Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The 26th Annual Behind the Flames Scottsdale Firefighter Charities Dinner, which is sponsored by HonorHealth, returns 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 to honor the Scottsdale Firefighter of the Year and celebrate the work of firefighters and others who uplift and protect the community.
This special evening will be emceed by KTAR Radio & TV host Mike Broomhead.
This year’s honorees and recipients of the C.A.R.E. award are Max Ashton, Autumn Curiel, and D.J. Foster, according to a press release.
Held at Mastro’s City Hall in Scottsdale at 6991 E. Camelback Road the event is an opportunity to enjoy a night of great food for a good cause, all while listening to inspiring stories from firefighters and the honorees, representatives of the event tell the Digital Free Press.
The first honoree, Max Ashton, an advocate for the blind at the Foundation of Blind Children, which is an agency focused on providing essential resources to families and children with blindness or low vision. Ashton was born with a genetic condition, leaving him mostly blind. He attended the FBC’s infant program before moving to their preschool, and then on to his local public school. Ashton graduated from Loyola Marymount University and went on to work as a teacher, a staff member at the Arizona House of Representatives, and for a Senate campaign.
In 2009, he became the youngest blind person to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. He followed that up by hiking rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon and swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco.
Ashton works tirelessly advocating for the blind in his current role at FBC, where he has been receiving services since he was three months old. As part of the development team, Ashton continues to follow in the footsteps of his father Marc, who served as FBC’s CEO for 17-years.
The second honoree is Autumn Curiel, an advocate against teen violence and co-founder of “Justice 4 Preston Lord,” a movement focused on empowering and enriching the lives of Arizona youth.
Following the tragic loss of her son, Preston Lord, in 2023, she dedicated herself to ensuring no other child endures the pain and injustice he faced. Through the movement she co-founded in her son’s name, Curiel helped uncover the rampant problem of teen violence in the East Valley and empowered victims to come forward with their stories.
Justice 4 Preston Lord, with the support of volunteers, continues to raise awareness about the destructive effects of teen violence and provides programs that address mental health, parenting, and education.
The third honoree is Darryl James “D.J.” Foster, a former running back for the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and current director of player development at ASU.
A longtime resident of Scottsdale, Foster attended Saguaro High School, where he rushed over 5,000 yards in his high school career. As a senior, he led his team to the Arizona Division III State Championships, scoring 60 total touchdowns along the way.
Considered one of the best high school football players in Arizona history, Foster was recognized as the Big Schools Player of the Year by the East Valley Tribune. His high school success led him to play college football at Arizona State University from 2012-2015.
Coming out of ASU, Foster was ranked the 23rd best running back and went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft. Shortly after, he was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent. Foster went on to play for the Patriots (2016-2017), Arizona Cardinals (2017-2020), and for the Toronto Argonauts (2021). He returned to ASU in 2023, where he currently helps mentor and develop the next generation of athletes in his current role for ASU head football coach Kenny Dillingham.
