AZ Giving

by Candy Thompson

A van in a parking lot is not what most families would call home. But at the time, it was the only option for Daisy, her husband and their four young boys. When she looked at her children scrunched up in the back of the van, she felt the stab of emotional pain as any loving mother would.

“Sleeping in the van broke my heart,” Daisy recalled. “The kids didn’t understand what was going on. They would always ask, ‘When are we going to bed?’ Going to sleep in the van wasn’t going to bed.”

Like many homeless families, their crisis began with a single...

 With a whole month that is dedicated to helping the lives of those who need it most, The Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) is rolling out its Make March Meaningful (MMM) campaign. Through all of March, you can visit local businesses that will donate proceeds to The Hope Fund (THF). THF was created to benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and creates new programs, helps aid in research, provides charitable care, equipment, and so much more.

You can increase your day-to-day giving by going to businesses that are participating in the fundraiser. Go to Big O...

by Candy Thompson

Jason worked as a professional plumber for more than 20 years but found himself unemployed when Arizona’s housing market collapsed. He had never competed for employment before and wasn’t sure where to start. Jason’s meager savings dwindled over the next four years while he worked odd jobs and without adequate health insurance. He struggled to find the necessary care his wife Shawna’s multiplying health needs required. When he did, it wasn’t affordable.

Although Jason had decades of professional work experience behind him, he had absolutely no experience in navigating a competitive...

Remember creating meaningful art and music projects in school? Those exciting moments during our childhood helped make us who we are today; creative, bold and expressive adults. Now, kids face looming budget cuts, tuition increases and teacher shortages that threaten their very development.  Art and music are not only important to children — our entire community benefits everyday from talented people who enjoy playing an instrument or painting a picture. And of course, most of us enjoy simply, “turning on and...