Assistance League of Phoenix Hosts Havana Nights!
Assistance League of Phoenix, known for its Operation School Bell program, hosted its 46th annual gala, themed Havana Nights, at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia on April 1. The gala and its 400 guests helped raise crucial funds to benefit Phoenix-area children in need. Operation School Bell provides school uniforms, shoes and other necessary items for thousands of at-risk children.
The evening honored native Arizonans Dr. Lattie Coor and Mrs. Elva Coor and the Hon. Ed Pastor and Mrs. Verma Pastor.
Lattie Coor served as president of Arizona State University from 1990 through 2002. After leaving this position, he co-founded and now leads the Center for the Future of Arizona. Elva Coor developed the President’s Community Enrichment Program at ASU to bring the greater community and the university together. She founded and remains involved with Speak Out Arizona, a civic engagement project inspired by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
The Pastors were born and raised in Arizona and started their careers as teachers. A kindergarten through 8th grade school in the Roosevelt District is named the Ed and Verma Pastor Elementary School. Now retired, Ed Pastor served as U.S. Congressman for Arizona’s 7th District for 24 years. After teaching, Verma Pastor served as the director of Bilingual and Migrant Education at the Arizona Department of Education for 20 years.
Paul Luna, president and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation, served as the evening’s honorary chair, and Diana Murray was the event chair.
PHOTOS COURTESY ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF PHOENIX
Table centerpiece; Tom Whalen and Brenda Sperduti, CEO and executive director, Assistance League of Phoenix
Fran Patton, Assistance League of Phoenix board chair; Elva Coor and Dr. Lattie Coor
Standing: LaShalle King, Catherine King Todd, Claudia Canterbury and Michael Gabay. Sitting: Phyllis Mack, Cathy and Mo Stein, Dorothy Hobbs, Cathy Fiss and Nancy Heffron
Standing: Cole Jackson, Anna Belmer, Lexi Richter Good, Warren Good and Greg Lehman. Sitting: Sheri and Ron Jackson, Andrea and Michael Waxman and Carolyn Conley
Manny and Kate Fimbres
