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April 19 - May 2, 2014
Neighbors
RELAY FOR LIFE FROM PAGE 44
will be at 9 p.m. “That’s when the luminarias are lit and we turn off the lights in the stadium. There is a small ceremony and after that we walk the laps carrying our candles.” In the past, 2,000 people have participated in the event. There are no more than 15 participants on a team. Toyota Financial Services and ChandlerGilbert Community College has more than one team entered in the relay. There is no limit to the number of teams that can participate in the Chandler Relay for Life event. Harter spoke to another committee member who remembers the first relay was held in 2002 at Skateland located at Ray and Alma School roads. It had more than 200 participants walking and skating around the rink all night. The last two years, Harter says, Chandler Relay for Life has been one of the top two teams in Arizona. “The only team beating us is Yuma. They have a much larger area to get participants. Here in Chandler we’re limited to Chandler... We have raised over $200,000 in the last two years.” The Chandler Relay for Life has been named the All American Relay for two years in a row as well. There is a $10 entrance fee and participants are asked to raise $100 each. Harter says she raised more than $400 in one night when she posted her information to the Relay for Life website. “There have been so many people that have been touched by cancer that sometimes it is not hard to raise that money.” Sponsors of the event include Toyota
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Easter brunch at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center
FIGHT BACK: Spectators cheer on the participants at the Chandler Relay for Life event. The community is invited to the free event to support cancer research. Submitted photo
Financial Services, MC Clark Wayland, Origami Owl, Bernards BuildersManagement Services, Almeria at Ocotillo, Whitneybell Perry Architecture and Planning, Vive, Alliant Credit Union Foundation, and numerous in-kind sponsors. Carrabba’s Italian Grill is providing dinner for the survivors and caregivers. The sponsor’s name and logo are featured on the back of the relay T-shirt worn by participants and featured in relay publications. To learn more about becoming a sponsor for the Chandler Relay for Life contact Sponsorship Chairman Joe Keresty at jkerestry@gmail. com or ACS Staff Partner Melissa Miranda at melissa.mireanda@cancer.org. For help forming a team or donating,
contact angemolguin@hotmail.com or (480) 495-6682. Visit, www.relayforlife. org/chandleraz or Facebook Chandler AZ Relay for Life, for more information. The opening ceremony and kick-off begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2. Cheer on the survivors at the Survivors Lap at 7 p.m., followed by the luminarias ceremony at 9 p.m. to remember those who have been lost to cancer and currently have cancer. The closing ceremony is 6 a.m. Saturday, May 3. Basha High School is located at 5900 S. Val Vista Rd., Chandler. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
An Easter brunch will be held at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle, 16000 Maricopa Rd., Maricopa from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20. The brunch is $24.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 4 and older and free for kids younger than 3 years old. The menu includes: grilled salmon with a lemon basil cream sauce; panseared breast of chicken mornay; asparagus with a balsamic reduction; carved honey pit ham; carved prime rib of beef with creamed horseradish and au jus, imported and domestic cheese display with cracker and baked breads; scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and fresh chives; applewood smoked bacon and sausage links; biscuits and sausage gravy; pancakes and stuffed French toast with maple syrup; salad bar, fresh fruit, fresh baked Danish and muffins; fresh bagels with herbed creamed cheese and an array of cakes, pies and cookies. Guests that purchase the Easter Brunch at the 347 Grill can bring the receipt to bowling, same day, for “Brunch and Bowl.” Show receipt at Ten Pins Down and pay only $5 for two games of bowling and shoes. For reservations, call (520) 233-2426.
Luncheon to celebrate extraordinary women BY MEGHAN MCCOY
The Soroptimist International of the San Tans will recognize nonprofit organizations and individuals by awarding them grants during its annual luncheon. The organization’s 29th annual awards luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Hotel in downtown Chandler. “It seems to be building every year,” Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Jana Greene says about the luncheon. “Last year roughly 110 people attended and we are hoping to beat that.” Tickets to the event range from $40 for individual tickets to $1,000 for the top sponsorship level. They may be purchased online at http://siofsantans.givezooks. com/events/29th-annual-soroptimistawards-luncheon. “The luncheon is our biggest fundraiser,” she says. During the function, the winners will share their hopes of how the awards will help them. “It’s usually an event that requires tissues,” Greene says. “To know that we can help them in some kind of meaningful way is wonderful.” The National Advocacy and Training Network will receive the $2,500 SIST Nonprofit Grant for its transitional housing project and Support, Education, Empowerment and Directions. The three runner-ups include the Starbright Foundation, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona and AZ
Friends of Foster Children Foundation. Each organization will receive $500. The Women’s Opportunity Award Winner is April Macak, a single mother of three children who is employed as a server and as a domestic violence advocate. Meanwhile, she is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies in criminal justice with the hopes of working as a legal advocate for women and children who have gone through a traumatic experience. Macak will receive $2,000 during the luncheon to help her reach her goals. The runner-up, Rachel Halby, an Arizona State University student working toward a biology degree, will receive $1,000 so she can attend dental school. She hopes to start her own dental practice to help those who do not have access to dental care. The Violet Richardson Award Winner is Lindsey Chew, a Hamilton High School student who volunteers at Chandler Regional Medical Center four hours a week in different departments. While working, Chew noticed many patients stayed in their rooms, which led to her starting Operation Origami. She makes lucky origami trinkets and gives them to the patients. Chew will receive $500 and Operation Origami will receive $250 during the luncheon. This year’s Hannah Apperson Winner is Cindy Le, a Hamilton High School student who volunteers for the American Red Cross. She founded an American Red Cross club at her school at age 15 and
has volunteered more than 500 hours of community service. Le turned the club into the largest one at her school with 250 members. She will receive $500 and Red Cross will get $200. The Ruby Award Winner is accountant
Barbara Benham. She has served on the board of directors, as well as the treasurer, for Chandler Christian Community Center. She also serves on the Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods Women’s Auxiliary. Benham will be honored for her volunteer work at the Chandler Christian Community Center. Greene says in years past many of their grant winners have moved on to the regional and national level earning more money to pursue their goals. Soroptimist International of the San Tans is part of the Soroptimist International organization, which has clubs worldwide. The San Tans chapter has 26 members who are active in the community, therefore touching many lives, Green explains. Approximately 90 percent of the funds raised by the Soroptimist International of the San Tans stay in the East Valley and the remaining 10 percent goes toward international projects. “Our focus is to improve the lives of women and their families,” she says. Many of the grants go to women who are returning to the workplace after unfortunate circumstances. “We are improving the status of women one way or another,” Greene says. For more information, visit www. soroptimistofsantans.org. Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com.