On Saturday, October 1st, AzDS hosted the 18th Annual Fall Fundraiser at the Mesa Convention Center. The organization was very pleased to have 280 guests to bid on the 158 silent auction items and 7 live auction items. Joe Dana of 12 News entertained the crowd as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening with support from certified auctioneer, Letitia Frye who won over the crowd during the live auction. Special thank you to DJ Larry Indelicato, vocalist Laura Danielle Walsh and her band and Monsignor Nestor for their support at the 2011 event. Congratulations to the organizing committee for a successful 18th year - especially Linda Hughes and Deb Krecek who put in countless hours of volunteer work towards the event.
Annually at the Fall Fundraiser, AzDS presents the Jay Coyner Award to the most deserving athlete with a physical disability. The 2011 recipient is Rachel Kroener. Rachel has competed with the Junior Suns wheelchair basketball team since 2008 and recently began playing on both the junior and the adult women’s wheelchair basketball teams. In August of 2011, after only two seasons with the track and field team, Rachel was announced as a member of the US Paralympic Track & Field High School All-American Team. Rachel set the America’s record in both the discus and javelin at the 2011 National Junior Disability Championships. At the NJDC in Michigan, Rachel only competed for one day but she attended each day to cheer on her teammates. Rachel is an outstanding athlete and a dedicated teammate. Congratulations to Rachel Kroener for winning the 2011 Jay Coyner Award.
