CHEERS TO THE CHAIR { Society of Chairs } Frontdoors is proud to recognize those who volunteer their time, treasure and talents to support local organizations in a leadership role. 36 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | FEBRUARY 2019 Thank you to all of our February Cheers to the Chairs! nominees: Jamie Andersen: Chair, Dancing with the Stars Arizona | Elizabeth Benoit & Cherie Rankin: Co-Chairs, Jr. League of Phoenix Rummage Sale Deborah Carstens: Honorary Grandparent Chair, Children's Museum of Phoenix Gala | Suzanne Hensing: Chair, Galaxy Gala | Andrea Katsenes: Chair, Fresh Start Gala To Nominate Your Event Chair, Co-Chairs, Honorary Chair or Board Chair, Contact Jill@FrontdoorsMedia.com. Monique Porras 2019 Evening of Hope Gala Chair Benefiting American Cancer Society, cancer.org How long have you been involved with the organization? I’ve been supporting it for decades. But related to the Evening of Hope Gala, this is my first year, and I’m committed to coming out of the gate with an impact! Why do you support the organization? At 19, I lost my mother to cancer. So I sacrifice my personal time to raise awareness and fundraise with the thought of my mom’s struggle. Every ask for support I make, every planning session, every night/weekend I am working on this, I do it with the memory of the day my mom asked me to apply her makeup for her funeral. The same strength I needed to fulfill her wish is the same fearlessness I have toward this gala. I believe in my mission to rejuvenate this event, to diversify the sponsorship base of organizations to truly represent the reach of cancer — it affects everyone in some way. And personally, I hope my community involvement will be a lifelong influence on my teenage son and an honor to my mother’s memory. Describe this year’s event. It’s going to be pretty amazing! My committee and I are giving this event a complete rejuvenation and incorporating some unique aspects that have never been done with the gala before. We plan to have notable names, public officials, Letitia Frye auctioning some unique experiences, and incredible entertainment. Money raised at this gala not only helps people locally, but the impact reaches far beyond. We are raising money that directly influences the patient. Favorite restaurant: Ocean 44 just moved to the top of my list. Incredible food, flavors and service. Favorite place to travel: Back “home” to the Washington DC area. Proudest accomplishment: Leaving my longtime home base of the DC area to move to Arizona — knowing no one, single and with my 1½-year-old son — all to build up a large network and start my own company. Secret talent: I write cursive backwards to where you can read it through the other side of the paper. (I know … strange.) Talent I wish I had: To be a sommelier. How much fun would that be? Fun fact about you: I grew up on the East Coast, exposed to wonderful experiences through my parents, who are multicultural. My mom grew up in a very small town on a farm in Alabama and my dad in East L.A. I had the luxury of spending family vacations in these areas, which exposed me to different ways of living, and all are rich in value. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.