|
It’s
time for some very special ladies to
take a bow. For sixty years the
dedicated women of the Desert Club have
invested a vast amount of time and
energy into enriching the Kyrene
Corridor and much of the southeast
Valley.
Founded in 1946, Desert Club is a
non-profit service organization that
gives wings to the hopes and dreams of
many Southeast Valley students via
scholarships and community projects. Its
members also provide community grants to
non-profit organizations serving women
and children.
What a
lot of these grateful recipients may not
know is that the majority of the money
raised for their scholarships comes from
the Christmas Idea House – the group’s
premier fundraiser. Even though it’s
still hot enough to get a third degree
burn from your steering wheel, the gals
at Desert Club are gleefully awaiting
this annual extravaganza.
This
is no small feat – the weekend brings in
a stunning $100,000 a year.
Desert
Club members delight in discovering
custom-home owners in the southeast
Valley to sponsor their gala home tour.
A seasonal tradition, the event is often
hosted by high-profile residents such as
homebuilder Ira Fulton, who graciously
loaned his home twice.
During
this yearly “winter wonderland,”
visitors have the opportunity to peruse
beguiling and elegant Christmas
decorations that are for sale. Examples
include homemade and market items such
as iron luminarias, wreaths, dolls,
dollhouses, braided garlands, baskets
filled with candy, lap blankets, teddy
bears and more. To add to the
enchantment, each room has a unique
decorative flavor.
The
paramount opportunity to see the house
is through a luxurious gala dinner and
dance held the Thursday evening before
the weekend tour (typically $75 per
person). A silent auction is also part
of the festivities.
After
touring the home, the dinner and dance
are either at the premises or at a local
hotel such as the Pointe or Buttes. The
next day is called Sneak Preview ($50)
and includes tour and brunch. The
weekend tour for the general public is
$10.
While
club members put their heart and soul
into the Christmas Idea House, it is the
philanthropic component that yields the
biggest sense of personal satisfaction.
“We’ve
given out over $2 million since our
inception 60 years ago,” says Past
President Glenda Stechnij.
“And
we’ve made $100,000 each year since
1992, a fact we’re very excited about.
There is a strong community need, and
we’re happy to help out. People think
that parents save their money for
college, but you find out some of these
kids are totally on their own, working
and putting themselves through school.”
One
community project in particular
resonates for long time member Mary
Alexsen.
“My
daughter’s Spanish teacher at Pueblo
Middle School had a son who was in a
horrible car accident,” she begins.
“Unfortunately, he was left pretty
incapacitated. My heart broke for this
woman who was constantly visiting him in
the nursing home. The staff there told
this teacher that her son was visually
following the fish in the nursing home’s
fish tank.
“When
her son got moved home, our organization
provided the family with $1,000 toward
with the purchase of a fish tank.”
According to Axelsen, two-thirds of the
proceeds go toward scholarships for
local teens—those with stellar abilities
but with grades that are not quite high
enough to merit a traditional
scholarship.
Many
of the scholarship winners work 30 to 35
hours a week as well as participate in
school and community activities. The
only caveat for receiving scholarships
is that the student needs to keep the
money in the state and attend a local
school.”
“Some
of these kids have alcohol abuse in
their family or have lost a parent,”
says Axelsen. “Our club gives them
opportunities that otherwise would slip
through their hands.”
The
philanthropic group, which has
approximately 50 active members, also
gives money to various community
projects and organizations that Alexsen
says would not exist without their help.
Some past recipients of the club’s
generosity have been Kyrene de la
Mariposa, Child Crisis Center, and
McClintock High School.
The
Desert Club is one way Kyrene Corridor
women contribute to those less fortunate
and form lifetime friendships at the
same time. In the spring, the women
brainstorm the Idea House; in the fall
and in spring they creatively plan
strategies for distributing the money
they’ve raised.
The
group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays at the Women’s Club in
downtown Mesa from September through
April.
The
next meeting is Sept. 27, which also
marks the club's 60th anniversary party.
For more information, contact Glenda
Stechnij (480) 380-5000. |
