Cancer Support Community Re-establishes Annual Porch Party Fundraiser
By Lynette Carrington
The 15th Annual Porch Party to benefit Cancer Support Community Arizona took place recently at its campus in Central Phoenix.
After taking a year off from the event for restructuring, the casino night themed event returned in a big way welcoming approximately 250 guests and raising nearly $100,000 for the organization.
Cancer Support Community Arizona opened its doors to cancer patients and their loved ones in 1999 at the picturesque 110-year-old history campus that includes everything from a yoga and event room and kitchen to a resource library and peaceful garden.
The organization’s mission is to ensure that all people impacted with cancer are empowered with knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by the community.
“When people are diagnosed with cancer and they’re going through the process, they’re going from doctor to hospital to lab, and it’s all medical,” said Darci Haydukovich, development director for Cancer Support Community. “It can be overwhelming. There is a whole lot of healing that goes on here that the medical professional doesn’t handle.”
“People love Porch Party. It’s our signature event and everybody loves it,” said Debbie DeCarlo, CEO of Cancer Support Community.
Trips, gifts and cop-for-a-day prize items were available to guests who used their “gambling-won” raffle tickets to enter into a drawing for those select prizes.
One goal of Cancer Support Community Arizona in the upcoming year is the remodel of the existing kitchen at the home to make an exhibition kitchen with more space and amenities.
“We have pictures of the concept design of the new kitchen at tonight’s event,” said DeCarlo. “We have the designs and the architect. What we’re hoping to do tonight is ramp up the energy around that project tonight.”
Rick DeBruhl was the emcee for the evening and the fundraiser included a dinner catered by North Restaurant and Fat Freddy’s Catering.
Sponsors for the 2018 Porch Party included CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company, Mayo Clinic, Arizona Central Credit Union, Plexus, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at HonorHealth, BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona, Snell & Wilmer and AZ Big Media.
www.cscaz.org
