AAA Arizona, KPHO and KOLD Stuff more than 1,500 Stockings!

AAA Arizona, KPHO TV in Phoenix and KOLD TV in Tucson joined forces this year for a Stuffed Stocking drive that will brighten the holidays for more than 1,700 children served by Arizona’s Children Association in Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott.

AAA reached out to donors across the state to drop off their stuffed stockings at their local AAA location via television spots on KPHO TV and KOLD TV.

“We were thrilled to work with the Arizona’s Children Association and benefit such a worthy cause,” said Brad Oltmans, vice president of insurance for AAA Arizona. “AAA is committed to giving back to the community, and hopes these stuffed stockings will help spread a little cheer to children in need during the holidays.”

“The participation we have seen from the Stuffed Stocking drive speaks volumes about how much our community cares about its children. Even during these tough economic times, people are coming together and paying it forward to those in need. We at CBS 5 are proud to be part of such a wonderful program,” said JoLynn Houk, marketing manager, CBS 5 Phoenix (KPHO). “The Stuffed Stocking Drive underscores a spirit of giving in our community. It is wonderful to be part of a program that brings people together to help pay it forward to children who face daily challenges; the holidays are a time to put cheer into their lives.”

Photo: The Elves at the Tucson broadway AAA (left to right): Ruth Hughes, Cathy Lenox, Melody Watts, Debbie Kyle, Ellen Yasmer

Congratulations to Nehemiah and Amanda….

And congratulations to the hundreds of children whose adoptions will be finalized this year. National Adoption Day is November 20, 2010. Your families love you, the uncertainty is over and your futures are bright.

And congratulations too, to Sara and Israel and Melissa and Jason, your lucky adoptive parents.

"The Miracle Baby"

Melissa and Jason first laid eyes on their 'miracle baby,' Nehemiah on the AdoptUSKids website. They will finalize his adoption next week. Nehemiah is no ordinary toddler. He's the 'miracle baby.'

When Melissa and Jason went to California in November of last year to visit him for the first time, "we fell in love with him at first sight," said Melissa. "We didn't want to leave."

Melissa returned to California to celebrate Nehemiah's 2nd birthday in December, and then their entire family, including six year old Jaron and seven year old Jaylynn went to visit the baby for New Year's. He came home to Arizona with his family in February, and immediately had to have emergency surgery and landed in the ICU for two weeks. Nehemiah has a neurological disorder and his brain isn't full developed on one side. He is never expected to walk and may not be able to talk. He requires 24 hour-a-day care including g-tube feeds, a suction machine and svn machine, and four to five therapies a week – speech, physical, occupational and vision, plus .

"When we brought him home, they told us he wouldn't ever be able to do much," said Melissa. "Now we call him our 'miracle baby.'" Nehemiah rolls over, scoots on his back, eats a jar of baby food a day and has started grabbing toys. "He is the happiest, most smiley baby. He's in love with our family and we are in love with him. He smiles and kicks when we come in the room, and he has learned to laugh out loud."

In October the family will travel to California to finalize Nehemiah's adoption, and then (what else!), go to Disneyland.

"We love her to Death"

Amanda's journey began at her birth in prison. She moved from home to home, family member to family member until the Escandon family picked her up from a CPS office in 2008. Amanda was 12 years old. "She thought we were weirdo's," said Sara. "Our sons were in the back seat of the car with Batman and Superman masks on and she thought my husband and I should have known more about her." Over the past two years, the Escandon family has "fallen in love" with Amanda, and her with them. "We have seen Amanda grow tremendously," adds Sara. "She's come so far. She's a beautiful girl. She's not afraid to speak up. She's amazing."

Amanda's brothers adore her and she and her sister share secrets and friendship bracelets and have developed a really great relationship.

"It was hard to blend at first, but they are all really great friends now," said Sara.

And Saturday, November 20 is National Adoption Day, a national day of celebration of adoptive families and an opportunity for courts to open their doors and finalize the adoptions of children from foster care. This year on November 20, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers will come together and celebrate adoption in communities large and small all across Arizona. To learn more, visit www.nationaladoptionday.org.

"A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned" - Benjamin Franklin

For many of us…a penny earned is a penny spent…which can result in not too many Benjamin's in our wallet for the things we really want. Golden Gate Community Center, in partnership with the Valley of the Sun United Way and Arizona Saves, is dedicated to turning financial instability around for the families it serves with a series of FREE Financial Stability Classes to help start families down the road to financial success. The content of the classes includes Banking Basics, Building a Better Budget and Taking Charge of Credit.

"The purpose of the program is to help our families move toward the goal of financial literacy armed with knowledge, clear direction and confidence," said Enrique Vargas, program director. "Through classes and individual assistance we will provide information about how to open bank accounts, establish savings and manage credit. It's information that every family can use."

Angelica signed up for the series of classes when they were first offered. "I was interested in the topic and had a general lack of knowledge about how to establish credit, federal and state programs that could help us buy a house, how credit cards work and how to establish a checking account and a savings account," said Angelica. "I learned in the classes about how important it is to set goals, get credit and make payments." Angelica’s financial goals include starting a small business, buying a home and having enough money to travel.

Enrique adds, "Angelica has changed the way she manages money. She has started saving money and establishing credit. She's much more confident about her financial future."

Enrique adds, "Unfortunately, many people are uncomfortable talking about their finances. They don't believe there's anything to learn. Our classes include information that will be helpful to everyone."

The next Financial Literacy workshops are scheduled at Golden Gate on November 4th to November 18th. Workshops take place from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dinner is provided at 5:50 p.m. for workshop participants and daycare is provided. All classes are held in Spanish.

PJs and Eggs Returns Across the State

In celebration of “World Egg Day” Hickman’s Family Farms, Arizona’s only commercial egg producer, is asking breakfast restaurants around the state to open for “breakfast for dinner” on one special night to benefit Arizona’s Children Association’s (AzCA) statewide foster care programs.

The second annual Hickman’s Family Farms “PJ’s & Eggs” – A Breakfast for Dinner Event – will take place on Friday, October 8, 2010 (“World Egg Day”) at participating restaurants from 5 p.m. – close (close time determined by individual restaurants). Restaurant customers and employees are encouraged to wear pajamas that night.

Customers having “breakfast for dinner” will be asked to bring a pair of new pajamas to the restaurant to be donated to AzCA’s foster care programs. In return, customers will be entered to win gift certificates from participating restaurants. They will also be given a “Free Dozen Eggs” certificate, courtesy of Hickman’s Eggs, to be redeemed at any grocery store where Hickman’s eggs are sold. Participating restaurants will be supplied with eggs from Hickman’s to ease their food costs for the night.

Participating restaurants will display a pajama collection container beginning the week of Sept. 13, 2010. Customers that donate pajamas any time leading up to the event will also be given a certificate for free eggs.

Participating restaurants will also donate a portion of the proceeds from “PJ’s & Eggs” to AzCA. Volunteers from AzCA and/or members of the Hickman’s family will be present at participating restaurants during the night of the event to assist with collecting pajamas, distributing the free egg certificates and collecting raffle tickets. Visit the event website for a complete list of participating restaurants at www.pjsandeggs.net

I'm Still Going

Mario was 12 years old when he and his six siblings were abandoned by their drug-addicted mother, the only parent they had left after their father left the family in 2004.

His aunt and uncle, Victoria and Jeff, stepped forward and took physical custody of Mario and his younger sister, while the rest of his siblings were placed in the care of various other extended family members.

Victoria and Jeff came to Arizona’s Children Association to receive help in obtaining legal guardianship of the two children. The KARE Center walked them through the process and paperwork for guardianship as well as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program. In addition, Mario and his sister were provided with much needed counseling services to help them cope with their issues of loss, pain and abandonment. With the support of Arizona’s Children Association and the loving care of his aunt and uncle, Mario got through the difficult adolescent years.

Today, he is 17 and recently graduated from High School with As and Bs. He is proud to be joining the United States Army. When asked what he is most proud of, Mario says with a smile and sparkle in his eyes, “Although I have not yet made it, I’m still going. I have a family, a lot of friends and I’m proud that soon I’ll be serving my country.” To learn more about KARE programs statewide, visit www.arizonaschildren.org/karecenter.htm.

In My Shoes Joins Arizona's Children Association Family of Agencies

The boards of directors of Arizona’s Children Association and In My Shoes proudly announce that In My Shoes has joined the Arizona’s Children Association family of agencies. The merger became effective July 1, 2010.

In My Shoes, is a Tucson-based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that young people experiencing out-of-home care will be supported through their transitional years to develop the competencies to realize their potential as adults. In My Shoes was created by foster care alumni and representatives from the Young Adult Program, Casey Family Programs and the Tucson Foster Care Alumni and the Tucson Helping Our People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Council. In My Shoes offers one on one mentoring, group mentoring, signature events including a sibling picnic, and training and events that create awareness about the issues that face youth in foster care.

Christa Drake, executive director of In My Shoes, was its first employee in 2003. Christa and program coordinator, Eshawn Peterson, were once raised in the foster care system, as are all of the mentors and club facilitators for the agency. "The In My Shoes community began with a small group of alumni whose shared experiences of foster care allowed them to be a family," said Christa. "Kids in foster care dream of having a bigger family, and this merger with Arizona's Children Association will help us grow our family of brothers and sisters in foster care across the state."

For AzCA CEO Fred Chaffee, the fit for AzCA and In My Shoes is a natural. "The voice of youth in foster care needs to be heard by all of us and now it will," said Fred. "In My Shoes brings powerful voices and programs to support youth in reaching their potential." In My Shoes joins the Arizona’s Children Association family of agencies which includes Child Haven, Golden Gate Community Center, Las Familias, New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development, The Parent Connection and Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.

Country Music Star Tim McGraw Supports Arizona's Children Association on 2010 Tour

Country music superstar Tim McGraw is supporting nonprofits across the United States during his 2010 Southern Voice tour.

Through a sponsorship with Frito-Lay, McGraw’s charitable fund, Neighbor’s Keeper, has identified worthy nonprofit organizations which serve children and their families in select tour cities. Grants from this sponsorship will be made to local charities in 34 cities via The Neighbor’s Keeper Fund.

On June 3rd, the Southern Voice Tour makes a stop at Cricket Pavilion in Phoenix, where McGraw, Frito-Lay's Fritos brand corn chips, and Neighbor’s Keeper are making a grant to Arizona’s Children Association, an organization addressing the needs of local children and families.

“Faith and I feel it’s incumbent upon us to step in where we see a need,” said McGraw. ”It’s the way we were raised. In our homes, money was tight – my mom was working two and three jobs when I was in junior high - but the supply of goodwill was endless.”

In addition, tour partner Outback Steakhouse will support the Neighbor’s Keeper Fund through in-restaurant promotions and other merchandise sales. Through these corporate partnerships, McGraw’s Southern Voice tour is helping create awareness about the important work of nonprofits within select tour cities.

“We, at Frito-Lay, really value our sponsorship over the years with Tim and Faith and we are proud to be able to help such worthy causes. We know that these days it is important for all of us to be “Givin’ Where We’re Livin’” and are excited to be a part of this effort,” said Ken Partyka, Vice President, Frito-Lay.