Lerner & Rowe Joins the Community in Honoring Fallen Heroes at the 2025 Salt River Fields Memorial Stair Climb

Lerner & Rowe was honored to once again join the Salt River Firefighters, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and our Valley community for the 2025 Salt River Fields 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. This annual event is a moving tribute to the 343 FDNY firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS personnel who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Each participant symbolically completes the journey of one of the fallen by climbing 110 flights of stairs, the equivalent of the World Trade Center towers.

This year’s Salt River Fields Memorial Stair Climb was a record-breaking success with more than 1,600 climbers, a sold-out run of merchandise, and over $180,000 raised to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the East Valley Firefighters Relief Fund. These funds directly assist the families of fallen first responders and provide critical resources to firefighters facing occupational cancers and line-of-duty tragedies here in Arizona.

For our team at Lerner & Rowe, taking part in this climb is about more than remembrance. It is about standing shoulder to shoulder with our local heroes and showing our gratitude through action. We are proud to help keep the memory of 9/11 alive, to support those who protect us daily, and to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the fabric of the Phoenix Valley community.

---

Photos from 2025 Salt River Fields Memorial Stair Climb:

---

About Fresh Start’s Sip & Soirée Phoenix Event

On September 13, 2025, Fresh Start’s Auxiliary Board hosted its annual Sip & Soirée at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona. This annual luncheon celebrates strength, resilience, and success, with proceeds directly benefiting Fresh Start’s mission of empowering women to achieve self-sufficiency.

Why Fresh Start Matters

For more than 30 years, Fresh Start has transformed lives in Arizona by supporting women facing challenges such as unemployment, domestic violence, and generational poverty. Through innovative programs like the Impact Program, Fresh Start offers:

• Education and skills training
• Employment and career resources
• Personalized support services that build self-confidence and financial independence

With over 60,000 women served, Fresh Start continues to be a vital resource for helping women overcome barriers and thrive.

Lerner & Rowe’s Commitment to Give Back

Our $10,000 Gold Sponsorship reflects Lerner & Rowe Gives Back’s long-standing commitment to supporting women and families across Arizona. We are honored to invest in Fresh Start’s vision of creating unlimited opportunities for women to rise, rebuild, and succeed.

Learn More & Get Involved

To learn more about the Sip & Soirée or to support Fresh Start’s incredible work, visit the official event page: Fresh Start Sip & Soirée.

---

Photo Gallery from Fresh Start’s 2025 Sip & Soirée:

---

Recently, #LovePup was featured on DogTV’s “The Adoption Show,” a national program that shines a spotlight on the incredible work of shelters and rescues across the country. The feature highlighted #LovePup’s unique approach to creating a warm, family-like environment for dogs in need, their large-scale adoption events such as Family Fest and Cars & Canines, and their commitment to community-driven rescue work.

The TV segment also dived in a bit deeper into #LovePup’s It’s Hip to Chip program, which works to ensure that every dog leaving Maricopa County shelters is microchipped before being adopted. With around 10,380 dogs microchipped in 2024 alone, this program annually helps tens of thousands of dogs stay safe and find their way back home if lost. #LovePup’s team emphasized that this life-saving initiative would not be possible without the support of its community partnership with Lerner & Rowe Give Back.

We are honored to stand alongside #LovePup in this mission. Their dedication to rescue, enrichment, and adoption is transforming lives—both canine and human—every single day.

To learn more about #LovePup, watch their recent feature on DogTV, or get involved in upcoming events like the 2025 LovePup Family Fests in Phoenix and Tucson, visit lovepupfoundation.org.

---

Growing Access to Soccer in Underserved Arizona Communities

ASA’s After-School Soccer Program was first launched in 2024 in collaboration with Excel Soccer Academy and the Osborn School District in Phoenix. Serving nearly 3,000 students in central Phoenix, the Osborn District is designated as a Title 1 district and is home to a diverse and historically underserved population.

During its first year, the program reached over 220 elementary students in grades K–6 across four Osborn schools. Students participated in 2 6-week sessions, with weekly 80-minute practices led by trained Excel Soccer Academy coaches. These sessions offered structured physical activity, quality soccer instruction, and an engaging, supportive environment.

Expansion Made Possible by Lerner & Rowe

By the end of the next phase, nearly 1,000 students across Arizona will gain free access to high-quality soccer programming. ASA-certified coaches and local partners will continue delivering instruction in a safe, inclusive environment designed to promote health, teamwork, and self-confidence.

Kevin Rowe shared the personal importance of this initiative:

“Glen Lerner and I both grew up playing soccer, and now as parents, we’ve seen firsthand how much this sport can do for kids, both on and off the field. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Arizona Soccer Association to help expand this After-School Program. With this partnership, even more Arizona kids will have the opportunity to stay active, build confidence, and experience the positive impact of being part of a team.”

Why the Lerner & Rowe After-School Soccer Program Matters to Arizona Youth

ASA’s vision is to expand access to youth soccer statewide, introducing thousands of kids to the sport in the years ahead. The Lerner & Rowe After-School Soccer Program is poised to create a lasting impact—strengthening Arizona families, schools, and communities.

Learn more and get involved at ArizonaSoccerAssociation.org. 

Yesterday evening some of our team participated in the 9/11 Stair Climb where community members and first responders gathered to climb the grandstands at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

Each person climbed a total of 2,200 steps, or 110 stories, equivalent to that of the World Trade Center.

Nearly 350 first responders lost their life on 9/11 trying to save others.

This event is held to remember and honor their sacrifice, and each participant is given a wristband with the name of a first responder who passed on that day 24 years ago.

---

Photo album from the 2025 9/11 Stair Climb at Lake County Fairgrounds:

This year, our team was thrilled to present a $25,000 donation to help Humane Indiana continue making a difference in the lives of animals and families across the community.

Watch the video to see the impact we’re making together.

At Lerner & Rowe Gives Back, we believe in paying forward our success by uplifting organizations that serve children, families, and communities in need. Through our foundation and dedicated team, we proudly support meaningful programs that create hope and positive change.

This summer, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back once again proudly stood alongside United Food Bank as a matching sponsor for their annual Summer of a Million Meals telethon—doubling our initial donation from $10,000 to $20,000 to help fight food insecurity across Arizona. Our commitment didn’t stop at financial support; members of our team also rolled up their sleeves, volunteering to assemble emergency food bags and directly support families in need.

For far too many children and families in Arizona, the summer months bring uncertainty about where the next meal will come from. This year, one in five Arizona kids will face that challenge. United Food Bank has set a bold goal for 2025: raising $200,000 to provide one million meals to families struggling to put food on the table.

We encourage everyone to join the United Food Bank in the fight to end food insecurity. Your contribution, whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word, can help ensure no person goes hungry this summer. At Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys and Lerner and Rowe Gives Back, we’re proud to champion this cause where food security is a reality for every family in Arizona.

---

Lerner & Rowe Photo Gallery from the 2025 Summer of a Million Meals Telethon

At Lerner & Rowe Gives Back, our mission is simple: create opportunities, remove barriers, and help build stronger communities for those who need it most. That commitment continues as we kick off the 2025 fiscal year by awarding more than $350,000 in grants to 28 deserving Arizona nonprofits.

These organizations were selected for their outstanding work in at least one of our core areas of focus: youth programs, health and human services, and public safety. Each plays a vital role in improving lives and providing resources for vulnerable individuals and families across Arizona.

A Careful, Community-Focused Grant Process

Every grant application was thoughtfully reviewed to ensure alignment with our mission and a demonstrated impact on local communities. Grant amounts were awarded based on each nonprofit’s specific needs, ensuring resources are directed where they can make the greatest difference.

“This year, we really wanted to broaden our impact by reaching more communities across the state — from Yuma to Bullhead City and everywhere in between,” shared Kevin Rowe, founder of Lerner & Rowe Gives Back and managing partner of Lerner & Rowe, P.C. “Some of the groups we’re supporting this year have long been part of the Lerner & Rowe Gives Back family, while others are new connections we’re excited to build. It’s an incredible mix, and we can’t wait to see the difference these grants will make.”

Meet Our 2025 Arizona Grant Recipients

We are proud to support the following organizations and the incredible work they do:

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to see the lasting impact these organizations will have as they work to strengthen communities and improve lives across Arizona. Their passion, dedication, and programs create real change, and we’re honored to be a part of their journey.

To learn more about our contributions to local communities, click through lernerandrowegivesback.org.

Lerner & Rowe is proud to support 98KUPD’s 2025 Operation Hydration, benefiting the Phoenix Rescue Mission’s “Code:Red” program. We’ve once again donated $5,000 to this annual campaign that helps the Mission purchase bottled water for those in need. Code:Red runs now through Labor Day.

In its 21st year, Operation Hydration is a life-saving initiative led by John Holmberg and the Holmberg’s Morning Sickness (HMS) team. When summer temperatures soar into the triple digits, conditions on the streets turn deadly. This campaign helps protect the Valley’s most vulnerable by collecting and distributing bottled water throughout the dangerously high heat season.

Lerner & Rowe joins Safeway/Albertsons, AAMCO Total Car Care, and other dedicated partners in making a difference. Since its inception, Operation Hydration has collected more than 2.5 million bottles of water, with over 100,000 bottles collected each summer.

Find AAMCO-hosted HMS van stops: aamco.com/area/Phoenix-Area

Learn more about the Code:Red program: codered.phoenixrescuemission.org

On May 17th, 2025, the Arizona chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) hosted its highly anticipated Visionaries of the Year Grand Finale at the beautiful Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Our Gives Back team was honored to support this inspiring cause once again, proudly contributing a $10,000 sponsorship to help advance LLS’s mission of curing blood cancers and improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

This year’s campaign raised an astounding $610,655 over just 10 weeks—a powerful testament to the passion, generosity, and determination of the local community, sponsors, and candidates alike.

We’re proud to stand alongside LLS and all the visionaries working tirelessly to bring hope, healing, and groundbreaking research to those affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma.

Find out more online at llsvisionaries.org.

---

Additional team photo from 2025 LLS Arizona Visionaries Gala: