The seventh annual Grand Canyon Community Charity Gala raised a record-shattering $285,000 Saturday evening, surpassing last year’s total by more than $60,000 and providing a powerful demonstration of the generosity and community spirit that defines the northern Arizona region during the holiday season. The black-tie event, held at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, brought together more than 350 guests from across Coconino County for an evening of dinner, live entertainment, and both silent and live auctions benefiting families facing financial hardship in Grand Canyon gateway communities.
The gala is the signature annual fundraiser of the Canyon Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 2019 to provide direct assistance to families in Tusayan, Williams, Grand Canyon Village, and surrounding rural areas who are experiencing financial emergencies, medical crises, or housing instability. Foundation Executive Director Sandra Chee Dodge opened the evening with an emotional address that highlighted the real-world impact of the organization’s work over the past year.
“Last year, this foundation helped 47 families keep their lights on, their rent paid, or their medical bills covered during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Chee Dodge told the audience. “Behind every one of those numbers is a person, a family, a neighbor, a colleague, a friend. Tonight, we have the opportunity to ensure that when the next family faces a crisis, the support they need will be there.”
The evening’s live auction was the centerpiece of the fundraising effort, featuring donated experiences and items that reflected the unique character of the region. A private helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon donated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters sparked a spirited bidding war that ultimately closed at $12,000. A seven-night stay at a luxury cabin near Sedona went for $8,500. A package of original artwork by Navajo painter and sculptor Thomas Yazzie fetched $6,200. In total, the live auction generated $78,000, while the silent auction, which featured more than 80 items donated by local businesses and individuals, added another $52,000.
Individual and corporate donations accounted for the balance of the evening’s total. The gala’s presenting sponsor, Canyon Adventures LLC, contributed $50,000 to the event. Additional major sponsorships came from Flagstaff Medical Center, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel, and several local real estate and hospitality firms. Foundation board member Richard Chee, who also serves as CEO of Canyon Adventures, said the business community’s support reflects an understanding that the well-being of workers and families is inextricably linked to the region’s economic health.
Among the guests were several families who had received assistance from the foundation in previous years and who attended to share their stories and express gratitude. Williams resident and single mother Angela Moreno, whose family received emergency rent assistance in 2024 after she was injured in a workplace accident, addressed the audience briefly. “When I couldn’t work and the bills were piling up, I didn’t know where to turn,” Moreno said, her voice steady with emotion. “The Canyon Communities Foundation stepped in when I needed it most, and tonight I’m standing here because of the generosity of people in this room.”
The record-breaking total positions the foundation to expand its programs in the coming year. Chee Dodge announced plans to launch a new emergency childcare assistance program for working parents and to increase the maximum individual family assistance grant from $3,000 to $5,000. The foundation is also developing partnerships with healthcare providers to offer subsidized dental and vision care for uninsured residents in gateway communities.
As the evening concluded with a performance by Flagstaff-based country and western band The Coconino County Line, the mood was one of collective accomplishment and community pride. Gala Committee Chair Lauren Trujillo reflected on the growth of the event since its modest beginnings seven years ago. “The first year, we held this in a church fellowship hall and raised $22,000,” Trujillo recalled with a laugh. “To see what it’s become, to see this community come together like this year after year, it gives you real hope that we can take care of each other, no matter what challenges come our way.”
