1,000-Plus Attend 8th Annual Ryan House Community Breakfast
Almost 1,100 guests attended Ryan House’s Eighth Annual Community Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Resort on May 6. Luis “Gonzo” Gonzalez, senior advisory to the president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, served as honorary chair.
The event raised $337,000 that will directly support the nonprofit organization Ryan House, which relies 100 percent on community donation and cares for Arizona’s most medically fragile children and their families.
“As Ryan House celebrates its sixth year with open doors open hearts, we’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Community Breakfast set an attendance record of nearly 1,100 guests,” says Alyssa Crockett, Ryan House executive director. “We are so grateful for the support of the community, which has opened its heart to Ryan House and embraced our mission. For the children and families we serve, Ryan House is a lifeline.”
Gonzalez gave remarks during the program about the importance of the Ryan House Mission. Lin Sue Cooney, Hospice of the Valley’s community engagement director, served as the morning emcee.
Joal Watson, wife of De Jon Watson, senior vice president of operations for the Arizona Diamondbacks, chaired the breakfast. The event also featured a Ryan House family keynote from the Kizer family, a vocal performance by Ashley Creighton and a blessing by Ryan Cottor, namesake for Ryan House.
Ryan House is a safe and joyful place where kids can be kids and families can be families. During respite stays of up to 28 days per year. Ryan House provides normative childhood experiences, including swimming and sleepovers, to children whose medical conditions make that difficult and empowers children to live their best life. Ryan House is only one of two facilities of its kind in the nation. In its six years, it has served 560 families, and it is estimated as many as 5,000 families in Maricopa County could benefit from this kind of care.
HAUTE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY