Features

This Saturday, Heart Ball 2012 brings together locals who are hoping to make a difference in the fight against heart disease and stroke. (The annual event takes place at The Phoenician at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.phoenixheartball.org.) Here, AZFoothills.com got to know Lynne Love, chairman of Heart Ball 2012, and what to expect this Saturday.

Though Kevin Kolb has yet to see any action on the field during the month of October and November thus far, due to a significant rib injury, he's been plenty busy with important work that's going to impact the Valley in a major way.

On Nov.19, Kolb will host Celebs & Steaks, his first charity event in the Valley, which benefits his Pass it 4ward Foundation. Not only is the foundation geared toward helping children and families though opportunities and resources, its primary aspiration is to help physically...

Though Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year, full of holiday spirit and cheer, but for some, this time of year can be just another harsh reminder or inability to make do. It's so much easier to focus on we don't have, but incredible organizations such as Esperanca remind us what truly matters and how fortunate most of us are. 

From cookie-making and board game-playing to an elf named Shiny, five Valley families share their merriest holiday traditions and memories.

Photographed by Cassandra Tomei