There’s new $3 million activity center rising at the Salvation Army in Phoenix and friends and family of Phoenix businessman Mike Michaels gathered at the recent groundbreaking .
The Mike Michaels Activity Center is named in honor of the late Phoenix philanthropist and longtime supporter of The Salvation Army.
Michaels’ daughter Barbara Anderson and son Chuck Michaels were on hand with their families to put ceremonial shovels into the ground with Salvation Army officers. The two-story activity center is targeted for completion in November.
“I only wish my father was here to see this come to be and see all of people it will help,” Chuck Michaels said.
Before his passing in 2015, Mike Michaels—who worked as a financial advisor in the Valley for more than two decades—donated often to The Salvation Army, and he told his children of his intentions to leave the bulk of his estate to charity. The daughter and son have honored their father’s wishes by supporting such programs as The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers and Kroc Center scholarships.
The Mike Michaels Activity Center will continue that legacy with a model of “Recreate to Re-create,” designed to restore normalcy to families by providing opportunities for them to learn and heal through play, as well as address families’ short and long term housing and economic self-sufficiency goals.
“In recent years, a growing number of noted mental health professionals have observed that play is as important to human happiness and well-being as love and work,” said Major Barbara Sloan, Executive Director of The Salvation Army Phoenix Family Services. “Research supports the effectiveness of recreation therapy, especially with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral and learning problems.”
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, and TV- Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. The former TV-Reporter has written for publications such as TIME Magazine, MONEY Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at
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