Sandy is chairing the committee of community leaders organizing the gala black-tie event, which has a new beneficiary this year: The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.
Her support for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center derives from personal experience. Frank's father and Sandy’s mother both lost their battles with cancer.
Watching their parents struggle intensified the Trznadel's commitment to fight cancer, and both are avid supporters of the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center.
Prior to the center’s construction in 2001, Sandy served on the Community Cancer Advisory Council that provided input on its design, services and amenities. Their philanthropy established the Sandy and Frank Trznadel Education Center, which hosts numerous education and support programs in the cancer center.
"When you find a charity that you truly believe in, and you can see where your money is going, you’re able to see the impact it has on the lives of the people in your community," says Sandy.
Born and raised in a small Mississippi town, Sandy Trznadel attended Mississippi State University before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, where she began a modeling career with the prestigious John Robert Powers Agency. A few years later she moved to Chicago and continued to model for the Powers agency.
She met her husband while working in accounting at Comdisco, where Frank was the company's chief financial officer. When the couple married in 1978, Sandy left her job and realized her true passion - flying.
After years of flying and studying, Sandy obtained her private pilot's license, and her commercial and jet ratings. "It's taken many years - but anything worth doing is worth doing well," she says.
Several years ago, Sandy established a private corporation, T.S. Aviation, and flies and charters her plane out of Sky Harbor International Airport. She has also been involved with a program where she is on call to fly sick individuals or vital organs to hospitals and medical centers.
"Over time, you begin to focus on the things that are really important to you. For me, it's wonderful to be able to share my passion and give back at the same time," says Sandy. "And being able to take a hands-on approach is a tremendously rewarding experience."
One of the Valley’s most elegant and exciting black-tie events, The Honor Ball has raised more than $8 million to benefit Scottsdale Healthcare and will be held Saturday evening, Feb. 6, 2010 in The Phoenician Resort Grand Ballroom.
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers cancer diagnosis, treatment, research, prevention and support services in its facilities at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, attracting patients from across Arizona and the U.S. To learn more about the cancer center, visit www.shc.org/cancer.
For more information on 2010 Honor Ball, call 480-882-4510.
Photo by Michel F. Sarda
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