Sun Lakes residents Donna Pratt (left) and Kitty Larson will welcome guests to the Valley Bloom fashion show on March 28.
Sarah Auffret
Children who are without a stable place to live are the special focus of a fundraising event by Valley Bloom, according to Kitty Larson of Sun Lakes. An alarming number of children in Chandler don’t know where they will sleep at night, whether in a motel or on a friend’s couch.
“Through no fault of their own, many come to school every day lacking adequate clothing or a good night’s sleep,” said Larson. “Our organization steps in to provide new clothing, school supplies, and after-school snacks. We have recently started awarding scholarships to unhomed high school seniors, all of whom are now doing very well in college classes.”
This year’s premier annual fashion show and luncheon, Runway for Hope, will be held March 28 at Marriott Phoenix Chandler, 1600 S. Price Road, Chandler. Proceeds from the event will help provide support for children without homes, as well as new school clothing for almost 8,000 elementary students whose families are struggling.
In a special video presentation, two Valley Bloom scholarship winners who were without homes and are now attending college will speak to the audience. Valerie Gyory, an advocate for Families in Transition for the Chandler Unified School District, will describe the growing need for help.
Fashions from Macy’s featuring 17 models will also highlight the event, which begins with boutique shopping and silent auction at 9:30 a.m. and the luncheon at noon.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Donna Pratt of Sun Lakes. “It’s an uplifting event that combines community, compassion, and a splash of style. Your participation allows us to continue to support our programs and, for that, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
Frank Narducci, superintendent of the Chandler District, will be a presenter and a model at the event. Other models will include a Chandler firefighter, Compadre board members, several Chandler merchants, and the president of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
Simone Cuccurullo, news anchor at Arizona’s Family 3TV and CBS 5, will emcee the event. Auction items will include tickets to Gammage Auditorium, Phoenix Suns, and Chandler Center for the Arts, in addition to jewelry, wine tastings, restaurants, and beauty products.
Valley Bloom provides 12 college scholarships, 4,000 crisis care kits for hospitals and police/fire agencies, new school clothing for 8,000 elementary school children, and monthly socials at an adult daycare center.
The Valley Bloom Thrift Shop, 2326 N. Alma School in Chandler, is an upscale shop that provides much of the funding, in addition to grants and the annual fashion show.
Sponsors include Michael Pollack Real Estate Investments, Salt River Project, City of Chandler, Dignity Health, and FirstBank East Valley/PNC. For information on sponsorships, contact Carolyn Bosserman at carolyn@valleybloom.org.
Tickets for the event are $100 and $125. The deadline for reservations is March 21. You can purchase tickets at www.valleybloom.org/runway-for-hope.