Lissa Marinaro, right, sells tickets to the Red Hot Havana fundraiser to Natalie Gardner at Zoë Boutique, which Marinaro owns. The June 21 fundraiser will benefit two area operations that help children.

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It's June in Tucson, and it is about to get a little hotter: Red Hot Havana is coming to the Old Pueblo, courtesy of the Women's Active 20-30 Club of Southern Arizona.

The non-profit group is turning up the fundraising heat for a dual cause: the Steele Children's Research Center at UA and the Tucson Alliance for Autism.

"We wanted something different, and we like the idea of an easy, summery event where guys can wear linen or khaki pants, and girls can wear sexy little sundresses. It seemed like a good theme for Tucson in June," said Lissa Marinaro, chairwoman of the benefit.

Marinaro, owner of Zoë Boutique, is a six-year veteran of the organization dedicated to professional and social development and philanthropic work.

When it started in 1988, the Southern Arizona chapter became the nation's first women's club within the international 20-30 organization; since then it has raised nearly $250,000 for the Steele center, included in which is an endowment fund that has surpassed the $100,000 mark.

According to Marinaro, the organization is credited as Steele's longest continuous donor group. The group has also donated more than $250,000 to local non-profits, including Casa de los Niños, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and Toys for Tots.

"It is a great way to get involved with the community, and our ultimate goal is to raise money for children's charities in Pima County," said Kristin Rennels, president of the Southern Arizona chapter.

Rennels, who works in donor services at the University of Arizona Foundation, said the 20-30 Club provides an excellent opportunity for young professionals to maximize philanthropic efforts.

"When you are in your 20s and just starting your career, you may not have the opportunity to make large financial donations, so volunteering your time and helping raise money is a great way to help other people," she said.

Marinaro is particularly excited about the impact Red Hot Havana fundraising dollars will have on local children and families through support of the Tucson Alliance for Autism. That's a collaboration between the UA, the Tucson Autism Community Center and the Autism Society of America Pima County Chapter.

The alliance provides public information and support, including an Autism Resource Library. Services also include early autism evaluation and diagnosis (no physician referral is necessary), as well as speech/language, communication and occupational therapies. Financial assistance is available for those in need.

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that autism spectrum disorder now affects one in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States, Marinaro sees this intervention as essential.

"We feel there is a new awareness about autism, and we are learning that it affects so many more people than we used to think. Testing costs up to $1,800, and lots of families just can't afford it," she said. "If children with autism have the testing and receive proper treatment, they can become much more high functioning than they otherwise would. We know that by helping fund testing, we will directly affect children's lives."

Marinaro, Rennels and fellow volunteers have worked to make the fundraiser — which will feature entertainment, a Texas Hold'em poker tournament, casino games and live and silent auctions — attractive and accessible to a wide audience.

They also want to promote awareness about the Women's Active 20-30 Club and encourage people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to become invested in local charities.

"I don't think a fundraiser has to cost $50 per person or more; the purpose is to support the community, so the community should be able to attend," Marinaro said.