On December 17, Arizona high school senior athletes and coaches are being recognized for their achievements in excellence throughout the 2015 school year at the 23rd Annual Arizona State High School Champions Luncheon. For the fourth consecutive year, Lerner and Rowe is giving back by supporting the annual event presented by the National Football Foundation (NFF) Valley of the Sun Chapter and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Seven top senior football players will be awarded during the luncheon with a scholarship for showing both athletic and academic excellence.  Attorney Kevin Rowe, National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter board member, will personally present the Danny White Top Senior Quarterback Award to Mason Moran, Chandler Wolves High School quarterback. For more information about the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter and the luncheon of champions, please call Janie Riddle at 602-548-2692, or Tom Taradash at 602-300-1219.

The NFF is a non-profit football foundation that recognizes academic, athletic, and coaching excellence at the college, high school and youth levels. The foundation is “making athletics better for kids, and making kids better through athletics.” Learn more about the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter at www.aznff.org.

Bring the family out to Chaparral Park on January 24th for a free family fun event benefiting children with special needs! We are excited to sponsor Jonathan’s Walk 4 Friendship this year.

Arizona Law Enforcement Outreach and Support (LEOS) program hosts project blue Christmas to treat local at-risk youth and teens with holiday breakfast and Happy Malli-day shopping spree. Select Arizona kids are chosen for their academic accomplishments and for staying on Santa’s nice list.

The annual event gives these Arizona kids the chance to enjoy a Christmas or Holiday Season that they may otherwise not have had the opportunity to experience.

We are pleased to donate $2,500 towards their December 12th event that will also provide raffle prizes and fun photo opportunities with Star Wars characters (Legion 501), Disney Princesses and the group, Heroes United.

Arizona LEOS is “putting community in community policing” by bringing multiple law enforcement agencies together throughout the state.

Please email Cindy Hill at [email protected] to learn more about upcoming events they are involved with and volunteer and donation opportunities.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) – Valley of the Sun Chapter’s 7th Annual run/walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer® takes place Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the north soccer field area of Tempe Kiwanis Park.

Last year over $70,000 was raised to help in the fight to end ovarian cancer.  This year they want to raise $80,000 to help improve survival rates and the quality of life of the more than 20,000 women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.

All monetary contributions collected for the event will directly benefit NOCC’s local and national ovarian cancer awareness campaigns and educational programs.

Early detection is key in helping fight ovarian cancer. If caught early enough, the survival rate is at 90%. Lerner and Rowe is pleased to help NOCC – Valley of the Sun Chapter’s efforts to raise funds to share the message about the importance of early detection and the many supportive services the chapter offers.

For more details about the annual walk/run and the coalition, please contact NOCC – Valley of the Sun Chapter at [email protected] or by calling 480-659-5520.

For the 6th year Lerner and Rowe Gives Back helps contribute to the magic of McKenna Youth Foundation’s annual holiday party. Each December disadvantaged families and children in Phoenix are invited to a festive celebration at Aunt Chilada’s Restaurant and then given food, clothing, toys and bicycles to take home.This year’s holiday party will take place on Saturday, December 5th.

Since the Foundation was first established almost three decades ago, they have been able to assist over 2,700 families and 9,200 children.You can help spread cheer to underprivileged families and children too! Make a donation online today!

Every year the Maricopa StandDown alliance brings together community-based organizations for a two-day event that offers assistance to Arizona homeless and at risk Veterans and their families.

The 2016 event will take place January 28 – 29 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Arizona State Fairgrounds from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Approximately 1,500 Veterans are expected to attend and take advantage of the supportive services offered including:

• VA health services
• Mental health services
• Clothing
• Meals
• Emergency shelter
• Housing assistance
• Court services
• Legal aide
• Showers
• Hair cuts
• ID/Driver’s licenses

The success of the Maricopa StandDown depends on the combined efforts of the Department of Arizona’s VFW, Auxiliaries, VFW Riders, and other community organizations and individuals.

Unfortunately, a full storage unit of donations meant to be handed out to females and children at the January 2016 event was robbed and cleared out.

We donated $2,000 to help them rebuild what was lost.  Join us in helping out our local Veterans!  StandDown has put together a wish list of new and gently used items, and gift cards for groceries, drug store items, gasoline, and clothing retailers.

Please contact Gabe Forsberg at (602) 237-4332 or Tammie Smith at (623) 258-5634 or go to www.arizonastanddown.org for more details on how you can give back and help Maricopa StandDown.

The 1st Annual “It’s All About the Kids” Gala is a wonderful way to give back and support Worldly Kids’ efforts to assist Arizona homeless, underserved, and refugee children.Guests will be treated to an evening of fine dining, entertainment, and good company at The Arizona Biltmore (2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85016) starting at 6:00 PM.

Those who cannot attend the Saturday, November 21st fundraiser may make a donation online at  www.worldlykids.org. For more information about the 1st Annual “It’s All About the Kids” Gala, please contact Sharyn Logue at 480-236-0111.

Wordly Kids is a non-profit organization that is committed to advocating for the rights of underserved and homeless children in Arizona.They help create innovative opportunities that allow these children to be educated, empowered and engaged so that they have essential life-skills to become happy, healthy adults.

Join us in helping Wordly Kids fulfill their mission. Go to www.worldlykids.org and learn how you can get involved and make a difference in the life of a child in need.

Items for the Women Veterans & Family Section Maricopa StandDown
(Thursday & Friday January 28 & 29, 2016)

These are items they collect every year. Notice they are not looking for used clothes (except for jeans) this year, as they hope to partner with Savers to help with that.

• New sweatshirts or hoodies and sweatpants or yoga pants
• Adult backpacks
• Hair ties, combs and brushes
• Hand-knitted or new scarves, hats and gloves
• Tampons (not so many sanitary napkins)
• Nice purses (new or gently used)
• Chap sticks, lip gloss, lotions
• New cosmetics & manicure items
• New or gently used cosmetic bags (like the kind you get when you purchase cosmetics from department stores)
• New underpants (sizes 5 to 13), sports bras and irregular bras (A to DDD, all sizes)
• New sneakers & socks
• Bags the women can use to carry their goodies (or small rolling luggage or backpacks)
• Pillowcases (these can also be used for women shoppers and donors can usually find some mismatched ones that we could use)
• Rain ponchos that are pocket-sized
• Mylar sleeping bags (they fold very small so they fit into a purse or backpack)

NEW OFFERINGS (they are just starting to offer some items for children to get women vets to come in to see what is available for their kids):

• School supplies
• Children’s books (really nice ones please)
• Umbrella style strollers for children
• Backpacks for kids
• Gently used or new toys

(more…)