Scottsdale Leadership’s Class 33 Completes Memorial Garden Project
Members of Scottsdale Leadership’s Class 33 completed a newly renovated memorial garden at the Paiute Neighborhood Center in South Scottsdale.
Each year, teams from Scottsdale Leadership’s flagship class design and execute “Pay it Forward Projects” throughout the community. Each project represents a hands-on service endeavor designed to leave a sustainable and impactful footprint on the community.
“This year, our team chose to collaborate with the Paiute Neighborhood Center to renovate the Alli Ortega Memorial Garden” said Sue Gifford, a member of Scottsdale Leadership’s Class 33. “Alli Ortega left a beautiful legacy of service and youth mentorship, and our team was inspired to be able to honor Alli, and collaborate with the Paiute Neighborhood Center community.”
The newly renovated garden will include fresh landscaping, interactive musical instruments, a small library, new benches, and an artistic pathway that incorporates art from the children who attend before and after school programs at the Paiute Neighborhood Center.
Tomas Frodis, another member of Scottsdale Leadership’s Class 33, said of the project’s completion, “The beauty of this project really is captured by the ability of several people representing multiple organizations to work together in order to accomplish a shared goal. We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to employees from City of Scottsdale, the team at the Paiute Center, Scottsdale Leadership, and local artists and citizens who saw our vision and helped us reach our goals for the project.”
Raoul Zubia, a member of the Board of Directors at the Partners for Paiute and Scottsdale Leadership Class 22 Alumni also played a key role in the success of the newly renovated garden.
“It’s been an incredible honor to be able to be part of this project. The teamwork that went into making the garden a success serves as lesson to us all about the importance of collaboration, shared values, and servant leadership,” Zubia said. “I know that the entire community at the Paiute Neighborhood Center is thrilled to have this beautiful space to enjoy every day.”
To celebrate the work of the students and volunteers, the public is invited to an official ribbon cutting and garden celebration at the Paiute Neighborhood Center at 6535 E. Osborn Road on April 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, city officials, and Scottsdale Leadership Board Members are scheduled to cut the ribbon, which will be followed by a happy hour at Fogo de Chão in Scottsdale.
