Last month's Interfaith gala raised $75,000

Mary Chou-Thompson, marketing and public relations specialist for Interfaith Community Care, submitted this information.

Interfaith Community Care's fifth annual Harvest Moon Gala, which took place last month, was met by great support from the community, with a total of $75,000 raised over the course of the evening.

"We really tried to step up our efforts in planning this year's gala," said Michelle Dionisio, president and chief executive of Interfaith. "With growing popularity and support year after year, we wanted to make this year's gala the best yet."

Responding to the popularity of last year's sold-out event, this year's gala was moved to the Wigwam Resort and Spa in Litchfield Park. A total of 300 people attended.

City officials including Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt, Surprise Vice Mayor Roy Villanueva, Goodyear Mayor James M. Cavanaugh, Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett and Peoria Vice Mayor Cathy Carlat attended.

"We are very fortunate to have so much support from community leaders," Dionisio said.

Complete with dinner, dancing, auctions and a 2009 Lexus raffle giveaway, the Harvest Moon Gala is Interfaith's largest annual fundraiser to support the agency's many programs, which provide community services such as specialized day centers for the elderly and grocery shopping, prescription pick-up and transportation for the homebound.

With the Hellen and John M. Jacobs Independence Plaza set to open at the end of this month, the agency is gearing up to open a child development center and another adult day center to be within the plaza. Both centers will work in conjunction to feature an innovative intergenerational program.

"We are so thrilled to see Interfaith expand and grow to continually meet the needs of the community," Dionisio said.

Interfaith Community Care is grateful to gala sponsors. The Harvest Moon Gala would not be as successful without them. A special thanks goes to the title sponsor, Arrowhead Lexus, and presenting sponsors Arizona American Water and APS. Other sponsors include Glendale Printing, Circle of Caring Friends, The Arizona Republic, and various table sponsors.

Interfaith Community Care is a non-denominational, not-for-profit, community-supported human services agency providing care services for seniors and disabled adults since 1981. For more information on services: 623-584-4999 or www.interfaithcommunitycare.org.