Kurt Warner Talks ‘Celebrity Game Night,’ Treasure House
By Karen Werner
Kurt and Brenda Warner have attended a lot of fundraisers over the years and noticed that they tend to be similar. Dinner, speeches, auctions. So when the time came for them to plan a fundraiser for their most passionate cause — Treasure House – they tried to do things differently.
“We tried to create something that was fun, fast-paced, memorable and interactive,” Kurt said.
It sounded a lot like family game night at the Hall of Fame quarterback’s house. “In our family, games are a big part of what we do,” he said. “So we thought, let’s take that theme and put it into a big event so people can get a glimpse of who we are — the competitiveness and fun.”
Hosted by Kurt and Brenda, the second-annual Celebrity Game Night coming on Feb. 15 will be a low-key evening that offers guests a chance to mingle, play games and compete for prizes. The program will also feature professional athletes and celebrities competing in mock game shows and interactive contests.
But the objective of Celebrity Game Night is more than fun and games. It’s to raise funds for Treasure House, a unique supportive living environment for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Last September, the Warners opened the first Treasure House in Glendale, a unique facility inspired by their son Zack.
“As a parent of a child with intellectual disabilities, it’s an opportunity to dream differently for your child,” Kurt said. “The goal at Treasure House is to give them the opportunity to step into their purpose, to accomplish what they want to accomplish, to figure out what that looks like. Being around a peer group and having a purpose and a job is what drives all of us.”
About five months in, Treasure House is attracting more young residents. “The buzz and the energy there is phenomenal every time we walk in,” Kurt said.
To help raise money for the growing organization, the Warners turned to another Arizona Cardinals legend and community philanthropist: Larry Fitzgerald. The highlight of Celebrity Game Night will be an in-depth conversation about his life and career.
“Larry is a good friend of mine,” Kurt said, “and it will be great to celebrate him. They don’t get any better, from the individual that he is, to what he’s accomplished, to what he does for the community.”
Kurt is looking forward to showing Celebrity Game Night guests his family’s idea of a good time – a relaxed environment, lots of laughs and plenty of fun, all while supporting a great cause.
And yes, there will be heated competition.
Who in the Warner household is most competitive? “I am,” Kurt said quickly. “But you watch my wife and oldest daughter and it looks different, but they’re just as competitive. When somebody makes a little mistake, they’re the first ones to call it out.”
Kurt invites community members to get a peek of this family dynamic. “That’s what’s cool about Celebrity Game Night. Everybody wants to win, but they’re OK losing. It’s just being a part of the experience, creating memories by playing games.”
To learn more, go to treasurehouse.org/gamenight.
