The Stars: Season 2
Tina Curran and Monica Monson are co-chairing the 2nd annual Stars of the Season to benefit the Pediatric Rehabilitation Center at Cardon Children’s Medical Center. The party the pair describe as high energy and fun will be at the Montelucia Resort & Spa.
“We’re edgy and forward,” Tina says. “But our focus is on the children.”
Tina’s husband, Dr. David Curran, is chairman of the two-year-old hospital’s department of pediatric medicine. The couple have been involved with Cardon Children’s from its inception.
“As they were planning this phenomenal children’s hospital, I wanted my children to take part in the opening,” Tina says.
So she started a toy drive at her children’s schools – Copper Ridge elementary school and Camelback Desert in Scottsdale. Her goal was to stock the toy closet on each of the seven floors of the new hospital. They collected so many toys they had to rent a U-Haul to deliver them.
That marked the beginning of Tina helping plan the inaugural Stars of the Season event last year, held at the W in Scottsdale.
The event sold out – and maxed out the space at the W. They expect this year’s event at the Montelucia to be sold out at 540.
While Tina was a founding member of the PANDA spring children’s fashion show, this is the first time Monica – who sells luxury real estate in Paradise Valley – has chaired a large fundraising event. She got involved with Cardon Children’s through her friend Tina – helping coordinate the toy drive.
Tina and David Curran with their three sons, Jonathan, Mitchell and Bennett.
The Curran and Monson families became friends when they lived in the same north Scottsdale neighborhood. The Currans have three sons – Jonathan, 10; Bennett, 8; and Mitchell, 4. The Monsons have two sons, Logan, 9, and Miles, 7.
Mark and Monica Monson with Miles and Logan.
With five boys between them (making Tina and Monica greatly outnumbered), the families enjoy outings together – baseball games, trips to Pine Canyon, golfing for the adults. “We need more spa days,” Tina laughs.
“We’ve experienced all of our children being born. On many levels, it’s been special,” Monica says. “It makes it extra special when you have your girlfriend to work with you.”
Special also is this year’s Stars of the Season – A Night in Rio. The colorful evening will include Brazilian dancers and drummers. Hollywood reporter and sports journalist Jon Kelley, a friend of Monica's husband, Mark, will serve as the evening’s emcee, and Chester Bennington, lead singer for Linkin Park, has brought his star power to the evening.
Bennington and his wife, Talinda, are advisory board members. This year, he volunteered his services as entertainment as well.
After dinner in the Montelucia ballroom, he will perform a concert outside under the stars.
Tina and Monica are committed to Cardon Children’s. “It’s wonderful to have a place where parents don’t have to drive all over town to find the services they need,” Tina says. “It’s family-centered, and everything was developed as it would be seen through the eyes of a child.”
