People Acting Now Discover Answers (PANDA) has been fundraising to support new discovery processes and treatments of rare childhood diseases for 24 years. Every spring, PANDA’s 100% volunteer board of 200+ Valley women put together a true fundraising feat dubbed the “Children Helping Children'' Fashion Show and Luncheon. To date, PANDA has raised more than $30 million for the Steele Children’s Research Center.
While the PANDA fashion show and luncheon has become synonymous with the colorful spring social season, the women who make up PANDA’s board are known for their passion, dedication and love for the Valley.
Meet this year’s PANDA Chairs who value investing in community while balancing work, life and motherhood.
Stacy Medeiros Holzhauer - Models & Families Chair
Wildcat or Sun Devil? I’m a Phoenix native who is a proud third generation University of Arizona graduate, but married to a Sun Devil. Go Wildcats!
Career? I love my job selling global data centers. Wondering what a data center is? Hint: large buildings with reliable power where the “cloud” lives. I sell data centers to the largest hyperscale customers and last year alone sold over $1.5B! As a male-dominated industry, I’m proud to show my daughters that with hard work, you can succeed at anything.
Why PANDA? I am passionate about giving back to something larger than yourself. Working with our patient model families and hearing how the evolving knowledge from research can change their outlook makes the hard work worth it.
Emily Snell - Marketing & Communications Chair
Wildcat or Sun Devil? I’m a University of Arizona Wildcat married to a Sun Devil and we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage this year. Somehow I’ve raised two Sun Devil fans.
Career? In 2007, I helped start InfoArmor, an identity theft protection company that sold to Allstate Insurance Company for over $500M. After staying on through the transition as President & CEO, I have since retired. Now, I'm happy to be home and available for my twin thirteen-year-old boys and husband – although they'll say I probably work harder now for PANDA than I ever did before.
Why PANDA? One of my favorite parts of being involved in the organization is spending time with 200 women who hustle, have huge hearts, and use their talents for good.
Ashley Richardson – Fashion Show Production Chair
Wildcat or Sun Devil? I'm an ASU Sun Devil married to a Baylor Bear.
What’s it like party planning for 1,300 guests? Putting together an event like PANDA’s fashion show and luncheon is no small feat. However, after owning my company, Ashley Gain Weddings, I’m up for the challenge. Since retiring in 2021, I am excited to exercise my party-planning skills through PANDA.
Why PANDA? The idea of “children helping children” speaks to me as a mother of three young kids. My kids learn the importance of giving back by witnessing their mom pay it forward.
Molly Kaufman - Auctions & Donors Chair
Wildcat or Sun Devil? I'm both a University of Arizona Wildcat and an ASU Sun Devil, but will always bleed red and blue - BEAR DOWN!
Career? I’ve spent my entire career in medical device sales. Selling the missions of PANDA and Steele to our sponsors and donors has been a rewarding way to use my skills and medical knowledge for an incredible cause.
Why PANDA? Growing up, charitable giving was a tenet of our family’s values. My mother attended the inaugural PANDA "Children Helping Children" Fashion Show and Luncheon in 2000 - what a special full-circle moment to chair this incredible event 24 years later! azpanda.org
Investing in Giving Back
Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are a great avenue for giving back to your preferred non-profits. Consider utilizing your DAF to benefit the pediatric medical research projects that PANDA fundraises. PANDA operates under the University of Arizona Foundation, tax ID 86-6050388. Notate "PANDA" for DAF gifting.
