Tempe Community Action Agency recently announced the nonprofit’s 19th annual VICINITY fundraising event, a meaningful and community-oriented space for people to gather, dine, shop and utilize the collective power of generosity to enact lasting change for vulnerable populations. 

This celebration of hope and resilience will take place on Friday, March 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Arizona Heritage Center. A press release explained that it will feature a live and silent auction, delicious food from local restaurants and beverage partners, music and more. 

TCAA CEO Deborah Arteaga said in the release that the group’s human services are not possible without financial and volunteer support from the community.

“Whether it be through winning a priceless experience in our auction, making a donation or simply attending, guests can quite literally ‘show up’ to uplift underserved communities,” Arteaga said.

Pricing for the VICINITY fundraiser begins at $100 for “early bird” pricing and includes one general admission and one drink ticket. Two early bird tickets are $185 and include the previous perks for each person. Early bird pricing will end March 15 and increase to $125 each. 

Attire for VICINITY is business casual, and no cash payments will be accepted. All won items will be available for pick-up at the end of the event at the registration table.

Donations will benefit countless adults and families in need across the Valley, the release stated. 

In 2024, TCAA served a total of 35,508 unduplicated persons through its food pantry, Escalante Community Garden, Nutrition and Aging in Place programs for aging adults, Meals on Wheels, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, senior home-sharing, pregnancy and early childhood development programming, and economic mobility initiatives. 

Additionally, 31,817 people received food boxes and meals during 2024, and 463,294 meals were made possible through TCAA. 829 seniors, adults and children participated in the nonprofit’s health and wellness programming, and 737 households were able to avoid homelessness with financial help through TCAA.

The VICINITY event follows TCAA’s recent capital campaign announcement in January, which entails a new headquarters to permanently house and expand TCAA’s suite of vital human service programs, the release detailed. 

Construction on the site will begin in March and is expected to be finished by May 2026 in time for TCAA’s 60th anniversary. 

The new site will include a 2,300-square-foot market-style food pantry, a 2,000-square-foot operating kitchen supporting meals for program participants, a 3,000-square-foot space to accommodate workstations and meeting areas designated for resource navigation, financial aid and economic programs, as well as 80 new transitional housing and emergency shelter beds.