The Gillian Ragan Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports families after the death of a child, will hold its first community fundraiser on May 17, 2026, at Pinnacle Brewing Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., is free and open to all ages, featuring a silent auction, music bingo, raffles, and craft beer. All proceeds will go toward providing mental health therapy, grief counseling, and emotional healing resources for bereaved families.
Jenifer Mattioli, founder of the foundation and mother of Gillian Grace Ragan, who died at age 14, said the fundraiser aims to ensure families do not face their grief alone. “When you lose a child, your whole world changes in an instant,” Mattioli said. “This fundraiser is about bringing our community together to ensure that no family has to face that darkness alone. Every dollar raised will fund therapy and healing resources for families who desperately need support but can't always afford it.”
The silent auction will operate as a hybrid system, with bidding opening online before the event and continuing in person at Pinnacle Brewing. Items include original artwork, sports memorabilia, dining experiences, wellness packages, and Diamondbacks Advantage baseball tickets. Guests at the venue can scan QR codes to bid via phone, while remote supporters can participate through the foundation's website at www.gillianraganfoundation.org. The auction features real-time bidding, outbid notifications, proxy bidding, Buy It Now options, and anti-sniping protection.
Pinnacle Brewing Company, the event venue, is a family-owned craft brewery in North Scottsdale. It was named 2025 Brewery of the Year at the Arizona Craft Beer Awards, 2025 Best Brewery in the Valley by Phoenix Magazine, and 2025 Best New Brewery by Phoenix New Times. The brewery's taproom and dog-friendly biergarten patio will host the community gathering.
The Gillian Ragan Foundation was established to honor Gillian Grace Ragan, known as “Gigi,” who was born with congenital orthopedic challenges and died at age 14. The foundation provides financial assistance for individual and family therapy, grief counseling, trauma-informed care, EMDR, psychiatry, and support groups through its Healing Assistance Program. It was founded by Mattioli and co-founded by Triston Ragan, Gillian's brother.
The community can attend the event in person, bid in the silent auction online, make a direct donation via the foundation's website, or volunteer. Businesses and individuals interested in donating items or becoming sponsors can contact the foundation directly.
