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TheMesaTribune.com |
THE MESA TRIBUNE | OCTOBER 31, 2021
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Jewish War Vets auction offers big prizes TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
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free three-day getaway at Cabo San Lucas, a private suite at Churchill Downs, $500 worth of hypnosis weight-loss sessions and a $500 Walmart gift card are among the prizes people can win while simultaneously helping homeless veterans. Those and other goodies will be auctioned online through Nov. 10 by Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619. To sign up, go to bid123.io/JWV or phone 888-577-4011 The post’s “A Hand Up 4 Vets” auction features several dozen prizes that have been assembled by a committee that has worked for months to secure more than 60 donations from generous area businesses and others. “We wanted to create a fundraiser that would be COVID-safe for all of our retired members, the majority of whom are not as young as I am,” joked 90-year-old Auction Committee Chair and Senior Vice Cmdr.
exciting special experiences and items.” Proceeds will go to nonprofits such as Veterans First, which prevents homelessness and stabilizes the lives of women veterans; MANA House, which offers transitional living for homeless veterans; AZ Veterans Stand Down Alliance, which offers resources for thousands of homeless and at-risk vets at annual events; and U.S.Vets-Phoenix, This collage represents some of the goodies up for bid in the auction. (Courtesy of JWV Post 619) which serves more “We are thrilled about the quality and than 1,200 homeless veterans annually. Owen Fabert. “We decided an online aucAuction Committee member Nancy Stuttion would be a perfect way for our com- uniqueness of our auction items,” he addmunity to help homeless veterans for ed. “The participating organizations have see AUCTION page 13 really stepped up and given us a range of now.”
Campaign to send 3-year-old cancer victim to Disney World
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
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national nonprofit hopes to raise $5,000 to send a 3-year-old Mesa boy stricken by cancer to Disney World and Give Kids the World Village. Campaign One At A Time has launched the effort for Mack Porter, who is suffering stage 3 anaplastic large cell lymphoma. “Macky is a funny, carefree, and loving boy,” said Nick Ordoñez, OAAT west director. “He loves to give to others and show love to
those who might be in pain or sad. He is SO silly and loves to pretend and play tricks.” Ordoñez said Macky’s journey began on Christmas Eve when his mother noticed visible breathing changes, and he was itchy and scratching his legs until they bled. After multiple doctor visits over the next three weeks, he “woke up struggling to breathe from his nap and the family rushed him to the ER,” where a mass in his chest was found. Campaign One At A Time’s mis-
sion is to ensure no child battling a severe illness ever feels alone. “Macky and his family have been through so much and still have a long road ahead,” Ordoñez said. “We want to provide them with some happy, life-long memories outside of the hospital and her treatments.” He said the group is “reaching out to local businesses to see if we can get any support with either donations or getting the campaign more exposure.” Information: campaignoaat. org/mackystrong ■
