Child Crisis Arizona, a Mesa nonprofit, recently welcomed nearly 500 guests to its annual Lunch for Love fundraising event, raising more than $1 million in one hour to support the organization’s foster care and adoption services, family education, children’s counseling, and health and wellness programs.

“Picture a young adult who grew up in foster care. On their 18th birthday, they ‘age out’ of the system. One week they have a roof over their head; the next, they don’t. No family to call. No steady adult to guide them. Just the overwhelming challenge of stepping into adulthood alone,” Chief Executive Officer Torrie A. Taj said as she welcomed the crowd, according to a release. “Or a child removed from home because of abuse. That moment of uncertainty is one no child should ever face. Yet too many do. And when they do, it’s up to all of us to step in, to wrap them in safety, stability and love.”

Through wraparound services for children, teens and families, Child Crisis Arizona is building a safety net strong enough to catch challenges before they become crises, she said at the Oct. 30 event, according to the release.

“Preventing abuse, neglect and poverty means standing beside families early, helping parents gain confidence, helping children feel secure, helping communities grow stronger,” Taj said before she announced the launch of the Child Crisis Arizona Everlasting Impact Initiative.

The goal of the initiative is to ensures that Child Crisis Arizona’s early education programs remain funded and sustainable for generations. Through it, donors can make transformational gifts, with their names woven into classrooms, playgrounds, and spaces where children learn, play and dream.

Child Crisis Arizona board chair Dino Camunez also spoke at the event as well as past board chair and long-time supporter Mary Michel.

“In just the past year alone, Child Crisis Arizona has served nearly 50,000 individuals through prevention, intervention and wellness programming,” Camunez said in the release. “Even more inspiring is the way the organization has continued to expand to meet community needs, offering wraparound services that support everyone from prenatal mothers to young adults aging out of foster care, and even adults with developmental disabilities. It is this commitment to caring for all ages, all backgrounds, and all circumstances that makes Child Crisis Arizona truly extraordinary.”

Higher Octave Healing, a nonprofit that conducts music therapy in Child Crisis Arizona’s emergency shelter as well as at the Center for Child & Family Wellness, entertained the crowd throughout the luncheon, and former foster parent and adoptive mother Nicole Schmidt also shared her story.

“Our lives changed forever as we were introduced to this beautiful new baby boy named Rylee. There were countless appointments, court dates and visitations. And while my friends were supportive, none of them truly understood what foster parenting felt like; the mix of love, fear, and hope that fills every day,” said Schmidt about her first days as a foster parent.

Lunch for Love was made possible by the sponsorship of Bidstrup Gift Fund, General Dynamics, Wilde Wealth Management Group, Papetti Samuels Weiss McKirgen, JARS, The OPUS Group, and Sunflower Bank.

For information, visit childcrisisaz.org.