Jerry and Carol Meek: A Couple To Change The World
Jerry and Carol Meek, with Desert Star Construction, are a couple full of love, life, and passion.
The pair has donated time and energy to help with the Phoenix Dream Center to build 10 new incredible rooms for women who have been in sexually abused. The Phoenix Dream Center operates two separate homes for underage girls and adult women (18-30) who have been rescued from human trafficking an sex slavery from the streets of Phoenix. The Phoenix Dream Center is designed specifically to met all their needs including spiritual and emotional support, while providing an environment that is loving and caring. With the help of the Meeks, these girls not only will be able to live safely but also live in a beautiful environment.
Get to know the amazing couple. Their answers are full of honesty, warmth, and love. It is easy to see why this couple wants to change the lives of battered women and it's inspiring to see how they make it happen.
Arizona Foothills Magazine: How did the two of you meet and how long have you been married?
We met in concert choir when Jerry transferred to his 12th school as a junior at Paradise Valley High School. They worked together as a team to raise money for their choir to travel to Europe for the International Youth in Music Festival – that is where it all began- as friends. We have been happily married for 31 years.
Together, you face many challenges in business and personal relationships, how do you overcome them as a team? We consistently choose to focus on the issue, always with the expectation/plan of a positive outcome, and “quit” is not in our vocabulary. Personally and in business, we pursue excellence in all things, everything we do is based upon the importance of people and our relationship with them, and we seek to draw out the best in everyone that they may see all that they are and can become.
Arizona Foothills Magazine: What is your proudest accomplishment as a family?
The birth of our children – the wonder and miracle of it all is beyond words. So also, many unexpected situations and obstacles in life have happened. We have chosen to make the best of it, take the high road, keep moving forward, and so we are ever thankful to be able to overcome the obstacles that have come our way. We are stronger individually and as a family for having the strength/courage to persevere.
Arizona Foothills Magazine: Has Religion and God played an important role in your life?
Our faith and relationship with God has always been the center of our lives in all things and is fundamental to who we are. With God in our lives we can accomplish so much more, overcome insurmountable situations and it keeps life in perspective.
Arizona Foothills Magazine: What experience do you hope to take away from helping the beautiful and inspiring women from the Dream Center?
It is a great experience and feeling of accomplishment to see so many work together with a common goal of helping these women. Our desire is that it will provide a new perspective on life and see all that they can overcome and become. We believe that with the chance for these women to have a safe place for a fresh start they will in turn inspire other women to do the same.
Arizona Foothills Magazine:What are the main reasons you are choosing to participate in such a wonderful and motivating cause?
We have the opportunity work alongside professionals who are among the most talented in the Valley and together to accomplish something bigger than any of us could do alone. Regardless of economic times, there is always something that we can do for others. It is a great hands-on way to raise awareness of the opportunities in our own community and what we can do to help. Each of these women are a part of our community’s future success. In reaching out to others, we all grow as we find out what is within us and what we are capable of. We often think of this quote. “I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Edward Hale
Arizona Foothills Magazine:What is your favorite restaurant to go in to the Valley on “Date Night”?
Fleming’s for a nice relaxing evening out and Paradise Bakery for the weekly dates to “step out” for an hour to catch up with each other.
Arizona Foothills Magazine: What is your favorite place to go as an escape and a vacation?
Quick escape is Flagstaff – vacation would be to see and explore more new destinations throughout the world to expand our horizons!
