2026 fundraising focus
For our 26th year, we will focus our fundraising efforts on supporting pediatric scientific breakthroughs in the areas of Advancing Pediatric Cancer Research and Unraveling Autoimmune and Neuroinflammatory Diseases in Children.
Project 1: Advancing Pediatric Cancer Research
We are proud to fund innovative research that advances safer, more effective bone marrow transplants for children with leukemia—through new drug combinations, enhanced immune therapies, and groundbreaking clinical trials. These efforts, along with the renovation of a state-of-the-art research lab, will fuel scientific discovery and support the next generation of pediatric cancer pioneers at Steele Children’s.
Project 2: From Gut Health to Genetic Insight
Along with Steele Children’s, PANDA is trailblazing a new era in pediatric autoimmune and neuroinflammatory research, helping children grow through every step of their health journey. By exploring connections between gut health, genetics, and the immune system, scientists are tackling conditions like Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and early-onset Alzheimer’s in children with Down syndrome. These innovative projects will lead to earlier diagnoses, more personalized care, and groundbreaking treatments—empowering families with answers and lighting the path toward brighter, healthier futures.
Executive Committee
Mandi Schnepf
PRESIDENT
Lyndsay Hayes
VICE PRESIDENT
Julie Linaman
SECRETARY
Ursula Smalley
TREASURER
Kristen Grace
TREASURER ELECT
Dara Cohen
PRESIDENT ELECT
PANDA Chairs
Katie Cosmas
PRODUCTION CHAIR
Jen Dupuy
AUCTIONS CHAIR
Sarah Dworkin
MODELS AND FAMILIES CHAIR
Ellen Silhasek
FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING CHAIR
Meet our 2026 PANDA Models
Event Sponsors
A huge thank you to the partners that make this incredible event and organization possible.
Title Sponsor
Fashion Partner
LIVE AUCTION
RUNWAY & EVENT FAVOR
COCKTAIL
TABLESCAPE
PADDLE
LEMONADE STAND DAY
VALET
SILENT AUCTION
AFTER PARTY
INNOVATION
LETTERS FROM THE WILDFLOWER
RAFFLE
PLAYHOUSE
BACKSTAGE
BACKSTAGE
TECHNOLOGY
PHOTO BOOTH
PATIENT MODEL
PATIENT MODEL
PATIENT MODEL
PATIENT MODEL
PATIENT MODEL
ENTERTAINMENT
LUXURY RESTROOM
CLICK TO EXPAND
In-Kind Donors
A very sincere thank you to all our in-kind donors.
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2026 LEXUS GX550 Premium+
Ride in style with this two-year lease of a 2026 Lexus GX 550 Premium+ in Eminent White with Black Interior. It’s the ultimate vehicle for everyday luxury.
*Winner must qualify for two-year lease value. *21 and over. *10,000 miles/yr.
Donated by Earnhardt Auto Centers & The Earnhardt Family
DIAMOND TENNIS NECKLACE
Add timeless brilliance to your jewelry collection with this exquisite Diamond Tennis Necklace. Featuring one hundred ninety full-cut diamonds totaling 5.31 carats, each stone is meticulously set in luminous 14-karat yellow gold to create an uninterrupted line of radiant sparkle. Measuring 17 inches in length, this classic silhouette is elegant enough for black-tie evenings, yet refined for everyday luxury.
Donated by Schmitt Jewelers
6-SEAT GOLF CART
Cruise in style with a brand new, custom-built, 6-seat Golf Cart from Cowboy Golf Carts. Featuring an elegant white exterior with brown interior, this electric Colt 6 Model street-legal golf cart comes fully loaded with a sleek design and advanced features like a Carplay-ready touchscreen, and a top-of-the-line stereo system.
Donated by Cowboy Golf Carts and Katherine & Dimitrius Augustin
DIOR LADY D-LITE BAG
Elevate your style with the iconic Small Lady D-Lite Dior Shoulder Bag – a piece that blends elegance with modern edge. Perfectly sized to carry your essentials from luncheon to evening soirée, this coveted handbag is a chic addition to any wardrobe.
Donated by The DeTommaso Family
STYLED BY AMY: ONE YEAR OF FASHION
Discover your signature look with expert styling and shopping for a year at Scottsdale’s distinguished contemporary boutique, AMY Atelier.
$1000 credit to spend your first month during an after hours private shopping night with five friends who will each receive their own $500 credit to use that evening. Continue to build your fresh wardrobe with a $500 store credit deposited on the 1st of each month.
*Store credit skips one summer month.
Donated by AMY Atelier & Amy Yount
Live Auction
LIVE AUCTION SPONSOR
Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson & Mr. Richard J Stephenson Family
1 2026 Event SA
2 2026 SA Event
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Check out our past Fashion Shows
$250
All donations have a huge impact. Your donation can be the seed money for millions of dollars in federal grants.
$1,000
Equipment is fundamental to research. Your donation provides essential state-of-the-art equipment.
$5,000
Ground-breaking research is being conducted in 27 labs. Your donation funds lab operation and staffing.
$10,000
Future researchers are being trained and your donation jump-starts careers of physician-scientists.
$25,000
Medical advances mean more diseases and disorders are being discovered. Your donation funds new projects discovering vital treatments.