Employees of Southwest Gas were among the 200 guests that enjoyed fine food and libations courtesy of Cody Lewien, Managing Partner of Romano’s Macaroni Grill and his staff.
TV5 Sports Director Chris Corragio was on hand to emcee the event. Our guests were entertained by A Tribute to the Blues Brothers, “Magical” Michael Steele, and comedian Michael Finney. Caricature artist Dave Riggs also lent his talents to the evening.
VALLEY clients, staff, caregivers and family members gathered from all over the area to enjoy VALLEY’S annual Octoberfest event. The turnout was large, the weather was great, and a good time was had by all! Our guests enjoyed a cakewalk, root beer races, a pinewood derby, and plenty of food (in addition to the provided lunch, popcorn, snow cones, and other snacks were available all afternoon!) A raffle sent many lucky winners away with prizes!
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated event of all was the costume parade and contest! Prizes were awarded for the most original, the scariest, the funniest and the most creative costumes!
The pinewood derby featured entries from VALLEY DTAs and group home residents. The winning cars were entered by DTA 1, DTA 5, and Hayward group home!
April 6th and May 17th, 2007
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation - Sunnyslope PAL Center
Essential Theatre is a multicultural, interdisciplinary ensemble of professional artists serving audiences in inner city and rural communities across Arizona.
Essential Theatre’s Mission is to reignite the dignity, hope and power of creative choice of audiences through live performances and workshops that are for and about the lives of the participants.
PLAYBACK THEATRE
Playback Theatre is an improvisational performance that allows the audience to tell stories from their lives and watch their stories brought to life by the ensemble using music, movement and theatre.
These performances are made possible by:
Valley of the Sun School’s 15th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony was stuffed full with fun, fest and food!
Valley welcomed the White Mountain Apache Tribe who came down to visit family members who are clients at Valley. The White Mountain folks also donated our beautiful Christmas tree, one of the nicest ones we have ever had. They also brought with them Miss White Mountain Apache, White Mountain
Apache Tribe Princess and the JFK Elementary School Crown Dancers, who performed several of their tribal dances during the ceremony’s events. The festivities started out with holiday music played throughout the day and some Valley staff gathering early outside to start the food cooking and preparation. They cooked hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixings and served all the clients, staff and guests a wonderful holiday lunch during the ceremony. During the lunch hour, we had a wonderful visit from Santa and his elf that mingled around passing out cookies and candy canes. Everyone also enjoyed and participated in holiday singing and we were entertained by DTA 9 who got up and sang “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in front of the crowd and did a fantastic job. The event rounded out with the lighting of the tree, which went off without a hitch! There were cookies and juice for everyone for the trip home and very Merry Holiday Season. wishes for all! To everyone who participated, volunteered and enjoyed our 15th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony a big “Thank You” for coming and being part of our family.
On February 9, 2006, Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center honored FRIENDS OF VALLEY with a luncheon (provided by Calico Cow)
and event which brought out long-time friends and some new ones as well!
Our guests were entertained by soloist Jordin Sparks (Please see her website for moreinformation on this talented singer).
It is through your caring that VALLEY continues to flourish, enabling us to extend community out-reach to those in need of our services.
We are sincerely grateful for your on-going support and look forward to sharing our appreciation at this fun and enlightening event.
Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center and Romano’s Macaroni
Grill recently launched “A LEGACY OF LOVE!” which brought out long-time friends as well
as new ones, and opened up roads not yet traveled. This is only the beginning, and who knows where it will take us. We’ve been traveling for 58 years now; motivated by love. Love for our clients, our employees and all the people who’ve helped us remain a part of this great community for so long. And now, we’re hoping that these same people, joined by many others in our community, will continue to help us as we work on another 58 years of caring for the disabled in Arizona.
The evening was beautiful and full of excitement as many turned out to attend VALLEY’s First Annual “A Legacy Of Love!” Fundraiser held at The Cedars, located on Northern
Avenue in Phoenix. Romano’s Macaroni Grill opened the door to this event by sponsoring the entire meal, including the wine. Debra Petersen arrived with the Grill’s Chef and other employees to ensure that the delicacies made possible by Macaroni Grill far
surpassed anyone’s imagination who may not have already visited Romano’s
Macaroni Grill.
Pat Goldman held the audience by the heart-strings as she shared how she
came to be a part of Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center. She talked about how she and her husband Leonard “Lenny” Goldman found it in their hearts to donate the property located at 2139 E. Northern Avenue in Phoenix, that was last known to most as the Goldman Center before it was sold in 1998, after being used as an Adult Day Program for some of VALLEY’s clients. It was great having Pat back with us again
since Lenny’s death in 1993, however, we know her thoughts have always been here. She is a true friend to VALLEY, and we know how fortunate we are to have Pat in our lives.
Our guests were simply wowed by the eloquence of Cabaret great, Kristen Drathman, who was accompanied by Jonathan Ivie. Kristen delighted the audience with some of the beautiful music that can be found on her CD entitled “Losing Track of Time” which
was made available during the event, with part of the proceeds going to
the VALLEY Foundation. She holds a Musical Theatre performance degree from ASU and is immensely proud of her first CD, which was released October 1, 2002. Most recently, Jonathan worked locally with Phoenix Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix, and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, and is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in piano performance.
So many people helped in so many ways, we can’t possibly name everyone, however, we will try…Heartfelt thanks goes out to Debra Petersen and Romano’s Macaroni Grill Chef & Staff, Christina Romano – Manager & Chef, Ed Perry – Romano’s Macaroni Grill Area Manager, David Henry – Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Regional Director Susan Greenhalgh and the Calico Cow Restaurant,Kristen Drathman, Jonathan Ivie, Susan
Sabbagh and The Cedars, Ed Herman and Herman & Sons Piano Merchants, Chryl
Bohnenkamp and Philanthrophic Development Partners, Inc., Michaels – the Arts and Crafts Store, Ed Perry, David Henry, Pat Goldman, Bob Greening, Bertie Krell, E. Jean Morgan, Karen Neilson, Keith Brannoch, Mary Brannoch, Heather Bull, Char Nelson, Alma Fuclés, Cynthia Williams, Barb Handlong, Cindy McNeely,
Elizabeth “Libby” Eddy, Gary Pardo, Betsy Ramos, Rachel Rediger, Dick Orberg and staff, Don Saw, Dr. J. Phillip Nelson and the Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center Board of Directors, The Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center Foundation, Cletus A. Thiebeau and Employees of Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center and Julian Benavidez and Clients and Employees of Williams Express Document and Print Services.
Legend Trail Golf Course
9462 Legendary Lane
Scottsdale, Arizona 85262
March 8, 2007: VALLEY volunteers, sponsors past and present, staff, clients, friends and family all gathered in the newly-renamed Valley Auxiliary Training and Vocational Center for the third annual “Friends of Valley” luncheon.
While the delicious food (catered by Romano’s Macaroni Grill) may have been an attraction, the main order of business was the recognition of the good things VALLEY’S volunteers and sponsors have done throughout the past year. The honorees are too numerous to mention here, but VALLEY thanks them for everything they’ve done (and continue to do!).
Guest were greeted by clients from VALLEY’S Day Treatment programs and staff members who donated their time and effort to ensure the event’s success. The attendees heard speeches by VALLEY CEO Cletus A. Thiebeau, Board of Directors President Dr. Phillip Nelson, and Director of Vocational Services Michael Duncan. A poem written by one of VALLEY’S clients was read by Human Resources Coordinator Betsy Ramos to close the afternoon’s program.
Friday, April 13, 2007 -
VALLEY clients, staff, families and friends gathered on VALLEY’s main campus for food, music, prizes, and generally GOOD TIMES!
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