Tucson Angels are bringing the French Riviera — with all of its glamour and casino gaming glory — to the Sonoran Desert. The devoted group of volunteers are all in for the Angel Charity for Children Big Deal Poker Party — Monte Carlo on Sept. 19 at Tucson Country Club.
“We wanted to do something fresh and sophisticated and elegant all at the same time ... and that is just what the Monte Carlo theme is. It really goes hand-in-hand perfectly with our new venue, Tucson Country Club. It will be a really fun adventure for our guests to go from room to room and experience all the wonderful offerings,” said Vicky Curtis, 2025 General Chair for Angel Charity for Children.
Guests can expect everything from casino style games and a Texas Hold’em poker room to a large dining area featuring a buffet with European-inspired cuisine and entertainment by a jazz trio.
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The event also features multiple bars and a karaoke room featuring “dueling karaoke”-style singing in which guests can pay to “bump themselves up” the list or require someone else to sing.
The Mediterranean mode that was launched at the Angel Charity for Children spring fundraiser is also carried over to eight grand trips around the world that will be available for sale at the Poker Party through AmFund. A portion of every purchase benefits Angel Charity.
“This is still my favorite party in Tucson every year; it is so unique. Tucson has galas and walks and so many different types of fundraising events, but this particular event is more of a party. People come with a great fun spirit to take in all that there is to see and have fun playing casino games or play in the poker tournament. It is not as formal as many other events, but still has an elegant cocktail flair,” Curtis said.
Now in its 22nd year, the distinctive event is the second in the annual fundraising line-up for the Angels, who are well on their way to raising a record $1.75 million for eight local children’s charities this year.
Curtis credits incredibly generous businesses and individuals, including 13 “Triple Halo” partners, for helping to bring the ambitious goal to fruition. These partners include Larsen Baker, LLC; Hughes Federal Credit Union; Efrain & Firishta Cubillo; Pioneer Title Agency; Hazen Family Foundation; Lopez & Lopez Realtors; Berwick Insurance Group; Gadabout Salon Spas; Marana Health; D.C. Hutchens; Trinity Building & Development, LLC; Wealth Management Partners; and HSL Properties.
Angel Charity is honored to bring people together to be catalysts for impactful change in Tucson, according to Curtis.
“I think that after 43 years, people have witnessed the impact Angel Charity has in the community. Our charity selection process is so thorough that our donors have full confidence that the projects we select each year are good ones. We have been fortunate to raise more than $33 million for 144 unique projects in Pima County since we started,” she said.
This year, Angels Charity’s primary beneficiaries are San Miguel High School, which will receive $568,000 to purchase four vans and two minibuses to transport students to the Corporate Work Study Program; and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona (BBBSSA), which is utilizing an Impact Grant of $856,697 to renovate a newly-purchased Mentoring Activity Center scheduled to open later this year.
“Big Brother Big Sisters have more than 200 children on their waiting list for “Bigs” (mentors who are matched with “Littles” in the program) and this mentoring activity center is a great way to link Bigs and Littles and inspire adults to become Bigs. It will make it easier to them to get together to create meaningful relationships,” said Curtis.
Angel Charity is also funding Opportunity Grants totaling $327,841 to Angel Heart Pajama Project; Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation; Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum; Hope Kids; Literacy Connects; and Spreading Threads Clothing Bank.
Prospective donors can also contribute to the causes through Chance Raffle Tickets, which are $100 each and can be purchased online at https://www.angelcharity.org/chance-tickets/. The raffle has become renowned over the years for its grand prizes, which often include luxury vacations. This year, the play on the Mediterranean theme continues with first prize of $10,000 plus “Tuscany Into the Wine,” a seven-night stay for eight people at a Tuscan villa with excursions to Brunello in Montalcino, Montepulciano and Cortona. Second prize is $10,000 cash; and third prize is a $10,000 Shopping Spree at La Encantada.
“We have seen so much excitement and enthusiasm about these prizes. There are lots of people buying tickets together to try to win ... people are saying, ‘Sign me up,’” Curtis said.
Ultimately, Curtis said that Angel Charity is putting the “fun” in “fundraising” with all of these projects.
“A past chair offhandedly said that Angel Charity was one of the original crowd funding efforts. None of us can make these projects happen as individuals, but when we come together to raise funds, we can make a significant impact in Pima County and we like to think our donors enjoy being part of that,” she said.
