Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside stories on the people who make a difference. 

 Kathy reports on the party that set 3 fundraising records.

 At one of the most emotionally rewarding holiday fundraisers - a donated Christmas tree sold for $61,000. (The celestial scene on the tree has real working harps!) The United Air Ambulance tree was one of 11 professionally decorated trees in the live auction at the 2015 Holiday Festival of Trees.

 Internationally respected surgeon Dr. Daniel Caruso, who has been involved with the charity for years, chaired the gala. (The surgeon with the Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center is pictured above with his family.)

Above is the $61,000 tree which set a record for the 17 year old gala. And amidst the auction fever, the event boasted a record attendance and raised a record amount - - - just shy of half a million dollars! And that’s a NET amount for the coffers of the Arizona Burn Foundation.

 “ This year’s Festival of Trees event surpassed our wildest expectations and broke all previous records,” says the center's CEO Robyn Julien pictured below left with board member Yvette Harraway and emcee Fox 10's Kari Lake.  The second highest bid for one of the fresh cut trees was for the Forever Living Products tree which sold for $25,000.  “I remember the day I was ecstatic to tell you about the record $124,000 raised, “ adds the center’s Executive Vice President of Advancement, Nan McCoy, pictured below right.

The holiday celebration continued the day following the gala, when local  off-duty fire fighters from around the Valley coordinated by Scottsdale Firefighter Rob Clark, delivered the huge trees on their fire trucks to the highest bidders.

The Arizona Burn Foundation raises critical funds for burn survivors and their families and programs such as the Arizona Children’s Burn Camp “Camp Courage”, the Forever Courage House family shelter as well as its many outreach/prevention programs such as state-wide smoke alarm walks. 

Cheers to this record setting fundraiser!

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer and TV -Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. The former TV Reporter has written for publications such as TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES.  You can reach her at   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it