06/02/2026
Yesterday was truly incredible, and while I’m sitting here still recovering tonight, I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to thank everyone who helped make it happen. Honestly, I don’t even know if words can fully express how grateful I am.
I’m going to start off by thanking my family, because they truly showed up in the biggest way possible and helped make this event such a success.
First and foremost, thank you to my husband Steve Minnaji for standing by my side and supporting me through this entire process. He has been an absolute saint through all of it. Yesterday alone, he worked nonstop setting up, tearing down, and helping in the kitchen to make sure everyone was served quickly and efficiently. I truly could not have done this without him.
Thank you to my mom Nora Schultz for letting me completely take over her family room with baskets for weeks, for donating baskets, for loading up her car with so much event stuff, and for working the registration table during the event. Your help means more than you know.
To my mother-in-law, Susan Maria thank you for donating baskets and for also helping work the registration table and for making sure everything ran smoothly. Your support and generosity are so appreciated.
To my sister Mel Smirga — you absolutely crushed the 50/50! Selling nearly $1,000 worth of tickets is incredible, and thanks to you, our winner walked away with $440! Thank you also for helping with setup and teardown. You worked so hard all day long. Thank you for also donating baskets.
To my sister-in-law, Rachel Marie, thank you for loading up your vehicle the night before and for setting up all 126 baskets so beautifully. Everything looked amazing. Thank you also for selling tickets and helping with setup and teardown all day. Thank you for also donating baskets!
My brother-in-law Breze absolutely crushed it out on the floor with the paint sticks and truly made the event so much fun. He was an amazing MC and kept the energy going all day long. He also showed up bright and early with a carload full of supplies and helped with setup and teardown. We are so lucky to have him.
To my brother-in-law Chics, thank you for helping with setup and teardown and for being an absolute legend in the kitchen, as always. From serving food to helping everything run smoothly, you were such a huge part of making the day successful!
An extra special thank you goes out to my beautiful niece Elena and her bestie Serenity — who I also consider one of my nieces — for being the absolute sweetest little helpers all day long. From delivering baskets to winners to helping us pick tickets, you girls were amazing and brought so much joy and energy to the event. We loved having you there helping our rescue kitties! ❤️
And to all of my family members who came out to support us — or even just sent money for tickets — thank you from the bottom of my heart. Aunt Gloria and John, Marsha, Uncle Danny, Mickey, Uncle Pat… thank you all so much for coming out for us and for our rescue kitties.
My family means the world to me, and I feel unbelievably lucky to have so many people willing to work so hard to help our rescue. Yesterday would not have been possible without every single one of you. Thank you for loving our mission and supporting Phoenix and Friends. ❤️
