Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Journalist, author and television host Lisa Ling will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 We Are United Luncheon — the annual fundraising event hosted by the Valley of the Sun United Way’s Women United.

Ling, who currently hosts CNN’s This Is Life With Lisa Ling, will speak at the luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort at 5402 E. Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley.

Jenny Holsman-Tetreault and Latasha Causey will serve as the honorary chairwomen for this event, and sponsorship opportunities, single tickets and table sales are currently available through www.vsuw.org/luncheon.

In addition to hosting her own show, which focuses on unconventional lifestyles, subcultures and communities in the United States, Ling has enjoyed a storied career in television and journalism. Past claims to fame include hosting OWN’s Our America With Lisa Ling, ABC’s The View and National Geographic’s National Geographic Explorer, and she also spent time serving as a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN, among numerous other appearances. She also co-authored the book Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home, alongside her sister, Laura.

Proceeds from the We Are United Luncheon directly benefit the Valley of the Sun United Way’s efforts to eradicate hunger in the classroom, helping fund efforts that include the Breakfast in the Classroom program and the WeekEnd Hunger Backpacks campaign, which provides underserved students with nourishing food for the weekend.

Last year’s event, which featured keynote speaker Vanessa Williams, raised more than $250,000, and to date, the fundraiser has raised funds to help more than 130,000 students in Maricopa County each year.

When children have access to a healthy breakfast, they become far more likely to focus on academics. Valley of the Sun United Way is on a mission to provide Breakfast in the Classroom to children in need throughout Maricopa County as part of its efforts to reduce chronic hunger, and the funds raised through this event play a critical role in doing so. VSUW’s WeekEnd Hunger Backpacks, meanwhile, provide more than 500 local students and families facing poverty with enough food to feed the entire family over the weekend.

For more information on the We Are United event or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities and table sales, please contact Kelli Fawcett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 602.631.4800.

To learn more or to pre-register, visit www.vsuw.org/luncheon.

About Valley of the Sun United Way

Since 1925, Valley of the Sun United Way has unified diverse partners, donors, business supporters, nonprofits, government and faith-based communities to build a stronger Valley for us all. United Way and its 90,000 donors, 400 business supporters and 5,000 volunteers fight to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring children and youth succeed, ending hunger and homelessness, and increasing the financial stability of families. Join the fight, visit vsuw.org.

About Women United:

Valley of the Sun United Way's 'Women United' embraces the philanthropic spirit of Frances Wisebart Jacobs, founder of the nation’s first United Way 125 years ago, who understood the power of women to effect change.  The influential women of the 'Women United' network advocate to support United Way by giving, volunteering, and inspiring others to join in breaking the cycle of poverty in our community.  Join us at vsuw.org/you-can-help/join-a-group/wu.