PANDA Luncheon Raises $2 Million to Fight Children’s Diseases

The 18th Annual PANDA Luncheon took place on March 25 at The Phoenician and raised an estimated $2 million to fight autoimmune diseases in children.
PANDA (People Acting Now Discover Answers) was raising funds for the Children’s Autoimmunity and Allergies Project, which seeks to help unravel the mystery of common autoimmune issues among children – type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis, Crohn’s disease, colitis, severe food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, and celiac disease.
More than 1,100 people attended this year’s event, chaired by Janey Henze Cook and Tammy Ryan. The “Children Helping Children” Fashion Show and Luncheon featured 55 child models, a live and silent auction and raffle.
The organization was founded by Penny Gunning and Robyn DeBell in 1999 and to date, PANDA (People Acting Now Discover Answers), has donated more than $9 million to improve treatments and cures for devastating childhood diseases as well as fund and recruit internationally recognized pediatric physicians and scientists to Arizona, providing local families with the most cutting-edge medical care.  To learn more, visit www.azpanda.org.