The Salvation Army Anniversary Dinner Raises Nearly $500K

Steve Crandall, Karl Eller and community co-chair Bill Shover.

Last month, The Salvation Army celebrated 125 years of serving Arizona with an evening of music, laughter and history. More than 700 guests gathered at the Arizona Biltmore to look back on memorable moments in The Salvation Army’s rich history.

To kick off the evening, Phoenix Theatre actors took the stage for a lighthearted production about Arizona’s early history and The Salvation Army’s establishment in the state in 1893. Other highlights included a “Did You Know?” presentation of fun facts about the organization, including the organization’s Donut Lassies, who served the sweet treats to soldiers on the front lines during World War I.

Metro Phoenix advisory board chair Jeff Taylor closed the evening with his powerful personal account of how The Salvation Army helped him break the cycle of drug addiction and homelessness.

The evening, which was co-chaired by Kay and Bill Shover and honorary chair Jerry Colangelo, raised approximately $500,000 to benefit The Salvation Army’s life-changing social services in the Southwest Division.

southwest.salvationarmy.org.

Photos courtesy of Dave Seibert.