Highlights and gratitude, Golden Rule Banquet 2019

The Golden Rule Banquet touched hearts…

It is such a heart-warming experience to see the Community come together from around the valley and state and celebrate the Golden Rule, in the fine examples of each of the Honorees, the Japanese musical tribute, the Golden Rule Teens, #LiveGolden, Golden Rule Students of the Month, Mayors of Golden Rule Cities and all who filled the many tables that numbered close to 900 attendees.

Pictures anyone? They tell the story the best! A few are in the photo collection below… Facebook has a few key pictures, facebook.com/azifm or the Golden Rule Students featured on AZTV, Channel 7 are on AZTV’s website, aztv.com, or if you’d like to see the Golden Rule Banquet 2019 Album in Shutterfly, click HERE.

Special thanks to Sponsors, Dr. Leland and Mrs. Eunice Fairbanks, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pivotal Group, Sunshine Acres, John O. Whiteman. Special gratitude to Nicole Bennett and Perry Consulting staff for event coordination, Ron Peer Productions for the excellent videos, Lynne Ericksson for her beautiful photos at the event, Denise Brittain for all the many ways she built beautiful bridges in the community so the house was packed.

This year, Ken Koshio, world class Japanese Taiko artist, performed a tribute to the Japanese Internment survivors honored during the event. (Info video link, thank you James Craig Splain)

We’re so pleased to have celebrated these 2019 Golden Rule Honorees:

See their impressive stories by vignette in our Honorees Gallery. Please click here to view on our website …

Nick Lowery, Darl Andersen Honoree – Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame kicker and NFL Man of the Year for the Chiefs and New York Jets, has worked for 4 U. S. Presidents in service to country and community, and now impacts America’s youth and homeless with Golden Rule devotion through the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation. www.nickloweryfoundation.org

AZ TV7 and Lynn Londen, Media Honoree – Lynn Londen, CEO, leads a team who is making AZTV into the best local station in Phoenix. AZTV, www.aztv.com, broadcasts fresh, local shows, shines a positive light on its stories, engages personalities, including amazing Golden Rule Students and teens, like #LiveGolden, each month and exemplifies a Golden Rule heart in the many ways they give back to the community.

Sunshine Acres, (www.sunshineacres.org) – Serving the Children Honoree – founded by James & Vera Dingman, is a miracle in the desert. It provides a loving, wholesome home for children who are separated from their parents. It embodies the Golden Rule by helping them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures, so they’re prepared for success in adult life. Still serving Sunshine Acres are the founders’ daughter, Carol Whitworth as President, and their great grandson Kevin Humphrey, Executive Director.

Thomas T. Koseki and other Japanese Internment survivors, members of the Japanese American Citizens League, www.jaclaz.org – Humanitarian Honoree – Overcoming the traumatic experience of being a victim of the Japanese Internment program, Thomas served in the US Navy for over 40 years and today inspires school children with Golden Rule examples that help overcome fear, bitterness and hatred.

East Valley Community Builders, Rev. Ozetta Kirby receiving, Community Building Honoree – a cooperative effort, between East Valley police departments and the East Valley NAACP, has been bridging interracial tensions between the police and the minority community for the last five years with Golden Rule empathy, kindness and civility.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat McMahon, was the Master of Ceremonies extraordinaire.

Do you want to nominate someone, a business or organization? Click here, please

Please save the date, April 16, 2020 – Golden Rule Banquet 2020!! In the meantime, enjoy a few pictures that highlight this year’s event.