An evening with Grammy® nominated artist R. Carlos Nakai

Save the Date. On March 27, 2010, the Tucson KARE (Kinship Adoption Resource and Education) Family Center Ambassadors are hosting an evening with world renowned Grammy® nominated flutist R. Carlos Nakai at the Desert Diamond Hotel and Casino in Tucson. This is one of Mr. Nakai’s very rare concert appearances in Tucson and proceeds will benefit the KARE program!

Also performing will be KARE’s own “La Familia KARE” Mexican Folklore Troupe (children aged 6-12) and Tucson-based youth mariachi group, Los Changuitos Feos. Special guests include Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and Congressman Raul Grijalva. Miguel Ortega emcees the evening.

Since 2002, KARE has served thousands of grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings raising their relatives' children in Pima County. KARE’s goal is to keep children safe and stable with members of their own family, and keep them out of the foster care system. And they’ve been successful, keeping close to 8000 children out of foster care since 2002. Recent research has shown that the KARE Center’s services keep 1,400 children out of foster care each year at a potential savings to Arizona taxpayers of $4.2 million a year. The KARE Ambassadors are a group of Center grandparents who represent the needs of kinship caregivers in Pima County.

For ticket purchases or sponsorship information, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/events.

Mission Possible: Reay's Ranch Stores raise more than $141,000 to Benefit AzCA

In January 2009 the employees of Reay’s Ranch Investors’ Super Stop and Minit Market convenience stores and Gordon’s IGA Markets in Southern Arizona challenged themselves to a Mission Impossible. Their goal, should they choose to accept, was to raise $100,000 to benefit vulnerable children and families served by Arizona's Children Association in Southern Arizona. The team went into action.

First, they sold $1.00 placards at their stores, which raised $53,217. Next was the first annual Reay's Ranch Golf Tournament at The Preserve Golf Club at SaddleBrooke, which raised $37,000.

With only $10,000 to go to their goal, the Reay's Ranch Investors team placed canisters in their Super Stop, Minit Market and Gordon’s IGA stores for three weekends, and asked customers to donate their change. The stores raised $33,742.

Amazingly, having topped their $100,000 goal by more than $23,000, the team took on a new mission. Employees made weekly donations through a new payroll deduction program. More than 72% of the employees signed up and raised $17,674.

At the completion of the mission, Reay's Ranch employees had raised more than $141,000 to benefit Arizona's Children Association.

"Reay's Ranch employees are very special people who work hard and achieve what they set out to do," said Rich Couch, COO and general manager of Reay's Ranch Investors. "We were blown away with the generosity of our customers, vendors and employees who took on a difficult mission and made it look easy. We never forget who these activities will benefit and how important Arizona's Children Association services are in the communities where we operate stores."

Reay's Ranch Investors owns and operates 46 stores including convenience stores, 2 IGA markets, A&W Restaurants and Subway stores in central and Southern Arizona. The company offers full management services to investor owned convenience stores including 24/7/365 responsibility and accounting services.

Six Million Pennies Means a Lot of Help for Families

From country concerts to bowl-a-thons, penny pitch donors were more creative than ever this year.

The results are impressive. The 14th annual KIIM-FM Tucson Penny Pitch benefiting Arizona’s Children Association amassed 2,879,605 pennies ($28,796.05), more than doubling its goal of one million pennies. KIIM-FM set up in the Foothills Mall Food Court December 16th -18th, broadcasting each day from 6AM to 7PM, and invited the public to stop by and donate spare pennies. Other coins and paper money were also accepted.

The goal of the 12th annual KTTI Penny Pitch in Yuma was to raise 3.5 million pennies. Jay Walker, KTTI personality and driving force for the Yuma Penny Pitch, summed up the results, “As we all know, you can't say the word "Money", or "Charity" these days without hearing the phrase ‘Well, in today's economy…..’ Well, in today's economy Yuma Arizona gave more than they have in the past 12 years. The grand total in the three day's was $35,675.00.”

The ‘pennies’ raised in these drives will help families in emergency situations. We are overwhelmed and grateful. Donations can still be made at www.arizonaschildren.org.

From the Grand Canyon to the White House

Grandparents in the Tucson KARE Family Center Arts group, "Las Fridas" and their grandchildren recently decorated ten Arizona themed ornaments that will hang on the White House Executive Residence Christmas tree. At the suggestion of Generations United in Washington DC, the White House sent the group 10" orbs to decorate with Arizona Points of Interest, and the group went to work, cutting out photos, painting and decoupaging. To see their work, and the decorated ornaments, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/XMasornaments.htm.

Las Fridas started as a grief and loss group for women burdened by their kinship care giving, and has evolved into a joyful art instruction activity for the women and their families. Las Fridas has exhibited at several Tucson area events. The group is provided with support of The Drawing Studio and volunteer instructor Pat Frederick, a retired veterinarian and metal sculptor.

Make sure to watch Oprah's Primetime Special this Sunday on ABC: The KARE ornaments in the White House are set to be a part of Oprah's special, "Christmas at the White House" airing Dec. 13.

Give the Gift of Hope

Give the gift of hope this holiday season to children and families who need your help. Our ‘needs’ list is long and includes the wishes of children from birth to 18 years, and requests from their parents for groceries and grocery gift certificates. The families we work with do not receive any other help during the holiday season.

There are three ways to give:
~ Support an entire family. Purchase groceries or grocery store gift certificates and grant the gift wishes of the children in the family.
~ Put up a giving tree in your office or organization. We’ll bring ornaments with the wishes of children on them and your employees/
members may choose an individual from the tree.
~ Conduct a toy drive. Collect toys and items for children and we’ll pick them up and distribute them to the children and families
we serve. Toys are needed for children of all ages.
To give a “Gift of Hope” this holiday season, check out this link to find more info for your area: www.arizonaschildren.org/giftsofhope.htm

The Hardest Job You Will Ever Love

Amy and Sarah were two and three when they were found wandering in their diapers in a K-Mart parking lot. Phillip was three and his sister Katie was nine when their mother abandoned them at a bus stop. At ten months old, Olivia never cried because no one had ever come to pick her up.

These, and thousands of neglected, abandoned and abused children come in to Arizona's foster care system each year. For most, there's a happy ending. Their biological parents put their lives together and their children come home. Loving grandparents or relatives step up to raise them. Caring adults become their adoptive parents.

For others, growing up in a loving family remains an empty dream. There are more than 200 children in Arizona's foster care system waiting for their forever family. Those who never find permanency often lead troubled lives. They are less likely to graduate from high school, and face greater risks for homelessness, imprisonment and reliance on welfare.

While I would love to urge every reader to go out and adopt a child from the foster care system, it is neither realistic nor practical for many. What is very doable, however, is to connect with a child in the state's foster care system and be their friend and mentor. Help them do their math homework and take them out to a movie. Throw a barbecue for the residents in their group care facility. Introduce them to your family and friends and let them know they need adoptive families. Find a way to help.

For those special few who are moved to adoption, get started. While adopting a child from foster care can be very challenging, in the words of many adoptive parents I know, "It's the hardest job you will ever love."

Visit www.adoptuskids.org to see featured pictures and short biographies of more than 12,000 children in need of a forever family. There is usually little or no cost to adopt children from the foster care system, and training is available to help new parents through the adoption process.

Foster and adoptive parents have a special calling. You know who you are. You're not any smarter or more dedicated than anyone else. You just know in your heart that vulnerable children need your help and you respond. Celebrate national adoption month this November by visiting the Arizona's Children Association website at www.arizonaschildren.org and getting started. The children need you.

Fred Chaffee
President and CEO
Arizona's Children Association

September 13 is Grandparents Day!

September 13 is Grandparents Day! A great day to celebrate all of the grandparents here in our state who are caring for their grandchildren.

At the KARE Family Center in Tucson, a small group of grandparents wanting to “give back and go the extra mile” on behalf of KARE are training in advocacy skills and making appearances in the community to ask for more attention and support for this “hidden caregiver population”. Although all the members are considered “senior citizens” in age, their list of accomplishments is impressive. George Arevalo, Jose Velasco, Rosa Borbon and Jessie Hetherington have visited with legislators, staged a well-attended caregiver rally in Tucson, and are planning a spectacular fundraiser for the KARE Center for March 27, 2010 featuring Grammy nominated artist R. Carlos Nakai. Laurie Melrood, KARE –Tucson director, says: “These are caregivers who embrace the KARE mission of keeping children safe and stable with relative families, and want to make sure that kin families have a voice in the community.”

Check out www.arizonaschildren.org/karecenter.htm to learn more about KARE on our website or visit our YouTube site for our video on KARE.