Flinn Foundation advances Arizona, and never forgets the fun “What comes next?” Tammy McLeod pondered this question posed by a friend one day at lunch. She had enjoyed her work as an executive with Arizona Public Service but felt in her heart that there would be one more career move in her future. “I have […]
Pro athlete teaches others to weed it and reap Becoming a professional athlete requires many skills, beyond the obvious physical abilities. Dedication, drive, endurance and courage are also crucial to an athlete’s success. Those same skills help nonprofits bloom. Bridget Pettis understands this, right down to the souls of her — now — very muddy […]
There were many times in Herbert Washington’s childhood when things didn’t fall his way. He never met his father or older brother. His mother had schizophrenia. At 7, he was taken out of South Phoenix by child welfare services and sent to live with an aunt, uncle and cousins in Tempe. It was a roof […]
Thoughtful, committed citizens changing the world “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” When she said them decades ago, anthropologistMargaret Mead could never have guessed how many applications those simple words would go on to have. And they fit perfectly […]
Unconditional and Incredible For better or worse … but no dogs. That was the promise Marika Meeks made her husband, Brian, when they married. The Indiana couple went on to have two daughters, become partners in a restaurant chain and live what seemed a charmed life. And then, their life took a left turn. […]
A saint, a statue and a mission Brent Downs knew the Bible stories from his Southern Baptist upbringing. He knew that Joseph was the father of Jesus and that the Bible paints him as a man who was not afraid of hard work. But it took several decades before Brent’s life would also teach […]
Baseball, gum and a sunny hill By Judy Pearson The “czar of chewing gum” already owned four palatial homes. But he was building something special on the 100-foot-high la Colina Solana, a sunny hill above his Arizona Biltmore Hotel. It would be an anniversary gift for his wife, Ada. William Wrigley Jr. had made his […]
The March of Dimes helped a small baby help others Mitzie and Jeremy Warner had gone through four failed in-vitro fertilizations. Then it happened: The fifth time was a charm. Parenthood would be theirs some time around the baby’s July 22, 2016, due date. But in mid-April, Mitzie began experiencing what was ultimately diagnosed as […]
One million hearts and counting By Judy Pearson It wasn’t supposed to happen. Sharon Bates was never supposed to receive that phone call. Her son, Anthony, was a healthy 20 year old living his dream. In 1999, he had been recruited to play football for Kansas State University. On a sunny July day a year […]
Giving hope and a future to foster children By Judy Pearson “Why can’t I come back next year?” Brandon asked. It seemed like a good question to Michael Brewer. He was volunteering at a camp for foster children and 11-year-old Brandon was one of his two charges. After the Columbine High School shootings in 1999, […]
