Ryan House’s Care Team Receives Courage Award at This Year’s Community Breakfast!

Nearly 1,000 guests attended the online premiere of Ryan House’s Virtual Community Breakfast on Friday, May 14.

The event raised $200,000 that will directly support the nonprofit organization which currently relies 100 percent on community donations and cares for Arizona’s most medically fragile children and their families. You can still participate by watching the show at this link.

Local media personality Catherine Anaya was this year’s emcee alongside Executive Director Tracy Leonard-Warner. The breakfast showcased the inspiring work that Ryan House has done creating memories and building legacies for the children and families it serves over the past 11 years.

The event debuted a very special song produced with Sing Me a Story, an organization whose mission is to serve deserving families in need through the imaginative stories of their children and the power of music. One of Ryan House’s teens, Kylie, wrote and illustrated her story which was then turned into a song and performed live by Nashville-based singer/songwriter Abigayle Kompst. Kylie and her mom, Kelly, joined in the broadcast. 

Additionally, through a poignant video, guests were given a glimpse into the lives of one of its hospice families, showing the unique ways Ryan House helps families create memories and build legacies. Among many things, it featured a special stethoscope that records heartbeats that are then turned into a song by Ryan House’s music therapist, as well as hand molds and journals detailing a child’s stay.

It’s become an annual tradition to present the Courage Award during the Community Breakfast. This year, there was truly no one more fitting to have received this award than the Ryan House Care Team who were presented with a beautifully etched glass house in commemoration of their hard work and dedication in keeping the children and families we serve safe throughout the pandemic. 

“The past year has been challenging for so many, said Ryan House Executive Director Tracy Leonard-Warner. “Our families need us now more than ever. We continue to care for our families as we navigate the current crisis.”

“We are deeply grateful for the community support we received through this year’s event. Not only will it assist us in keeping our doors open in an effort to keep the children we serve safe during the pandemic, but it also allows us to continue to provide our mission-critical services for the children and families we serve.”