12 30

Honor Flight Arizona

18Giving Hope to Hundreds of WWII Veterans Since 2009

10Something’s cooking at Food Bank Kitchen

Finding and Using Your Voice

Conquering Stage Fright: Get the butterflies to fly in formation

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GivingHopeAZ / 3

Social Media Report

Thinking about using Linkedin for your nonprofit? Our guide is exactly what you need to get started on the right foot.

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CONTENTS

Food Bank Kitchen

Community kitchens are one way to combat the food insecurities of families in need in Arizona.

10

Leaders in the Community

10 Questions with President & CEO atArizona Tech Council Steve Zylstra

6

Photo Gallery

Arizona nonprofit supporters and event attendees caught on camera.

36

8 Tragedy Into Triumph

Learn about how the Lats Legacy Foundation was formed and how they are helping people today.

32 Arizona Gives Day Recap

We’ve laid out the results of Arizona Gives Day 2016.

38 From the Editor’s Desk

Freedom is not free. We encourage you to show your support to our country’s veterans and their families.

26 Leaders in the Community

We spoke to Sheila Kloefkorn, CEO/President of KEO Marketing.

30 Conquering Stage Fright

Learn how to conquer your stage fright before your next fundraising event with our helpful tips.

34

12 Finding and Using Your Voice

Telling the stories of your organization can do much more than a printed brochure.

18 Honor Flight ArizonaJoin us as we recount a recent Honor Flight to Washington D.C. and learn about what it takes to make it all happen.

12

18

10

FROM THE PUBLISHER

How you can help us

It’s an election year, so I might as well pull out the often used John F. Kennedy inauguration phrase, of “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.”

In my case, I consistently hear nice things about our publication and its mission to educate our readers about how to help their marketing efforts. But we could use some help. What can you do to help Giving Hope AZ? Here are a few things:

• Continue to read each issue and share it or individual stories with others and encourage them to sign up.

• If you work for a nonprofit and have a video, add it to our unique portal GivingHope.TV.

• Check out our website daily for new stories happening and events coming up in AZ

• Tell your story by sharing it with us. Again, our mission to not tell stories about your nonprofit or company in terms of what it is doing in the community. What we’re about is telling what you are doing different in marketing to enhance your brand, increase donors, or volunteers. We want others to learn ideas from you.

• Advertising is always appreciated

Back to the national elections. What a crazy time we’re in. I’m in my late 60’s and I thought I have seen it all, but this year is nuts in so many ways. In grammar school I remember “I like IKE” buttons, and also the first TV debates with Nixon and Kennedy. Now we get a debate whether we want it or not seemingly every day.

But what upsets me the most through this election cycle is not the choices or rhetoric. It is how so many people donate so much money to these candidates… and they just run more ads on TV. The only people making out on this are ad agencies and TV stations. Just think if people donated half of their money they just invested in politicians to a nonprofit… now that would make a difference we could proud of.

Editorial and Production Staff

Publisher Al Maag

Editor Adam Kress

Feature Editor Jan Miller

Head of Operations Steven Roberts

Creative Direction Andrew Tamala

Art Direction Andres Orellana

Technology Director Shaun Roberts

Community Manager Tod Morton

Social Media Katelyn Waara

Contributors

Editorial Mark Vance and Carl Jimenez

Video Rory Gonzalez and Zack Maag

Director of Public Relations Tiffany Hoffman

Board of Advisors

Kristen Merrifield

CEO Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

Kelly McCullough

PBS - General Manager

Don Henninger

DH Advisors

Robert Anderson

CEO Prisma

Steve Zylstra

CEO Arizona Technology Council

Kris Brandt

President New Angle Media

Lorenzo Sierra

Councilman, City of Avondale

Jennifer Purcell

Director of Community Engagement,

Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

Advertising

Account Executive

Michael Finazzo, Jack Riedel & Joe Castor

555 N Scottsdale Rd #200, Tempe, AZ 85281

GivingHopeAZ:

Editorial: (480) 272-7671

Advertising: (602) 840-5530

ext. 302

Entire contents copyright 2016, GivingHope

AZ. Reproduction in whole or in part without

permission is prohibited. Products named in these

page pages are trade names or trademark of their

respective companies. Publication of GivingHope

AZ is supported by the GivingHope.tv.

Please reach out directly at contact@givinghope.tv to talk about your nonprofit or business, your services, etc. by running an ad. View our Media Kit.

Al Maagpublisher

AL MAAG

@almaag2

GivingHopeAZ / 5

Shine the spotlight on your nonprofit.

GivingHope.TV is Arizona’s original online media network for showcasing the efforts of Arizona nonprofits. Tell your story with the impact of video and share what you care about most with the world. Raise awareness for your organization by expanding your marketing efforts to include GivingHope.TV!

For more information, visit www.givinghope.tv or call 602-840-5530

GivingHopeAZ / 6

Q: What are the key value propositions

to market to current and new

members?

A: The Arizona Technology Council is the voice and face of the technology community. We continually lobby state legislative and congressional delegations, and introduce legislation that improves the business climate for technology companies. We advocate on behalf of all of our members — from startups to large, multinational companies. For larger companies, we work collaboratively with their government relations staff. For smaller companies that need to stay focused on their core business, we represent them and work to protect them from excessive government regulation.

In addition, we constantly inform and connect our members by annually staging more than 160 events, with most educational

LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY

in nature. Member companies send their teams to our events for professional development and to connect with others who want to grow through that experience by doing business with each other. Through our digital publication, TechConnect, social media channels, newsletter and website, we also promote the industry and our members throughout the state and the country. Our objective is to shine a bright light on the technology industry, our member companies and the people and technology behind them.

Additionally, we negotiate lower-cost products and services through our Business Essentials programs, including 401(k) plans, health insurance, cybersecurity insurance and other business services.

Finally, through our standing committees, we enable companies and individuals to work together on issues that the technology industry in our state faces. They get to roll up their sleeves and create lasting relationships that are useful in the business environment.

Q: Name a few key results that

AZTC has made on AZ with your

efforts (lobbying or ?)

A: In 2008, we helped pass a bill that gave Arizona the best Research & Development (R&D) tax credit in the nation. In 2010, we helped pass a refundable R&D tax credit for companies with fewer than 150 employees. We also were instrumental in getting approval of an Angel tax credit and are now working to recapitalize it.

In 2011, we were successful

Q&ASTEVE ZYLSTRAPRESIDENT & CEO AT ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

Steve Zylstra is considered one of the premier association leaders and community activists in Arizona. He was recently named by Arizona Business as one of state’s top innovators in healthcare, energy, aerospace and tech.

GivingHopeAZ / 7

in getting the support needed to pass the Arizona competitiveness package, which lowers corporate income taxes. We also were the lead organization asking former Gov. Jan Brewer to veto Arizona’s Religious Freedom Act, similar to legislation now wreaking havoc in North Carolina and Mississippi.

Q: What do you gain by networking and being on

community boards? A: It’s important that we model the behavior that we expect of others. Each Council board member volunteers and makes a financial commitment to participate on our board. As president and CEO, I try to model that same behavior by participating on other boards around the state that are particularly germane to our cause and our industry. I serve on many boards focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with the intent of giving back to the community, and using our knowledge and experience in the same way we expect of our own board. I also develop long-term relationships in the community that are vital to our success in those efforts. Networking is what the Council is about. We’re a place to connect and grow.

Q: What are most important programs or tactics the

AZTC uses to enhance awareness?

A: TWe have a very robust set of activities in marketing, public relations and social media. I’m also a guest columnist for multiple publications serving Arizona, including the Phoenix Business Journal, AZ Business Magazine and InBusiness magazine. We collaborate with the Arizona Commerce Authority to publish TechConnect and very actively update our website. We promote not only our organization, but our value proposition: our members, the people and the technology.

Q: Best marketing programs AZTC has done?

A:The Council recently launched a different kind of marketing program: a peer-to-peer group exclusive for mid-career technology marketers. We modeled it after cohorts exclusively for chief executive officers, entrepreneurs and other executive leaders. The Arizona Technology Council’s Marketers Network gathers 10 to 12 business-to-business marketers on a monthly basis to problem-solve, share best practices and build a trusted marketing community.

The production of our annual report, which reflects on our past year as it chronicles all of the programs and initiatives

the Council produced during that year, also serves as a profoundly important marketing tool. It is mailed to all member companies, government leaders and pertinent media.

The Council’s TechFlash partnership with the Phoenix Business Journal as well as other contributed pieces in publications such as InBusiness magazine showcase the Council’s thought leadership, brand and reputation within the marketplace.

Q: Worst 3 marketing programs?

A: A print marketing piece to promote the Council’s annual Governor’s Celebration of Innovation gala. It was mailed to all member companies and previous event attendees, proved costly and didn’t deliver a worthwhile return on investment.

Property and casualty insurance marketed through the Council to our membership. Our members didn’t respond and the messaging clearly was ineffective.

Attempting to draw advertisers into the Council’s then-print publication, TechConnect, during the Great Recession. The entire advertising industry was changing and ad sales were dismal.

Q: Does engaging the community in AZTC committees

have a positive impact?

A: One of the most important value propositions of the Council is our 13 standing committees. They are chaired or co-chaired by members and each has staff liaison. Programs and events emerge, and members develop the lineup or agenda that we advocate at the Legislature. It keeps the members engaged and a lot of value comes from their working together.

Q: Do you and your team rely on technology to

enhance your brand or in person?

A: Yes, and in equal proportion. Enhancing the brand is extremely important through our social channels, blog, newsletter, digital magazine, email communications and the Council’s website. However, with more than 160 events and in-person programs such as the CEO Network, Executive Roundtable and the Marketers Network, coupled with the Council’s leadership speaking regularly to industry groups, in-person marketing is just as important.

GivingHopeAZ / 8

My children and I weren’t prepared for their father’s death. He had just turned 48 years old that October of 2014. The day after my daughter turned 18, she was signing her dad’s death certificate. A week later we were buying my then 11-year-old son his first suit for his dad’s memorial service.

Our lives were forever changed and we were blanketed with a grief we had never known. A grief so deep I left my longtime career as a television news anchor to be the present parent my daughter described her father as in her eulogy of him.

Though he and I had been divorced seven years, we remained close enough that he left me as his medical power of attorney. He trusted me with his life and just as his life had meaning, my children and I want to make sure his death has meaning too.

Dave and I were college sweethearts at the University of Southern California. He was a Trojan baseball player and I was a batgirl. He was drafted out of USC and played professional baseball until his retirement five years later. My children didn’t get to see the tremendous athlete he was, but through the years and especially after his death, they heard story after story about what an exceptional teammate, friend and leader he was on and off the field. They wanted to keep his memory alive in a way that involved baseball and would be connected to something that had special meaning to him.

TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH: THE LATS LEGACY FOUNDATION IS FORMED

PUBLIC RELATIONS MARKETING

BY CATHERINE ANAYA

With our daughter’s acceptance to USC last spring, the connection became obvious.

We worked with USC last summer to establish a scholarship that would benefit Trojan baseball players who demonstrated the qualities Dave had been known for at USC: leadership on the field and academic distinction off the field.

On the first anniversary of Dave’s death, we proudly launched The Lats Legacy Foundation (Lats was his nickname in baseball) and in collaboration with USC, the USC Lats Legacy Baseball Scholarship. We have been actively fundraising since, with the goal of awarding our first scholarship in the fall of 2016. Nothing has made me

GivingHopeAZ / 9

prouder than to see my children not only keeping their father’s memory alive, but in a way that will help student-athletes continue living the dream Dave did.

We have a lofty goal of reaching endowment status, but at some point in the next year or so, would like to also raise funds to support a baseball-related nonprofit in Arizona, where Dave and I have spent half our lives and raised our children. I often imagine how proud he must be in heaven watching our children honor him here on earth by helping others.

Because of my media relationships, I’ve been able to promote our fundraising campaign on TV, radio and via magazine columns such as this. I also rely heavily on social media and the kindness of people who are willing to share our mission.

No gift is too big or too small to help The Lats Legacy Foundation continue making a difference. Donations to the USC Lats Legacy Baseball Scholarship can be made by texting the word LATS to 71777 or at TheLatsLegacyFoundation.org. Follow The Lats Legacy Foundation on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram.

GivingHopeAZ / 10

insecurity. Arizona’s battle with having enough food to eat exceeds national averages in the ability to access or pay for enough food to feed a household. Broken down further, one in three children and one in seven senior citizens face a daily question of where their next meal is going to come from. Not only do these hard-working food bank entities publicly raise funds and collect food to distribute, they quietly provide nutrients and nurturing through a multitude of other food-related programs like one that trains new chefs that provide hot, freshly-cooked meals and/or sack lunches through community kitchens.

The relatively new community kitchen catering concept is just one creative solution to feeding and funding, generating additional badly-needed revenue to help further the cause. It utilizes trainees to cook the donated or purchased supplies

The annual conference of Arizona Food Banks takes place in Scottsdale on May 20, and that provides the opportunity to shine a light on the critical needs these food banks fill. According to AAFB Field Operations Director April Bradham, this event provides a yearly opportunity for food bank staffers and related organizations to discuss food insecurity in Arizona and brainstorm how to respond to the demand. There’s no doubt demand is high.

Despite the never-ending efforts of the five statewide food banks that collectively serve all 15 Arizona counties (two in Phoenix, and one each in Mesa, Yuma and Tucson), need continues to grow.

The latest available figures show almost one in five Arizonans — approximately 1.2 million people — struggle with food

Something’s cooking at Food Bank Kitchen

BY LEE ALLEN

TUCSON NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

GivingHopeAZ / 11

for the good of all, a perfect example of the adage that, there is strength in unity. It’s a lesson that other nonprofits might wish to consider — working together by combining separate efforts to benefit the collective good.

“We serve thousands of monthly meals,” says Jon Wirtis, Executive Chef of Caridad Community Kitchen in Tucson, part of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s mission of changing lives “by feeding the hungry today and building a hunger-free tomorrow.”

In Southern Arizona, the Caridad (Caring) Kitchen accounts for one third of the region’s monthly meals “and that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg because there’s a greater need out there than we’re currently aware of,” says Wirtis, who deals daily with two lines of hunger --- the line you want to feed and the line of unemployed whose numbers you want to shorten by finding them a job through their 10-week-long Culinary Training Program.

“They learn the art of food preparation,” he says, noting that more than 100 graduates can already point to an 85 percent placement rate with local restaurant kitchens.

Menus are made up daily because 80 percent of the kitchen’s food stock is donated. “We’re like the TV show Chopped because we get mystery baskets of food every day. I’ll stockpile them until I get enough to fill several hundred plates because nothing goes to waste here.”

The same holds true at a similar kitchen program in Phoenix at St. Mary’s Food Bank. As one of the world’s first food banks (founded in 1967), St. Mary’s is where citizens and companies with funds or food can “deposit” it and those in need can “withdraw” it.

“We’ve been at it for 12 years now,” says Jon Gullick, senior kitchen operations manager, “and, to date, have between 500-600 chefs that have graduated our 16-week program. We have a lot going on. We prepare 1,000 hot meals and some 5,000 cold meals per day as well as meals for our homeless outreach program and contracted meals through our CK Catering operation, which creates a source of funding for us and provides a great opportunity to teach students new skills.

“It’s a disgrace in this day and age that a large number of children have to go without something to eat. Hunger may be worldwide, but it’s also prevalent right here in our own backyard,” Gullick said.

His culinary students impact thousands of lives even as they learn job skills to take them off government assistance.

“It’s measured by more than just the number of students we help directly. It’s like throwing a rock in the pond and watching the ripple effect,” Gullick said. “When one of our students graduates and goes into the community as a taxpayer themselves, we all benefit. What we do here is throw rocks of opportunity into the pool of life. The impact is immeasurable.”

Asked what would happen if the St. Mary’s Community Kitchen would ever have to close its doors, his response was immediate and succinct. “We’d have 6,000 or 7,000 kids going hungry every day and if they had to worry about being hungry, they couldn’t focus on being a kid --- and we’d be robbing them of that.”

Both community kitchen programs maintain a catering operation to generate additional funds to pay for the thousands of meals they prepare each day. “We pvide food for weddings and special functions and probably make up 200-300 catered box lunches a week for corporations,” says Gullick.

His Tucson counterpart, Caridad Catering --- Food for the Social Good, has the same mission. “We help fund our overall program through catering contracts that allow us to hire our own program graduates,” Wirtis said.

It’s a lesson that nonprofits might wish to consider – working together“

GivingHopeAZ / 12

American author, poet and activist Maya Angelou famously said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” For nonprofit organizations in Arizona, their volunteers and administrators, each day is filled with a focus on helping the people they serve feel that today and tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Bringing hope to those who have almost run out of it, or helping someone feel unconditional love for perhaps the first time in their lives, are among the goals of the more than 20,000 agencies in Arizona who simply want to create a stronger sense of community by helping others feel better. Angelou is also famous for saying “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” The ability to discover and share your organization’s mission and stories is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. So, why don’t more nonprofit groups spend time on storytelling? The answer might be as simple as they don’t know where to start.

Finding and Using Your Voice

BY KATHY KERCHNER

What advice would Trichel have for nonprofit groups who want to hone

their storytelling skills?

No. 1, it’s important to be humble. This is

not about you but about the impact you’re

making on the lives of the people you serve.

No. 2, be honest about where the funds

go. Integrity is key and transparency in your

communications is critical.

No. 3, be passionate about your mission. In

order to get someone to care about devoting

any of their time, treasure or talent to your

mission, you need to spark passion within

them. That’s hard to do if you don’t feel it

yourself. Finally, and this is probably most

important, know your audience. If you’re

speaking with a group of potential private

donors you’ll want to focus your message on

your mission and telling stories about how

they can impact a life at a relatively low cost.

If you’re speaking with a potential corporate

sponsor or donor, you’ll want to focus on

the numbers, the volunteer opportunities

for their employees and the impact on the

community. While your mission is the same at

all times, your message needs to be tailored

to your audience. That will be more engaging

and enhance your chances of building a

relationship with a new supporter.”

That was not a problem for Kimberly Trichel, who since June of 2015 has served as Executive Director of the Arizona Chapter of HopeKids, an organization that provides events, activities and support networks for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. Founded in Phoenix in 2001, HopeKids has chapters in Arizona, Minnesota and Texas. Previously Trichel was director of community relations and charitable giving for the Fiesta Bowl, and prior to that served as executive director for the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. That’s where she first learned of HopeKids and their story. As a corporate supporter and personal volunteer for HopeKids, she learned of the impact that “hope and anticipation” can have on families who are dealing with the illness of a child. “Hope is the most powerful medicine,” says Trichel. “Sometimes the little things can be taken for granted and HopeKids brings welcome relief to families who might just need to have a bit of hope and something to look forward to.”

When the opportunity arose for her to take the helm in Arizona, there was no question in her mind or heart. “I felt as though a prayer had been answered when I was given the opportunity to work more closely with the volunteers, supporters and HopeKids families.” Telling the stories of how HopeKids delivers that hope and anticipation is key to helping supporters understand how they can get involved. “You would be surprised how many ways you can give. It’s not just money, but perhaps it’s time or attention that can make a difference,” says Trichel. “Telling the stories of the kids, siblings, families and our wonderful volunteers helps us generate more interest in our mission.” While Trichel focuses all of her energies telling those stories any chance she gets, she is quick to point out that words on a page or pictures on a social media post alone will never completely communicate what HopeKids is all about. “You can give someone a brochure and say ‘Here, read this,’ or forward a video and say ‘Here watch this,’ but nothing compares to the impact of saying to someone ‘Here, come experience this.’ Creating an experience for your potential supporters, in terms of events or volunteer efforts, creates an engagement opportunity

GivingHopeAZ / 14

“

3. If you don’t believe in your mission, you shouldn’t be there. Passion is hard to fake over the long term and your credibility will only suffer if you try. To move others you must first be moved and therefore your passion for the work your organization provides to the community must be authentic. 4. Practice, practice, practice. If part of your storytelling effort involves public speaking opportunities, spend a lot of time in front of a mirror or your friends and practice as much as you can. More than anything, you

that telling your story alone will never do,” she explained.

Top Tips for Finding Your Voice and Using It

As the chief development officer for Gabriel’s Angels, a Phoenix-based service organization that serves 13,700 abused, neglected and at-risk children in Arizona through the application of innovative pet therapy, Michele Shipitofsky will tell her organization’s story to anyone, anytime and anywhere. A certified fundraising executive (CFRE) with more than 17 years experience helping nonprofit organizations hone and deliver their stories, Shipitofsky is always eager to help other organizations achieve their mission through great storytelling.

So, what is her advice to other nonprofits who wish to start telling their story better? 1. Know your truth All nonprofit organizations are asking people to entrust their resources to their agency. Being relatable and believable is incredibly important to building trust. Knowing truly who you are, what you stand for, how your organization actually impacts the community and focusing your efforts on those truths helps others be just as committed as you are.

2. Know your place in the story.While you are the storyteller, the story is not about you. It’s about your organization’s mission, its impact and the lives your organization and its volunteers change every day. Leverage the people around you to tell the stories. Volunteers, especially, are great sources for inspiring stories.

want to build an introduction that draws an audience in. 5. Know your numbers. Nothing damages your credibility with an audience more than if you don’t know the basic financial and statistical information about your organization. It’s nearly impossible for others to believe their donations will be used well if you can’t be specific with regard to the financial side of your organization. 6. Leave no stone unturned but choose wisely which rocks to go after first. Telling your story might actually come naturally to you. The challenge may come when you have to decide how you’re going to do it. Some organizations simply focus on word-of-mouth and face-to-face interactions. Some believe direct mail or printed materials are the best vehicles to spread the word, while others are all-in on the power of social media, video and pictures. Whatever tactic you choose to employ, it’s important to effectively prioritize and focus. Mastering one tactic or channel will have a greater impact on the level of engagement you have with your audience than using many channels poorly.

Being relatable and believable is incredibly important to building trust.

Manage your digital content, deploy mobile applications, or build an interactive community to drive your ecosystem awareness. Our software developers are ready for your challenge.

Bring your message to life with high-impact corporate videos, showcases, webinars, ads, and interactive productions. Our award winning studio team is ready to produce.

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With a perfect sampling of Meeting, Hospitality, and Premium Seating, you will be sure to have all you need to engage with those most important to your business. Reserve an afternoon game this season and receive a 2016 bobblehead set as a gift!

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WHERE DO YOU

DO BUSINESS?

“WE’VE BEEN ASKING EVERYONE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING “INSIDE THE BOX!”

We exist to help science and

technology companies of all sizes

and stages succeed. By serving as

the principal point of connection,

the Arizona Technology Council

can help you build global

partnerships to grow locally, get

your innovations noticed and stay

ahead of the curve.

Whether you’re a part of a start-up,

emerging or well-established company

in Arizona, we offer resources designed

for you to gain insight, education,

and connections. In addition to our

networking opportunities, public policy

support and professional development

programs, our members receive

exclusive discounts on products and

services and are provided numerous

opportunities to get the word out about

their unique value.

Take a fresh look and watch us

grow with you as we continue

to offer you membership benefits

that will bring you closer to

meeting your business goals.

connect + grow

take a fresh look

2800 n. central avenue • suite 1920 • phoenix, arizona 85004

aztechcouncil.org602.343.8324@aztechcouncil aztechcouncil

GivingHopeAZ / 18

GivingHopeAZ / 19

Honor Flight Arizona

“They fought together as brothers-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side, to them we have a solemn obligation.” – Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

The average age of a World War II veteran is 93 and a half years old. How do you give hope to someone who has lived through a depression, a world war, times of unrest and countless other hardships, both in a military career and one’s personal life?

You honor them.

Honor Flight Arizona started in 2008 after Susan Howe took her father, a B24 nose gunner, on an Honor Flight from Ohio. Because of her experience, she recognized the need for an Honor Flight in Arizona. The first trip took place in

2009 with twelve veterans in attendance. By 2013, over 700 vets had taken the trip from Arizona to Washington D.C. Today, over 1,300 vets have experienced an Honor Flight because of Honor Flight AZ.

Honor Flight Arizona is one of 140 Honor Flight hubs across the country whose mission is to fly WWII vets to Washington D.C. on a journey of honor and remembrance to visit the WWII Memorial, among others.

In the following story, Bryan Rossi, a history teacher at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale and supporter of Honor Flight Arizona, recounts the story of an Honor Flight trip from beginning to unforgettable end and shares with us how the Honor Flights are made possible.

Giving Hope to Hundreds of WWII Veterans Since 2009

BY STEVE ROBERTS

GivingHopeAZ / 20

THE JOURNEY

An Honor Flight participant’s journey begins with applause and thank-yous. As they walk the concourse of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to board their plane to Washington D.C., the terminal erupts in cheers and shouts as they shake the hands of strangers and move toward their gate.

Once the vets board the plane (some have not flown since WWII!) and find their seats, they are instructed to look out the windows. Lifting the shades, the servicemen see a tarmac lined with volunteers and employees, all standing ramrod straight as the pilot announces the special guests on the flight. Salutes are plentiful and incredibly heartfelt, and the trip is just getting started.As the plane takes off and reaches its cruising altitude, the cabin quiets a bit. As with any long flight, some settle in for a nap, but many remain awake to recount days gone by. The guardians accompanying the veterans (volunteers who assist throughout the trip) have the privilege of listening to these stories. We hear that first dates were mostly in the daytime due to nighttime blackouts in so many American cities. Many of the vets’ first jobs were on the farm, delivering papers, or even working for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), a public works project intended to promote environmental conservation through outdoor labor.

The veterans share where they were when FDR announced that “Pearl Harbor was suddenly and deliberately attacked.” Most didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was. In sharing their life stories, we found out who

Pearl Harbor was suddenly and deliberately attacked.”

“

GivingHopeAZ / 21

was drafted and who volunteered to go to war. The best estimate is that 61 percent of Honor Flight Arizona vets volunteered to serve their country.

The airline pilot announces the final descent into Baltimore-Washington International Airport and you can feel the anticipation in the cabin; it clings to the air. Upon landing, the Honor Flight vets are greeted by representation from many local military bases, proud men and women standing in line to welcome them to the Northeast. The veterans have great hope for our country when they see all of the young servicemen and women, in uniform, representing the American military.

At the hotel, the veterans are treated to a wonderful meal and more stories are shared around the tables. No band or comedy act, no keynote speaker; their memories and these people to share the experience with is all the entertainment necessary. They discuss parts of the world where they’d travelled like China, Burma, India, South America, Panama and North Africa. They share stories of bombers, fighters, aircraft carriers, submarines and foot patrols. They tell true tales of dropping out of airplanes, flying gliders, storming beaches, weathering typhoons and marching miles and miles until their shoes were worn out, all to face the enemy.

GivingHopeAZ / 22

The next day the Honor Flight veterans are taken to Washington D.C. to see the National World War II Memorial, which honors the 16 million brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, the more than 400,000 who died serving, and all who supported the war effort from home.

Following our stop at the WWII Memorial, the group visited the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, FDR Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial, both the Navy and Air Force Memorials, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

During our tour in Arlington, we learned that one of our vets, a Marine, was on Iwo Jima the day the iconic flag was raised. Our Marine was invited to join a class of eighth graders in participating in a Marine color guard ceremony where they presented a wreath in remembrance. Standing face to face with the high ranking officer, you could see that in our Marine’s mind, he was 19 again. He stood straight and tall, snapped a salute, and held it as long as the officer held his. The amazing part – the officer and the veteran had met on Iwo Jima for the 70th anniversary of the battle depicted in the bronze statue, which shows Marines hoisting the American flag on Mt. Suribachi.

That evening, another dinner is enjoyed, more stories are shared, and comrades are remembered. After a 12-hour day of emotion, the veterans are happy to return to their hotel for a good night’s rest.

GivingHopeAZ / 23

On the final day, the group visits Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where the Star Spangled Banner was written. The veterans stand proudly while our nation’s anthem is played. Honor Flight volunteers and Guardians have witnessed something deeply profound and unforgettable.

The World War II Memorial

honors the 16 million brave

men and women who served in

the United States Armed Forces.

GivingHopeAZ / 24

Later, on the flight back to Arizona, each veteran is given letters; letters from home, letters from students, from friends. While away and fighting in the war, some of these men never received one letter, but on the Honor Flight, each veteran receives 10 letters. Written by students as young as elementary school age, the letters express their true and honest gratitude. Smiling ear-to-ear, the veterans are happy to see the young generations’ kind words, and are so amazed that the children even know they exist.

Upon touching ground at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the veterans are welcomed home with another rousing celebration – more cheers and wishes of “thank you.” As another Honor Flight comes to an end, the veterans are once again thanked for their service. This emotional and fulfilling experience is one that won’t soon be forgotten.

MAKING AN HONOR FLIGHT HAPPEN

It costs $900 to send one veteran on the three-day Honor Flight trip. Funding for these trips comes from many sources, including corporations, but the majority is from donations from veteran’s organizations, Daughters of the American Revolution, Elks, Lyons, hundreds of volunteers, an incredible Honor Flight Board and local schools.

After attending an Honor Flight and experiencing the journey for himself, Bryan Rossi decided that he, his fellow staff members and their students would fundraise to benefit Honor Flight Arizona. Their goal was to send one veteran

GivingHopeAZ / 25

on the next scheduled Honor Flight. He was amazed at the outpouring of support and encouragement from the students, whom in that first year raised enough money to send not one, but three veterans on the trip. It’s only gotten bigger since; over the past five years, the school has raised over $50,000!

Honor Flight would not be able to accomplish all that it does without the dedicated network of fundraisers like Rossi and the Mountain Ridge HS supporters, the various volunteers, local sponsors and Guardians.

• Volunteers assist with clerical support, fundraising, community outreach, organization of luncheons and events, and airport assistance at the beginning and end of trips. Click here to inquire about volunteering.

• Sponsors are a valued part of Honor Flight Arizona. The organization relies on local businesses, community groups and individuals to help raise enough money to complete the flights on schedule. To learn more about Click here to learn more about sponsoring a veteran on an upcoming Honor Flight.

• Guardians are needed to ensure each veteran has a safe and memorable experience on the Honor Flight three

day trip. As a Guardian, you will physically assist the veterans at the airport, during the flight, and at the memorials. Guardians become almost family during the trip, and it truly is unlike any other experience. If you are interested in becoming a Guardian for a future Honor Flight, complete the application.

Honor Flight Arizona doesn’t just provide a memorable and meaningful experience to our country’s veterans, they also encourage patriotism and gratitude across all generations. So the next time you’re in an airport and you hear applause and cheering, its most likely not a celebrity they’re cheering for, it is a group of WWII veterans being honored for what they did for us and our country over 70 years ago. Honor Flight’s biggest hope for the future is that we not forget the price paid for the liberties we enjoy every day. Freedom is not free, and the Honor Flight reminds our veterans just how much their service is appreciated.

GivingHopeAZ thanks our veterans, past and future, for your service.

GivingHopeAZ / 26

Q: Name a few of the boards and causes that you are

involved in?

A: I’m the president of Business Marketing Association, Phoenix Chapter. I’m also a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Human Rights Campaign, ONE Community and Competitive Arizona.

Q: What are the key value propositions that they have

in common to market to current and new members or

supporters?

A: Each of these organizations is built to educate and involve members and supporters to improve the community. For the Business Marketing Association, it exists to improve the knowledge base and profession of business-to-business marketing, which helps companies innovate and help communities. For Big Brothers Big Sisters, it is to mentor young people to help them grow up to be successful adults and leaders in the community.

LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Q: Name a few key results that you have been

involved with that benefited Arizona?

A: In 2014, I was instrumental in mobilizing the business community to successfully obtain a veto of the discriminatory Arizona SB1062 from Governor Jan Brewer.

In addition, I co-chaired the Yes on Prop 475 ballot initiative to extend non-discrimination protections to Tempe citizens through their city charter. Tempe is the first city in the country to go further than an ordinance change and update its charter to be fully inclusive of LGBT people. Later that year, I founded Competitive Arizona a c3/c4 organization working for full legal inclusion of LGBT people. I have served on the National Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and volunteered for the local Steering Committee for over a decade.

Q&ASHEILA KLOEFKORNCEO/PRESIDENT OF KEO MARKETING

Sheila is one the leading marketers and nonprofit community supporters in Arizona.

GivingHopeAZ / 27

I also served on the ONE Community Multicultural Advisory Board and the Equality Arizona Board. I have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of equality causes nationally and locally.

Q: What do you gain by networking and being on

community boards?

A: I’m deeply motivated to contribute in big and small ways to make my communities and my country a better place for everyone to live. These nonprofit experiences have allowed me to do that, whether it was helping to bring same-sex marriage to Arizona or helping my little sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters study for a test. I have a huge sense of satisfaction from being able to help and make change. I’m so grateful for the friends, colleagues and clients I’ve gained as a result. I have my dream life and it is largely because of being involved in these organizations.

Q: What are the most important programs or

tactics nonprofits should implement to enhance

their awareness?

A: My experience is that so often non-profits, just like businesses, forget to share the mission of the organization through stories. These stories are the reason that people get involved with their time, treasure or talents. Finding new ways to tell the stories about why they exist and how they help the community is essential. Then they have to share that and have a plan to deliver on that message. People follow the vision and need to know the plan for how to get involved. Also, they need to be thanked and they need to feel like they have made a great investment. That will keep them coming back year after year.

Q: What are the 3 best sponsor – donor attraction

programs you have seen or been involved with?

A: The Human Rights Campaign Red Facebook Logo was the largest viral campaign in history - more than 18 million people changed their Facebook profile picture to the red HRC logo. For more details and a list of all of the awards. On March 25, we posted a red-tinted version of HRC’s iconic blue and yellow logo to the HRC Facebook page. In the post, we urged our supporters to make the image their

profile photo and to wear red clothing in support of loving gay and lesbian couples during the two days of oral arguments.

• That first post drew 19,000 likes and 71,000 shares, and it spawned a viral Internet phenomenon.

• By the time thousands were gathering outside the Supreme Court the next morning, the image had created upwards of 10 million impressions in all 50 states and around the world, and millions of Facebook users from Mississippi to Norway had changed their profile picture to HRC’s image.

• Facebook and Twitter feeds across the country were awash in red, and many Americans learned the name “Human Rights Campaign” for the very first time.

• Television news from MSNBC to CNN, and newspapers from the Wall Street Journal to USA Today, all covered the rapidly-spreading HRC image.

• Everyone from Beyoncé to Senator Al Franken to Bud Light used the image or variations of it to show their support for equality.

Also with HRC, when I was co-chair of national major donor fundraising we raised more than $6M in a year by hosting Gala fundraising dinners in 34 cities around the country. The most important aspect was soliciting donors far in advance of the Galas to serve as matches for donations given at the events.

GivingHopeAZ / 28

Q: As a marketing pro, what are the best things a nonprofit can do to

enhance their brand? (SEO, video, SMedia, ads, PR etc)

A: Tell their story (over and over and with emotion), and then leverage it with video, PR and social media. People donate to nonprofits for emotional reasons. They want to be a part of something great.

Q: How does engaging in the community have a positive impact on your

business?

A: Our company loves being engaged in the community because we care about the people we live with in this great state. We care about creating jobs and making our community a better place. This is a core value of our company, KEO Marketing. It gives us a chance to give back, to be involved, and live with purpose. We donate marketing services to one nonprofit per quarter. We are deeply proud of those organizations and the amount of impact they have been able to make.

Q: How should companies or nonprofits be using technology to enhance

their brand?

A: They should be thinking about how to communicate with the next generation of donors - the milliennials. This is a generation that is deeply involved in technology,

particularly social media and mobile apps. They are predisposed to want to be involved in causes that matter. They want to be able to connect, share, amplify and be involved through their mobile devices. Nonprofits who haven’t changed their communication methods to reach them stand to be left behind. It is the reason we’ve been helping a start up here in Phoenix, called GiveRight, help non-profits connect with millennials who can make micro-donations through their smartphones as they shop. The video describing it, that we made for them, is on the GiveRight home page.

GivingHopeAZ / 29

GIVE SOMETHING TO THOSE WHO GAVE

VETTIX.ORG

BECOME A MEMBERDONATE SPONSOR*

GivingHopeAZ / 30

If public speaking scares you, you’re not alone. Stage fright is a normal human response to stress. It’s part of the “fight or flight syndrome.” This pumping adrenaline can actually help your presentation if you know how the channel it. The nervous energy can help you give a more animated and enthusiastic performance, and being a little on edge can help you focus. Once you can understand and accept that you’ll naturally be nervous about speaking, you can begin acting on your fear in a positive way. Here’s how:

PREPARE

The better prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be as you face the audience.

CONQUERING STAGE FRIGHT:

GET THE BUTTERFLIES TO FLY IN FORMATION

BY KATHY KERCHNER

Plan and practice your entire presentation several times. Find out beforehand as much as you can about the audience and the environment you’ll be speaking in. While I don’t suggest memorizing an entire presentation, having a very clear idea of how you’re going to open the speech will get you through the beginning — usually the scariest part for most people.

VISUALIZE SUCCESS

A teacher says to her student: “Think positive.” The student responds: “I am. I’m positive I’m going to fail.” It’s an old joke, but it shows how negative reactions to stress begin in the mind. They can also be stopped there. Begin by visualizing your success. Imagine yourself giving a smooth, confident

performance. Your gestures, body language and voice are powerful. The audience hangs on your every word as you deliver pearls of wisdom. While you’re visualizing your success, you also have to stop the self-defeating dialogue inside your head. Some experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of what that little voice in our head tells us is negative: “You’re not good enough; the audience knows more than you do; you’re going to screw up.” Turning that dialogue around will give you a positive outlook and much more confidence.

ARRIVE EARLY

Much of the stress you feel is often fear of the unknown. Is the room set up right? Did they give me the correct AV equipment? Will anyone show up? Getting to the location early helps relieve most of those questions and gives you time to fix any problems. You can also begin building rapport and making friends with audience members as they arrive. That will put you at ease.

PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

Breathing is one of the oldest and best techniques for relieving stress. When we’re nervous we tend to breathe shallow chest breaths — or we stop breathing altogether. Make yourself take deep diaphragm breaths before and during the presentation to get plenty of oxygen to the brain. Aside from breathing exercises, stretching helps relieve muscle tension quickly. Do some head rolls, arm lifts and other stretches before you speak.

KEEP SPEAKING

Usually, people who are nervous about speaking want to avoid presentations at all costs. But that only makes things worse. The skills used in speaking are like muscles — the more you work them, the stronger they get. If you don’t use them they weaken and atrophy. Once we face our fear, we realize that we imagined the situation to be worse than it really is.

GivingHopeAZ / 32

This year’s Arizona Gives Day raised a record-breaking $2.84 million for nonprofits across our state – a 38 percent increase over last year. A collaboration between the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum, the program is in its fourth year and has seen significant year-over-year growth in all areas. Arizona Gives Day started in 2013 with a simple idea: igniting generosity to make Arizona a better community. And over the past four years, we’ve continued to see that generosity and the spirit of philanthropy grow in Arizona. The day shines a light on what we already know to be true – Arizona is home to some outstanding nonprofits that truly make Arizona an amazing place to work, live and play.

TRENDS IN NONPROFITS

BY KRISTEN MERRIFIELD

NONPROFITS

$2.8 MILLION

ARIZONA GIVES DAY

raised over

on

GivingHopeAZ / 33

This year we had more than 900 nonprofits with live profile pages on arizonagives.org, and 759 of those raised money on April 5. This is up from 573 that raised money in 2015. This is exciting because we are seeing an increased interest from the nonprofit sector to participate in this online giving campaign. Within the 24-hour period, we had 21,129 donations from 16,450 unique/individual donors. The average gift per donor was $147, up 29 percent over last year, and 15 percent of donors made two or more donations.

“The hardest part about Arizona Gives Day is narrowing down which nonprofits to give to so I don’t go broke!” – Quote from an Arizona Gives Day donor

One of the key outcomes we want to see from Arizona Gives Day is finding new donors for our nonprofit organizations. Our post-Gives Day survey showed that 91 percent of participating nonprofits said that Gives Day helped them raise additional money they wouldn’t have otherwise raised. Close to half of donors said it was their first time giving on Gives Day, and 35 percent said they gave to an organization they’d never given to before.

We also had an incentive prize pool worth over $175,000, and participating nonprofits had the opportunity to win cash prizes worth between $500 and $15,000 in different categories. This is a huge incentive for nonprofits to rally their donors around. One of our first-prize winners raised over $150,000 in just 24 hours by leveraging the power of collective giving that Gives Day is founded upon.

“The overall community feeling of everyone being in this together was really terrific. Such enthusiasm and gratitude from the nonprofits! Really a critical mass of energy. Great work!” – Quote from an Arizona Gives Day donor –

This amazing day was made possible due to generous support from our presenting sponsor, FirstBank, as well as a host of other amazing funders, corporate sponsors, and in-kind and community partners. We have released the date for the next Arizona Gives Day, which will be Tuesday, April 4, 2017. We hope you will join us as we look to have another record-breaking year for our incredible Arizona nonprofits!

70% said Arizona Gives Day prompted

them to give

48% said it was their first time

giving on Arizona Gives Day

35% gave to an organization they’d

never given to before

87% said they are very or extremely likely to donate on Arizona Gives Day

next year

GivingHopeAZ / 34

Facebook is personal. Instagram is visual. Snapchat has a time limit. Twitter is news. And LinkedIn, well, LinkedIn is its own animal.

LinkedIn is the only social network designed to make connections specifically for professional and business purposes. Members use the platform to further their careers, find new jobs and converse with others in the professional space.

Linkedin Basics For Nonprofits

SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

BY KATELYN WAARA

GivingHopeAZ / 35

For nonprofits, LinkedIn provides a unique opportunity to seek out supporters and engage with them in order to raise awareness of a cause. Here are a few steps to start building a presence for your nonprofit on LinkedIn.

1. Create a company page

In order to showcase your nonprofit on LinkedIn in the most effective way, you should create a company page. A company page will have all of the up-to-date information for your organization, your logo and a header graphic. LinkedIn members will be able to follow your LinkedIn page and your status updates will appear in their feed. Once the company page is created, it is important to appoint someone as page moderator. This person will be responsible for posting, answering questions and interacting with the followers. Please note that you must have a personal LinkedIn account in order to create a company page. The person who creates the page, however, can assign other page admins to share the responsibilities of the page with other members of the organization. The American Red Cross and JDRF both have complete and well written company pages. Using these and other examples as a guide, you can set up a company page in less than an hour.

2. Share your story (and ask others to help)

You may be wondering, “What do I post? Where do I get the content from?” Sharing your story can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. It is important to establish a presence by posting relevant, meaningful content on a regular basis. That way, your current followers will not only stay informed, but also engaged with what the nonprofit is doing. Examples include current events, fundraising results, spotlights on people in the organization, photos, etc.

After you’ve begun posting status updates, make sure you invite all members of the organization, from supporters and the board of directors, to volunteers, friends and family, to follow the page and also connect with the moderator. These first followers, and those that have close ties to the organization, can help to spread the word about the nonprofit by sharing it with their connections.

In addition, make sure that those directly involved in the organization (ie: board members or employees) list the nonprofit as their company on LinkedIn. That way, when potential connections view the page, they will also see the people they could connect with to learn more.

3. Network to raise awareness LinkedIn’s Groups and Publishing features make it easy to network your nonprofit.

Groups on LinkedIn are communities of people who share a commonality, such as a skill or interest. Groups can be public or private; you may ask to be a member of a private group and a moderator will accept or deny your request. As a nonprofit, admins of the page could join volunteering groups in your area. Another idea would be to join a group that’s focused on fundraising to discuss new ideas with others. In these groups, and through conversing with the other members, you will show your knowledge and help others by providing ideas and sharing your experience. The Publishing feature of LinkedIn, part of their “Pulse” news app, allows you to write and share professional content. These articles can help position you as a thought leader in the nonprofit community and beyond.

Now that you’ve got an idea of how to get started on LinkedIn, begin brainstorming within your organization for what to include on the page. You’ll need graphics, a description, and content to post. Pretty soon, you’ll begin to see that LinkedIn, like the other social media sites, can help you raise awareness for your nonprofit.

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The annual Cocktails & Clothes’ friend-funds-and-clothes raiser at the Arizona Biltmore’s- Two Juniors and seniors  participating in the Cinderella Affair that found their prom dresses.

CJ Rider of Budding Artists working with a student at a 2016 Save the Family summer youth program 

Karen Daidone, Keli Jo Hause, Norma Thompson at the 2015 Boods-N-Saddles 

Class members in 1st About Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) BankWork$ session for careers in financial industry. AWEE has been transforming the lives of Arizonans into “faces of success” for more than 35 years. 

Mesa mom and family dedicated a Habitat for Humanity home, donated by Bank of America. They shoveled 44 tons of gravel as part of home preparations; family has been robbed several times in crime-ridden neighborhood they’ve lived in for 3 years.Scott and Lanette Harris at the

Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix.

B

A

D

F

B

C E

A C

D

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F

PHOTO GALLERY

Because a better Arizona is everyone’s business.The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits would like to thankArizona’s business leaders for encouraging employees togive back to the community. Whether making a financialdonation or giving the even more valuable resource of timeand expertise, employees that support Arizona nonprofitssupport all Arizonans.

One way that business professionals can support theirfavorite nonprofits is through board membership. By servingon a nonprofit board, professionals of all disciplines can drivechange and make our state a better place.

To help your staff learn more about the rewards and responsibilities of board membership, visitArizonaNonprofits.org/OnBoard.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

I’ve never served in the military. In fact, neither has anyone in my immediate family.

ADAM KRESS

Adam Kresseditor

@KressOnBusiness

My parents were born in Cleveland right in the middle of World War II and already had a few daughters by the time the Vietnam War took hold. And as a kid growing up in an idyllic Chicago suburb in the 80s and 90s, I never gave military service a serious thought. Heading right from high school into college was always a given, and that’s what I did.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred at the beginning of my senior year of college at Arizona State. At the time I was a student journalist on the brink of becoming a professional one, and I was far more interested in covering the news than being a part of it. I graduated, got a job, and like most Americans who don’t have any family in the service, wars became something we watched on TV or read about on the Internet.

That’s why when I read an article like this week’s cover story on Honor Flight Arizona, I always feel a small twinge of guilt. As you start to age a little and have kids of your own, the sacrifices people make come into clearer view. You come to realize what your parents gave up to take care of you. In addition, you see the sacrifices people make for their careers and their relationships. I’m sure everyone reading this has made more than a few sacrifices.

But sacrifice takes on a different meaning when you talk about military service. It’s not often that any of us put our lives on the line in service of others, but that’s exactly the decision every member of our military and its veterans have made. That decision is to be applauded, and we should be thankful for inspirational programs like Honor Flight, which are dedicated to celebrating military service.

However, the disappointing reality is that there are too few programs that truly celebrate military service, and the ones that exist are often short on funding. It’s not a political statement to say that we, as a country, should be doing more to care for our roughly 22 million veterans.

But the good news is that we can all make a difference when it comes to supporting military families and veterans. Giving your time, money or care can make a huge difference for those that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country.

I’m sure my disconnectedness to military life is quite similar to many of you out there. But to all of us, I present a challenge. Find a way to make a difference in the lives of a military family. It could be volunteering to chat with a WWII vet living in a nearby retirement home. Or it could be cooking dinner for a friend who has a spouse serving overseas and young kids at home.

The service you provide and the sacrifice you make will not go unnoticed. In fact, you’ll be doing a lot more than you realize. You’ll be building a better country for all of us.

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Ability360 offers and promotes programs designed to empower people with disabilities to take personal responsibility so that they may achieve or continue independent lifestyles within the community. Go to ability360.org

Longbow Golf Club supports and other nonprofi t organizations creating mutually benefi cial partnerships in the community. Host of over 40 professional, amateur, collegiate, junior, corporate and charity golf events each year, and has been honored with many awards and recognition by golf writers and raters. Longbow Golf Club is on course GivingHope to nonprofi t organizations through golf.

For information and to form your mutually benefi cial golf partnership, contact Brian Benitz at 602.478.0708 or brianb@longbowgolf.com

Longbow Golf Club supports and other nonprofi t Longbow Golf Club supports and other nonprofi t

Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national 501(c)(3), nonprofit foundation supporting our military community. Vet Tix has provided over 1.9 million free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities. Our military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities, and eventually, into civilian life. Attending events improves morale, strengthens family bonds through shared interests and encourages service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life. In gratitude for their service and to support their reintegration, Vet Tix is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much. Donations are eligible for tax deductions.

Living Hope Centers is a non-profit ministry that started in October of 1997. After a moving pro-life sermon at a local church, God laid upon the hearts of several women the need for a crisis pregnancy center in the White Mountains communities of Arizona.

At that time our founder, Dinah Monahan, also felt God’s calling to start a crisis pregnancy center (CPC). Dinah had started many CPCs in small and rural communities throughout the years. She’d directed a center and for six years taken pregnant young women into her home. Then for eight years her life took other paths. But God was bringing her back to her heart.

We started under the umbrella of a local medical mission, sharing a room with them in their facilities. We saw about 10 clients a month. We had little in the way of pre-natal or parenting instruction and had no lesson informing clients about adoption.

www.vettix.org www.livinghopecenters.org

A unique online TV network designed solely to create more public awareness for charitable organizations. The charities’ videos are showcased on the GivingHope.TV site, which is a one-stop-shop for potential donors looking to make decisions about charitable contributions.

Goals and Objectives of GivingHope

The purpose of this web site is to give back to the community by providing a valuable community service, supporting the marketing efforts of charitable organizations.

Support a Cause.Give Hope.

4516 E Thomas Rd. Phoenix AZ 85016www.givinghopeaz.com

(480) 272-7671

She studied Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness and Wellness and is a firm believer that being active is a necessary element in order to be healthy and happy. It’s her belief that physical and/or mental limitations should not prevent ANYONE from having the opportunity to get out, get moving, and have some fun. She has two brothers with special needs, who are both players in the league, and has been exposed and experienced with the special needs community from a young age. Before her current role, she was the Program Director for the organization for three years. She loves the positive and encouraging energy that is ever-present at MLAZ, and is honored to be a part of it.

Dorn Policy Group, Inc is a leading professional public affairs firm serving Arizona and the Western United States. Clients of Dorn Policy Group, Inc receive strategic counsel and issue management services resulting in integrated advocacy efforts to meet organizational goals.

Dorn Policy Group was founded in November 2000 on the belief that integrity and client results should be the cornerstones of quality government relations. Since then, Dorn Policy Group has become one of the most recognized, regarded and respected public affairs firms in Phoenix.

11130 East Cholla Street, Suite # I-110 Scottsdale, AZ, 85259

www.mlaz.org | (480) 686-8137

3030 N Central Avenue Suite 1408Phoenix, Arizona 85012

www.dornpolicygroup.com | 602-606-4667

Cassandra Switalski Miracle League of Arizona

Executive Director

Federally Insured by NCUA

Your Community.Our Community.

Federally Insured by NCUA

Your Community.Our Community.