the purchase of their new van, as well as many other programs for Seniors; The Crystal Card Project, which gives 100% of their sales to help local shelters; Sun Lakes Community Theatre to help purchase a state-of-the-art lighting system; Sun Lakes Community Theatre Children’s Productions to support the costumed theater troupe performing Horton plays to teach young children about live theater in 25 Chandler elementary schools each year; Sun Lakes Citrus Pickers who picked over 100 tons of citrus to donate to local food banks; the Sun Lakes Posse and the Arizona Rangers; Art at Sun Lakes at Cottonwood Country Club; the Sun Lakes Instrument Ensemble; the Chordaires Show Chorus; the Rock, Gem & Silver Club; and many more local organizations.
The Foundation’s ability to award these grants is made possible through the financial generosity of individuals and companies who wish to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Sun Lakes. The support of our friends and neighbors at events like the Holiday Gala and the spring Hoedown, as well as the raffle tickets purchased at TAD musical events at Cottonwood Country Club, are central to the Foundation’s continued support of local organizations serving older residents in our communities as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. More information about us, including a list of all Sun Lakes organizations that have received grants, is on our website at slcommunityfoundation.com.