Q3 2017 – Love the energy!

Q3 meetings were held in August and our ladies turned out in force.  We added 15 new members as result of our members bringing guests.  Keep up the referrals!  Drum roll, please….we topped the $200,000 mark this quarter.  Our grand total as a chapter is $205,500.

In Q3, our members donated $23,000 collectively to the selected charities.

CHARITY IMPACT STATEMENTS

Phoenix Rescue Mission was the Q2 recipient of our Ahwatukee donations. Adele Dietrich, Legacy Giving Officer, introduced Michelle Radar and her son, Mason, to the group. Michelle shared her story of transformation.  She went from homeless and living by a dumpster, addicted to drugs and alcohol AGAIN, and had lost her then six year old son who was placed in foster care.  It was at rock bottom when she decided to go to detox and then seek help from the Changing Lives Center (CLC) run by the Phoenix Rescue Mission.  The CLC has a vocational program where women learn the ins and outs of restaurant management.  The goal is to graduate from this program and secure a full-time management job.  These jobs will pay the women enough to move into their own homes and support their families. It is a life changing program.  Michelle now runs the Mission Cookies and Catering business for the CLC.  View her touching story here.

Alicia Sutton Campbell, Executive Director of Free Arts for Abused Children, was excited to have Niya share her story with our Scottsdale group.  Free Arts provides art, music, theater and dance classes/camps to homeless and abused children.  It is through the artistic expression of their feelings that these kids begin to heal.  Niya is one of those kids who, at first, reluctantly went to Free Arts upon the recommendation of her youth leader at her shelter.  She was shy, sad and stayed to herself.  After a while, Niya began to blossom at Free Arts and now easily talks in front of a group of strangers. She is motivated, passionate and confident.  Her future is bright as she plans to get her associates degree while still in high school.  Free Arts gave Niya an opportunity to shine and she is doing just that.  Listen to her story here.

Girls on the Run Serving Maricopa County – Meagan Kukowski, Executive Director, is passionate about girls.  She was excited to announce to our West Valley members that their donations enabled GOTR to serve an additional 30 girls in need this upcoming fall season.  The 10-week curriculum provides life changing programming to girls addressing issues that all girls face.  Mentoring, empowerment, physical activity, strong healthy friendships, inspiration and confidence are all aspects you will find incorporated into the 10-week program.  Aside from the inner awareness that takes place, these girls also train to complete their first 5k race.  They learn anything is possible when you put one foot in front of the other.  The next 5k will be held on November 18th for anyone interesting in participating or volunteering.  Learn more here.

RANDOM DRAW

Ahwatukee

Teen Lifeline – Sunnev Terrell and Heidi Clayton nominated this nonprofit that provides a safe, confidential, and crucial crisis service where teens help teens make healthy decisions together.  Their vision is to impact the devastating problem of teen suicide in Arizona so that any teen, at any time, will have knowledge of and access to Teen Lifeline, its counselors and services.  The organization currently has a school ID initiative with the goal of printing their hotline number on the back of all high school IDs in the state.  Over 80 schools have participated to date.

Mother’s Grace – Daradee Olson shared how this organization is dedicated to the support of mothers and children who have endured overwhelming life circumstances and tragedies. Their mission is to be a bridge or an answer to a prayer in the short term while Mom concentrates on her family and trying to regain some sense of normalcy.

Furniture Bank – Wendy Brooks explained how this nonprofit believes every family emerging from homelessness in the Phoenix area can live with dignity in homes that are properly furnished; that children have access to a safe and comfortable sleep environment; and that all use-able furniture will be efficiently reused, re-purposed, or recycled.  They have a storage unit at 32nd Street and Pecos for furniture donations.

Scottsdale

Ryan House – Kristi Hall shared how Ryan House serves more than 275 vulnerable, medically fragile children and their parents each year. Without Ryan House, children would die agonizing deaths alone, and their families would crumble, facing life-long and devastating social and financial effects.

Liberty Wildlife – Sandra Mooney described how this charity is committed to nurturing the nature of Arizona by providing quality wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, and conservation services for the community. In the past year, Liberty Wildlife provided relief for over 6500 animals brought to them by the public. They also have a robust education program and provide these services for students of all ages throughout the state.

West Valley Child Crisis Center – Stephanie Waldrop nominated this charity and explains how they are proactive in ending the cycle of family violence through education, prevention programs, and safe placement services to promote healthy family environments for the future of Arizona’s children. WVCCC is a leading service provider in foster care and reunification services.  WVCCC believes children who must live apart from their biological parents do best when they are cared for in committed nurturing family homes.

West Valley

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona – Robin Telle shares how this charity provides comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities and their families by providing physical and developmental support as well as educational growth which is the foundation for independent living. Individuals with disabilities will achieve their potential and experience equality in the community. Their tagline is “Life without limits.”

Make-A-Wish Arizona – Crissie Jameson is passionate about Make-A-Wish Arizona who grants the wishes of Arizona children, age 2.5 – 18 years, who have been diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.  Last year, Make-A-Wish Arizona granted a record 365 wishes.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Arizona Chapter) – Sara Mayer shared the exciting news of a new gene therapy treatment recently approved by the FDA.  LLS is on a mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS stepped in and funded the clinical trial of the gene therapy program when nobody else would.  The clinical trial saved 36 out of 39 lives.

AND THE SELECTED CHARITIES ARE…..

Ahwatukee – Teen Lifeline

Scottsdale – Ryan House

West Valley – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Arizona Chapter)

 RAFFLE

God’s Garden Treasures provides beautiful flowers for our raffle each quarter. Karin Crawford, Owner, has a unique and creative approach we all love.  She brought a trio of bouquets with the intention of the winners keeping one and giving away the other two away as a random act of kindness. Janet Mooneyham, Ahwatukee, and Nan Ater, Scottsdale, were the lucky recipients.

      

GRATITUDE FOR OUR SPONSORS

We are blessed to have three amazing venue sponsors who generously donate meeting space for our quarterly gatherings – Foothills Golf Club, Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas and Courtyard by Marriott.  Please consider them for your next corporate event or social outing.

A BIG THANK YOU to our media sponsor, Foothills Living, for featuring our chapter in their July edition.  The North Scottsdale Pulse published articles in their June and July editions.  The Ahwatukee Foothills News also published a great article on our chapter in June!  You can find all articles at https://100wwcvalleyofthesun.org/in-the-news/.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact us.

A big THANK YOU goes out to our event photographers as well.  Stephanie Fry of Geek Eyed Designs and Beverly Shumway of Arizona Ohana Photography.  These talented ladies generously donate their time and services to ensure we capture all of the incredible moments at our meetings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Q4 meetings are October 24th in Ahwatukee, October 25th (WEDNESDAY) in the West Valley and November 1st in Scottsdale. Register here. The charity nomination deadline is October 10th.

THANK YOU to our teen volunteers from Desert Vista HS, Pinnacle HS, Brophy and Trivium Prep!  You are the best!

    

Q3 is complete!