VISIONS OF HOPE
BENEFIT RAISES $105,000 FOR WHISPERING HOPE RANCH
85255 The Magazine
July, 2004
 

Kids with special needs will benefit from $105,000 raised at the second annual Golf & Fashion in the Desert 2004. Hosted by Visions of Hope, the event was held on April 22 at the Silverleaf Golf Club and The Country Club at DC Ranch.

Proceeds went to the Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation, a camp in Payson that offers special needs children and their families experiences designed to encourage interactions between campers and animals, says Kristen Salcito, president of Visions of Hope.

Eighty golfers chipped in $495 each to play in the golf tournament. After the tourney, 300 guests enjoyed an art show, fashion show, raffle, silent and live auctions, and dinner.

Featured artist Ron Burns provided an original piece of art that sold for $9,500, and held a book signing and art display with 10 percent of all sales benefitting the ranch.

A fashion show by Jennifer Croll, with jewelry from Michael's Creative Jewelry, dazzled the gathering. Highlights included an anonymous donation of 200 backpacks filled with hats, sunscreen and photo albums for kids attending the camp, and an anonymous individual who offered a matching donation that raised $16,500. "We raised double what we did last year," Salcito says.

Event sponsors included Salcito Custom Homes, Star Plastering Inc., Arrow Electric Inc., Bonner David Galleries, Eddie V's Edgewater Grille, Jennifer Croll.Croll Sport, Ron Burns, Scottsdale Lexus, Silverleaf Golf Club, Stockett Tile & Granite Co. and 85255 The Magazine.