8th Annual

On April 10, 2025, the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute was honored to welcome world-renowned chef and bestselling author Giada De Laurentiis to the annual Legacy Luncheon, presented by the Ladies of the Court. Held at the elegant Caesars Republic Scottsdale, the event captivated a sold-out audience with Giada’s inspiring conversation, " An American Journey: My Dolce Vita," moderated by Ted Simons of Arizona PBS.

Giada immigrated to the United States at age seven and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, Italian-American chef, author, restaurateur, and mother. Giada exuded warmth, wit, and wisdom as she shared her extraordinary personal and professional journey pursuing the "American dream"—from her culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to her rise to household name and global culinary icon. Guests enjoyed a menu curated by Giada and gained exclusive insight into her newest cookbook, Super-Italian, enhancing an already memorable afternoon.

We invite you to enjoy images from the event below!

Luncheon Co-Chairs Carrie Hulburd and Alexa Schnieder along with the Ladies of the Court, presented the 5th annual Legacy Luncheon ~ Smithsonian American Women ~ Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the Arizona Biltmore.

The Legacy Luncheon honoring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, welcomed Dr. Anthea Hartig, first woman director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal and listened to Dr. Hartig speak about the book, Smithsonian American Women, which each person received. Ambassador Barbara Barrett (a Smithsonian regent) conducted a “Fireside Chat” interview with Dr. Hartig, discussing many of its artifacts.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Under the direction of Luncheon Co-Chairs Jan Lewis and Carolyn O’Malley and the Ladies of the Court, the Women’s Board of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute For American Democracy, the virtual Legacy Luncheon “Home for the Holidays” premiered Friday, December 18, 2020 and was deemed a heartwarming success.

USA Today political editor Susan Page, author of The Matriarch, the biography of Barbara Bush was the keynote speaker along with Barbara Pierce Bush, the granddaughter and namesake of the late memorable First Lady.

Mrs. Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States, was the featured speaker at the inaugural Legacy Luncheon, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Mrs. Bush reflected on her life and discussed her memoir, # 1 New York Times best seller, Spoken from the Heart. 

The annual Legacy Luncheon honors the life and work of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. 

The luncheon benefited two charitable organizations, the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute and Hospice of the Valley.  Co-Chairs for the 2018 Legacy Luncheon were Gena Bonsall and Penny Gunning.  Lin Sue Cooney, former NBC  12 News anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies and moderated a conversation with Mrs. Bush following her remarks. 

Like Sandra Day O’Connor, who was raised in Arizona on her family’s Lazy B Ranch, Mrs. Bush stated in her book, “I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free, and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew a free breath.”  In her memoir, she also describes life as First Lady and the post-9/11 White House, when anthrax attacks cut off the mail and she was no longer permitted to take strolls outside the gates.  Polled by The Gallup Organization as one of the most popular First Ladies, Mrs. Bush, with a master’s degree in library science and a former librarian, helped advance national and global concerns during her tenure, including encouraging education and literacy worldwide