For 22 years, the annual Founder’s Dinner and Auction benefiting Childhelp has drawn philanthropists, advocates and civic leaders together in a singular cause: protecting children from abuse and neglect. This year’s gatherings at the historic Arizona Biltmore and the culminating Drive the Dream Gala at The Phoenician Scottsdale carried special weight, honoring the life and legacy of co-founder Yvonne Fedderson while celebrating the enduring leadership of her partner in mission, Sara O’Meara.

Fedderson’s 70-year commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children was remembered not with mere nostalgia, but with gratitude for a movement she helped build long before child advocacy was widely embraced. Her courage laid the foundation. But it is O’Meara who continues to stand at the helm, now 91 years young, her leadership undiminished.

If there was any doubt about her strength, it dissolved the moment she took the stage.

O’Meara’s speaking voice remains steady and commanding, her words deliberate, her conviction unmistakable. There is nothing performative about her presence. She speaks plainly, directly and with moral clarity. Her unapologetic faith in God, woven naturally into her remarks, resonates deeply in a culture often hesitant to acknowledge such conviction. For O’Meara, faith is not ornamental; it is foundational. It has guided Childhelp’s mission from the beginning and continues to animate its future.

The significance of Fedderson’s life work extended beyond the ballroom. Congressman Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) presented a formal tribute in the Congressional Record honoring, recognizing and commemorating her extraordinary contributions to protecting children nationwide. It was a fitting acknowledgment that her impact transcended Arizona and became part of the nation’s moral fabric. Many members of Arizona’s congressional delegation were also in attendance throughout the weekend, offering a bipartisan show of support for an issue that impacts every community and every family. Child protection is not a partisan cause; it is a human one.

Friday evening’s Founder’s Dinner at the Biltmore blended elegance with remembrance and patriotic celebration. International singer Mary Millben performed a stirring string of American melodies in honor of the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary, filling the ballroom with pride and inspiration. Her powerful vocals reminded guests that America’s promise endures when we protect its most vulnerable. When Clifton Murray and Mark Masri of The Tenors performed “My Way,” the tribute felt especially fitting. The lyrics captured the resolve and determination that defined Fedderson’s journey and that continues through O’Meara’s steadfast leadership.

Saturday evening at The Phoenician marked the grand finale. The Drive the Dream Gala brought more than 1,500 guests together in black-tie elegance, unified in mission and generosity. It was during this culminating celebration that the highly anticipated auction took place, featuring exclusive cuvée properties and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. By the close of the evening, millions of dollars had been raised to advance Childhelp’s lifesaving work.

A defining presence throughout the weekend was Jim Hibbett, chairman of Childhelp’s board, and his wife Carol. If O’Meara is the moral compass and spiritual anchor of the organization, the Hibbetts are its operational and fundraising heartbeat. Jim Hibbett’s remarks during the gala were nothing short of spellbinding — measured, passionate and deeply personal. He spoke not only of fiduciary responsibility but of sacred obligation. Carol Hibbett’s tireless fundraising leadership and steadfast support are widely recognized as the glue that helps hold the organization together. Together, they embody servant leadership in action.

Saturday’s earlier luncheon, hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Scott Schirmer at his Biltmore estate home, further underscored the personal commitment many leaders bring to the cause. These gatherings were not merely social engagements; they were affirmations of a shared promise to children whose voices too often go unheard.

Armstrong Williams and Kathie Lee Gifford. (Courtesy/Armstrong Williams)

Under O’Meara’s continued leadership, Childhelp remains one of the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofits dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse. Its programs include the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, the Speak Up Be Safe prevention education initiative, the Courage First Athlete Helpline, residential treatment programs such as the Alice C. Tyler Village, and foster and relative care services. Each represents not only organizational growth but moral persistence. These initiatives are lifelines for children in crisis and educational tools for communities determined to prevent harm before it begins.

In an era marked by noise and division, O’Meara’s clarity cuts through. She speaks of children not as statistics, but as sacred responsibilities. She reminds supporters that indifference is not an option. She insists, with unwavering faith, that good people working together can confront even the darkest realities of abuse and neglect.

The Drive the Dream weekend offered more than celebration. It reaffirmed a truth embodied by its founders: leadership rooted in faith, sustained by courage and measured by impact can endure for generations. The elegance of the setting, the bipartisan presence of elected officials, the spellbinding leadership remarks and the millions raised to protect vulnerable children all point to success. But the greater achievement is the continued awakening of conscience.

As the evening closed, one message lingered above all others: Together, we can make a difference.

And as long as Sara O’Meara’s voice continues to rise with conviction and grace, that difference will continue to be felt in the lives of children who need it most.

Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.