Volunteers needed for Grandparent’s Day Dance

In Arizona, there are more than 114,000 households headed by grandparents or other relatives who are currently caring for one or more children. Many of these caregivers are unable to enjoy a night amongst peers or time away from the children. The Grandparent’s Day Dance is an opportunity for our dedicated and caring grandparents to have a night of fun, laughter, and support.

The Grandparent’s Day Dance is on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Duet: Partners in Health & Aging from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers who are willing and eager to help us with the set up and break down of the event, serving, and childcare. Volunteers who serve and help with the setting up and tearing down must be at least 18 years old. Those who wish to help provide childcare at the event must be at least 21 years old, provide fingerprint clearance and negative TB test results.

Come out and enjoy a fun-filled evening with us and show your support for these grand families!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lauren Watson at 602.253.1620 x 2111 or at LWatson@arizonaschildren.org.

Duet: Partners in Health & Aging is located at 555 W. Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, 85021.

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Reay's Ranch Hosts Change for Children Drive

From June 26 - July 9, Reay’s Ranch Investors’ locations are raising money for Arizona’s children!Stop into your local Reay’s Minit Market, Super Stop, Subway or other participating store and donate $1 or more to help kids and help Reay’s reach their goal of $1,000,000!

Benson

Super Stop, 104 East 4th Street

Bisbee

Minit Market, 94 Bisbee Rd

Super Stop, 906 West Hwy 92

Chandler

Minit Market, 10356 E. Riggs Rd

Coolidge

Super Stop, 780 North Arizona Blvd

Douglas

Super Stop, 101 16th Street

Super Stop, 1060 18th Street

DudleyVille

Minit Market, 6466 Hwy 77

Florence

Minit Market, 520 N. Pinal Pkwy

Globe

Super Stop, 1690 East Ash Street

Hereford

Super Stop, 5620 S. Hwy 92

Kearny

Gordon’s Market, 345 Alden Road

Marana

Minit Market, 12505 N. Trico Rd

Super Stop, 15841 W. El Tiro Road

Pearce

Minit Market, 251 Frontage Road

Pima

Minit Market, 325 E. Hwy 70

Safford

Minit Market, 105 E. Hwy 70

Minit Market, 780 8th Avenue

Subway, 750 8th Avenue

Super Stop, 1780 W. Hwy 70

Sahuarita

Super Stop, 795 W. Via Rancho Sahuarita

San Manuel

Minit Market, 400 Avenue A

Subway, 400 Avenue A

Sierra Vista

Super Stop, 5217 South Hwy 92

Super Stop, 1497 East Fry Blvd.

Thatcher

Super Stop, 3775 W. Main Street

Tucson

Minit Market, 63715 E. Saddlebrooke

Minit Market, 6777 N. Sandario Rd

Reay’s Ranch Investors, 2100 N. Kolb Road

Rincon County Store, 12660 E. Old Spanish Trail

Shell Food Mart, 2402 N. 1st Avenue

Subway, 6777 N. Sandario Rd

Super Stop, 6225 W. Ajo Hwy

Super Stop, 3902 E. Speedway

Super Stop, 6280 E. Broadway

Super Stop, 3050 E. Ft. Lowell Rd

Super Stop, 6890 N. Sandario Rd.

Super Stop, 4301 E. Broadway

The Range Market, 11200 S. Sierrita Mountain Rd.

WinkelmanMinit Market, 105 W. 2nd St.

John Boemer Golf Tournament returns for the 16th year

On Saturday, May 11th, the John Boemer Golf Tournament returned to Yuma for the 16th year. The event was held at the Yuma Golf and Country Club where 29 teams tried their luck at a hole in one.

Over the past 16 years, this tournament has raised over $470,000! This year we raised a total of $34,000! All of these funds are used locally and spent on children and families in need of our assistance.

  

The generous donations from the event have gone towards:

• Purchasing clothing and school supplies for children coming into foster care
• Bill assistance to help families in need
• Paid for specialized camps and trainings for children with special needs
• Purchased food, cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies and general necessities for families in need
• Purchased beds to keep siblings together in one foster home
• Paid registration fees for youth to play various sports
• Assistance with vehicle repairs so that a grandmother, raising her grandchildren, can have transportation

A big thank you goes out to the committee members for their hard work and dedication. The committee includes: Allen Hook, Cory Crouse, Dave Sellers, Heather Boemer, Jack Meerchaum, Jay McMullen, Jeff Sellers, Jeron Boemer, Ross Farley, Stephanie Watson, and Steve Schulte.

Our appreciation also goes out to our committed staff that helped make the event a success. Thank you to Ricardo Becerra, Cori Rico, Esther Heureque, Esmeralda Murphy, Ava Lillard, Lizet Diaz, Cynthia Prieto, Krystal Castillo, Connie Villegas, Jeanette Leon-Buelna, Diego Lomeli, Claudia Rubio, Raul Solorzano, Chatana Campbell, Andrea Mendez, and Jessica Kelly. And to our volunteers: Susie Tyndall; and board members, Cindy Landin and Renee Dinwiddie!

Photo: Left to right-- Jay McMullen, Tony Sellers, Mike Covey and Jeron Boemer

Sorority Supports Those Raising Relative Kin

Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority Beta Chapter recently presented a $500 check to the Kinship & Adoption, Resource & Education (KARE) Center program.

Alpha Delta Kappa is an international honorary organization of women educators who are dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. The Beta Chapter, located in Tucson, is the oldest chapter in Arizona. The Sorority meets monthly and reaches out to the community through a number of altruistic projects including raising money for various organizations and providing scholarships to high school students.

A couple of years ago, the Sorority was entertained by the KARE children who were a part of the Baile Folklorico, a “folkloric dance" comprised of traditional Latin American dances that emphasize local folk culture. They had a desire to support Baile Folklorico and although the program is no longer in existence, the Sorority decided they would show their support of KARE.

“They were just adorable!” said Francine Bourland, a member of Alpha Delta Kappa. “I feel very good that we were able to give a little something to a group that does such great things.”

Kinship care has been a nationally-growing phenomenon for the last decade. In Arizona, there are more than 114,000 households headed by grandparents or other relatives who are currently caring for one or more relative child.

“They considered that any one of them could be in that situation where they have to step in,” said Julie Treinen, KARE Family Center program director. “They decided to let us be one of the recipients of their fundraising efforts.” Special thank you to Alpha Delta Kappa!

To learn more about KARE, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/karecenter.

The Heard Museum comes to Golden Gate

In April, our Golden Gate Community Center's Head Start program brought the Heard Museum to the children and families in the west Phoenix community. Many families in the area are unable to take their children on outings, like museums, due to transportation or financial restraints.

The Heard Museum offers a variety of specialized learning experiences for school groups, families and adult learners both at the museum and off-site. Head Start teamed up with the Heard Museum and were able to borrow educational kits that were set up in the cafeteria as stations for learning while the teachers and management team transformed the space into a museum. Teachers developed educational activities with the kits. One of the stations highlighted a portrait of George Washington. The teacher focused on his wooden teeth to teach the children and families about hygiene and oral health.

Families were also encouraged to bring siblings and other family members to the event, adding to the excitement and energy at the impromptu museum. More than 60 families attended the museum for an approximate total of 200 attendees—what a success!

“It was an event that some of our families would not have been able to experience on their own,” said Sarah Gonzalez, director of Golden Gate Community Center. “It exposed them to a learning opportunity and an outing for the entire family.”

 

“I am so very proud of our teachers and management team,” added Sarah. “They are passionate about education and what they do in their program.” Special thank you to the Heart Museum for accommodating our programs with off-site educational materials!

 

To learn more about Golden Gate Community Center, visit www.goldengatecenter.org.

Pictured above: Top: Teacher Kimberly Margevich with TA Rosa Saenz, Bottom: TA Nidia Martinez