event
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE DRIVE THE DREAM GALA Musical icons headline the Childhelp Oz-themed event ALISON BAILIN BATZ
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ou know an event is big when one of the “house bands” is The Temptations. Yes, those Temptations. As in My Girl, Ain’t to Proud to Beg, and The Way You Do The Things You Do, among about a dozen other hit songs. On Saturday, January 14, the Grammy winning super group will join together with recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Cetera as well as The London Essentials and the Montreal Rhapsody Orchestra to put on the performance of a lifetime at Childhelp’s 13th Annual Drive the Dream Gala. “Beyond the A-list entertainment, we are aiming to take our guests on a ‘Journey to Oz’ throughout the event, from our multi-course dinner menu to our eye popping decor and event design. We are quite literally transforming Arizona’s beloved Biltmore Resort into the Land of Oz for this one special night,” explains Sara O’Meara, Childhelp co-founder, CEO and chair. The star-studded event, which is cochaired by Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson and Mr. Richard J. Stephenson, is expected to raise $1 million for Childhelp. With headquarters right here in the Valley, Childhelp has brought the light of hope and healing into the lives of countless children as a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk children. Childhelp’s programs and services include residential treatment services,
If You Go…
WHAT: 13th Annual Drive the Dream Gala WHEN: Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. WHERE: Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix TICKETS: Tickets start at $1,000 INFORMATION: www.childhelpdrivethedream.org children's advocacy centers, therapeutic foster care, group homes and child abuse prevention, education and training. The story of Childhelp, which has earned renewed attention in recent years thanks to a best-selling book and Lifetime television movie about the founders, spans more than 50 years and begins with two young actresses – Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson – who were traveling abroad and came across 11 homeless orphans in the street. “We took every one of those sweet children to our hotel, where we bathed and fed them,” O’Meara recalls. “We stayed with those children – against the wishes of our business teams and travel planners, until we found homes and care for each one.” UPTOWN |
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And just like that, what would become the world’s largest organization dedicated to helping meet the physical, emotional and educational needs of abused, neglected and at-risk kids was born. With the help of Childhelp advocate and friend the late Nancy Reagan – and more recently Senator Jon Kyl and wife Caryll Kyl, who will be honored during the event this year – the organization has succeeded in touching lives on nearly every continent. “Like the Scarecrow’s journey, Lion’s quest and Tin Man’s search, we will be honoring the mind, courage and heart of a recovering child at this year’s gala in addition to recognizing local leaders who have been long-time supporters of our cause, including Senator and Mrs. Kyl,” O’Meara says.