We are pleased to share that the 3rd Annual Children First Gala that took place on Saturday, October 3 at The Arizona Biltmore was a huge success! The event was an excellent example of the positive impact a community can have when it joins resources and comes together as one.

Donations raised will directly benefit the underserved students who attend Children First Academy schools, including Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Children First Academy’s Commitment to Students

The teachers and staff at Children First Academy schools are dedicated to improving the lives of every student they touch by providing hope and support. They are also committed to ensuring that each of their schools are places “Where Every Child is Known” and appreciated.

For more information about Children First Academy, please contact Jerry Lewis @ 480.861.6931, [email protected] or Nancy Harris @ 480.993.5378, [email protected].

Team Photo from 3rd Annual Children First Gala

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back is a proud sponsor of the 9th Annual Breakfast of Champions Executive Challenge presented by United Healthcare Community Plan. This year’s Keynote speaker, Loretta Claiborne, has been a Special Olympics athlete since 1970 and will share her story of hope, acceptance, and tolerance.

Last year’s Breakfast of Champions had 1,000 attendees and raised over $140,000 for Special Olympic athletes.

9th Annual Breakfast of Champions Details

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Arizona Biltmore (Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom | 2400 East Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ. 85016
Contact: Cortney Vandenberg, Special Events Coordinator | 602-230-0075 | [email protected]

Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) offers 22 sports, 170 programs in 6 regional areas, and five statewide competitions for the over 16,000 athletes and 12,700 volunteers on an annual basis. SOAZ works to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities everywhere, and, in turn, transform the lives of everyone they touch – building a better, more accepting world.

SOAZ’s goal is to empower the over 180,000 Arizonans with intellectual disabilities to be healthy, productive, and respected members of society through year-round sports training, competitions and support programs. Learn more about how you can support and get involved with the organization at SpecialOlympicsArizona.org

Feeding Matters is hosting an inspirational afternoon of success stories and networking opportunities at their 3rd Annual Take Your Place at the Table Luncheon on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at The Arizona Biltmore. Attendees will learn more about the organization and the supportive services Feed Matters offers parents and children who live with feeding difficulties during the hour and a half luncheon from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Members of our team will be attending the event and providing a $5,000 donation to further assist the organization reach their ultimate goal of raising awareness for this condition throughout the medical community.

Founded in 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona, Feeding Matters was established to spearhead efforts to help conquer pediatric feeding struggles. Many infants and children are not just picky eaters, but are battling with intrinsic feeding fundamentals. Feeding Matters is here to help parents and their children access credible information to make the best possible choices. To make a donation or find more information and support, please call 1-800-233-4658, or go online.

As football, food and teamwork go hand-in-hand, sports fans are invited to bring non-perishable food items with them to AZ Kickoff Classic’s West Coast Youth Football Challenge and Food Drive on Sunday, September 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Tucson High to enjoy a thrilling afternoon of youth football and to help raise 10,000 lbs. of food for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.With an estimated 6,000 people expected to pack the bleachers to watch the Tucson Southwest Rams go head-to-head against the Snoop Dogg Diamond Valley Steelers, the goal of gathering 10k pounds of food to help the feed the hungry is within reach.

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back will be part of a $2,000 check donation that will be used to buy 8,000 meals to feed the hungry throughout Southern Arizona.

Tickets are $10 or just $5 at the gate with the donation of a non-perishable food item. Please contact Sam or Mirum with the Arizona Kickoff Classic for more details at (520) 433-0811 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].

More about the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

The Community Food Bank is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity that relies on 120 employees and hundreds of community volunteers to ensure the people of Southern Arizona have access to much needed food and supportive programs. The food bank is based in Pima County and also serves Cochise, Graham, Greenlee and Santa Cruz counties. The Community Food Bank provides services to eligible applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, handicap, age, national origin, sexual orientation, political beliefs or gender. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Call (520) 622-0525 for more information.

Watch this Event News Clip

Today Lerner and Rowe joined other local organizations at the 12th annual Support Professionals and Direct Support Supervisor of the Year Awards Ceremony and Luncheon to recognize Arizona direct support professionals for their continuous commitment to provide excellent services that help adults and children living with developmental disabilities.

These professionals give the gift of hope, dignity and choice to those who may have otherwise been denied the chance to experience any of these keys to more of an independent way of life. 

Award winners were nominated by the individuals and families they support. For more information about the Direct Support Professionals and Direct Support Supervisors of the Year Award Ceremony and Luncheon, please contact Nicolina Chavez at 602-542-6850 or via email at [email protected].