My Dear Friends – attached please find a letter from our President and CEO of the Arizona Veterans Foundation, David Lucier. David is a soldier from our Special Operations Command, a War Hero, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, and a great and loyal friend. David and my very dear friends from the SOA, Special Operations Association, a special branch of our US Military whose members all fought behind enemy lines, have come to the rescue to help us educate and care for our homeless children. Thus the title “Heroes Past and Heroes Future” for this Inaugural CFA/SOA Gala.
I am hoping that you can join us on November 20 at Turf Paradise Race Track to help raise awareness and money to help educate, feed, and provide healthcare for the future leaders and citizens of our country. This is our opportunity to teach and help our disadvantaged children how to fish and show them the right way to becoming productive citizens of our country though the CFA, Children First Academy, an AZ State Chartered School in Tempe and Phoenix. The other half of the proceeds will be used to help benefit several Special Operations Association charities.
This will also be a special day as we pay special Tribute to our Special Operations Association, our War Heroes, and our Veterans. Each of the 9 races will be named after a Military Branch like the Air Force, US Marines, Army, Navy, West Point Academy, Special Operations Association, etc. The highlight of the races features two very special branches during WWII: The Tuskegee Airmen Race and the 442 Regiment Race. These two very special branches represents our minorities who fought and died for our country to show their patriotism. They are heavily decorated and an integral part of the Greatest Generation that created the best country in the world and precious freedom we are all enjoying today. Our soldiers are buried all over the world giving up their lives to protect the freedom of other countries.
The festivities starts at 11:30 AM and continues until around 5 PM. We will be having a variety of special celebrations highlighted by Polynesian Dancers, Military Band, Flyover, and Parachute jumps. We will also be having Silent and Live Auctions along with selling Military Memorabilia.
There are many ways you can help:
1. Every dollar of donation counts no matter the amount. Make your check payable to: Arizona Veterans Foundation and the mailing address is: 1104 S. Ash Ave. Tempe AZ 85281. Please call David Lucier at 480-703-4008 if you have any questions and wish to volunteer.
2. We would love to have Silent and Live Auction Items of all kinds like: hotel stays, restaurant vouchers, golf games, lunch or dinner with a Celebrity; goods, merchandises, etc.
3. We would love for you to be a volunteer and your primary tasks are to: help find donors; share this message with your friends, and or offer to help on race day. The race track is located on 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023.
4. Please feel free to contact Dina Gerdon, Jerald Lewis, and Jarret Sharp if you all want to make donations directly to the Children First Academy. We will take anything from used clothes, food items, furniture, soaps, towels, books, toys, shampoos, etc. The first things we do when our children gets to school is provide them with food, clothing, and clean them up. Yes, things a lot of us take for granted is a glorious experience for these special children. We hope you can visit our school in Phoenix or Tempe and you will see how happy and determined they are to get an education.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter. God bless you and God bless America.
Sincerely and respectfully yours,
Eddie Tantoco
CFA/SOA Volunteer
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Community Service Volunteer
