Stephanie's Angels hosts golf tourney
Apr. 28—Mary and Jim Fisk will never stop grieving the loss of their daughter and three grandchildren in a June 2015 car crash.
Furthermore, the Gilbert couple wants to keep the Queen Creek Village residents' memories alive. So, in 2018, they founded Stephanie's Angels. The nonprofit is dedicated to improving the community and individuals' quality of life through various ways, including cooperation with established community programs, and empowering volunteers to become involved in charitable acts.
"We wanted to do something to turn our tragedy into something positive for others," Mary said.
To raise funds, Stephanie's Angels is hosting its third charity golf tournament on Saturday, May 4, at Las Colinas Golf Club, 21515 E. Village Loop, Queen Creek. The entry fee is $90 per individual; $360 for a group of four. The fee includes green, range and cart fees. The registration deadline is 1 a.m. Wednesday, May 1.
"It's our major fundraiser," Jim said. "This is our third annual, and we've had a good turnout. The first year, we had 110 golfers; last year 124. We're hoping to have that many or more this year."
Raffle baskets and a silent auction (including ladies' jewelry and hotel packages) will be featured. Entrants need not be present to win.
Headed to summer vacation
Stephanie and three of her four children — Taylor, P.J. and Jesse — were headed to a summer vacation in Corpus Christi, Texas, when they were killed in a rollover crash. One child, whose name the family did not want released, survived, thanks to a car seat. The father also wishes to stay anonymous.
"We know she wouldn't have survived if she hadn't been in that car seat," she said.
Stephanie was the oldest of the couple's three children and their only daughter.
"She was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker, who also ran an online sewing business," she said. "She designed and sewed one-of-a-kind children's clothing, purses and bags."
Taylor, 18, was the couple's oldest grandchild. Described as "fun-loving and kind-hearted," she graduated from Franklin High School two weeks earlier. She wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice.
Fourteen-year-old P.J. just graduated from eighth grade and was looking forward to high school. Known as the "family jokester," he threw the discus for high school's track and field team.
Jesse, age 11, frequently played quarterback on football teams. He attended gifted programs in elementary school, and was called "super sweet."
Stephanie's Angels helps families experiencing financial hardship due to job loss or the constraints of catastrophic illness, in the Valley.
Among their efforts is the Taylor Garza Scholarship Fund. The $5,000 prize was given to Ethan Fuhrman of Queen Creek High School. Kids in foster care were given gift certificates to Aqua-Tots Swim School to learn how to swim.
Stephanie's Angels has also provided: — Shoes to students in Title One schools — Blankets, hygiene products and coats to the Payson Warming Center — Infant car seats and blankets to NICU babies in Banner hospitals — "Hugging pillows" to children and teens experiencing grief, trauma or illness nationwide.
"We sent several of the 'hugging pillows' to Uvalde after the school shooting," Jim said. "We worked with a local church to work with the kids."
Stephanie's Angels Golf Tournament
WHEN: 7 a.m. Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Las Colinas Golf Club, 21515 E Village Loop, Queen Creek
COST: $90 per individual; $360 per team of four
INFO: stephaniesangels.org
