HOLIDAY GIVING DECEMBER 2019 - VOLUME 17, ISSUE 12
Treasures Heart of the
KURT AND BRENDA WARNER HAVE TURNED LIFE’S CHALLENGES INTO AN ENDURING DRIVE TO GIVE
HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK + CARDS FOR KIDS + THE ANTHONY BATES FOUNDATION
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EDITOR
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Karen Werner
Andrea Tyler Evans
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
BEAUTY PARTNER — MAKEUP
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On the Cover Kurt and Brenda Warner, founders of Treasure House
Photo: Thurlkill Studios
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TABLE OF CONTENTS {december 2019, volume 17, issue 12}
14
EDITOR’S NOTE...................... 07 Christmas with the Warners 10 QUESTIONS WITH.......... 08 Major David Yardley on The Salvation Army Metro Phoenix Christmas Angel program BOOKMARKED....................... 13 Holiday 2019 edition OFFICE DOORS...................... 14 Ib Andersen, artistic director of Ballet Arizona
22
CAREY’S CORNER................ 18 Giving Is in the Cards COVER STORY....................... 22 Treasures of the Heart NEXT DOORS.......................... 29 Connecting Complicated Issues STYLE UNLOCKED............... 32 Holiday Gifts That Give Back A 2ND ACT.................................. 37 Ensuring the Beat Goes On CHARITY SPOTLIGHT........ 40 Pearce Family Foundation KITCHEN DOORS.................. 44 Festive Feasts OPEN DOORS......................... 50 2019, the Year of Yes!
44 NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE ++ Anthony
++ Pearce
++ Arizona
Bates Foundation Town Hall ++ Ballet Arizona ++ Cards for Kids
++ The
Family Foundation Salvation Army ++ Treasure House
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EDITOR’S NOTE {on the job}
CHRISTMAS WITH THE WARNERS Brenda Warner and I have a couple of things in common. We both love our families and are less than enthusiastic about football. That might be surprising — on her part, at least — but that’s the first thing she wanted me to know. She doesn’t like the sport and doesn’t want her life to be defined by it. That was fine by me, because there’s so much more to her story. So instead of talking touchdowns, I spent most of my time with her and Kurt chatting about the things that drive them today, namely their kids, her artwork, their charity and their guiding passion to do right by their son and other young adults with cognitive disabilities by creating Treasure House. You can read about all of those things in the story I wrote on page 22. During our discussion, we got to talking about holiday traditions. Brenda mentioned that when her family moved to the Valley, it was the first place they had lived that didn’t have snow. At the time, she was on bed rest, pregnant with twins, and used her laptop to search “snow in Arizona.” To her surprise — and her children’s delight — she ordered an unexpected delivery of snowflakes to blanket their yard on Christmas morning. It’s a tradition they’ve carried on ever since. Today, their kids, who now range in age from 14 to 30, look forward to rising on Christmas morning in their matching pajamas (which Brenda says they hate, but she orders anyway). They eat waffles
and then go out to play in the snow. “We all make a snowman and have a snowball fight. Their friends come over. It’s a tradition that just kind of grew, and we get to share it,” Brenda said. Before the fun, usually on Christmas Eve, the family goes to a local orphanage. “The kids really look forward to that,” Brenda said. “We put together a stocking full of gift cards and a bunch of stuff and our kids get to give it to the kids there and walk away with something in their hearts that shifts.” It sounds like a lovely tradition. And though soon after, Kurt inevitably gets called away to provide analysis for televised games (probably part of why Brenda isn’t a fan of the sport), they know that no matter what happens after Christmas, the previous 24 hours mattered. “I hope it makes a difference in my kids’ lives and hearts,” she said. Wherever you are and whatever you believe, here’s wishing you the same this season — love, laughter and something in your heart that shifts in a meaningful way.
Karen Werner EDITOR
@kwerner409
10 QUESTIONS {fascinating people}
MAJOR DAVID YARDLEY On The Salvation Army Metro Phoenix Christmas Angel program 1. When and how did the Christmas Angel program start? One of the major driving forces behind the program’s inception was Marlene Koltz-Collins. She is currently on the national and local Salvation Army advisory boards. In 1986, she was a volunteer member of the Army’s local advisory board, but her full-time job was as community relations director with KTVK Channel 3. The Army’s marketing committee had been developing a concept of getting toy donations at a mall. Marlene thought they could turn it into something big, so one day, she presented the station manager with an idea for “Secret Santa” at a mall, and he loved it. They introduced the concept to Christown Mall, the Army readied a system to 8 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
identify children to receive the gifts, and they were off and running for that holiday season. The name of the program was changed to Christmas Angel a year or two later.
2. How many children received gifts that first year? Approximately 3,200 children.
3. How many Angels are there this year and where are the tags on display? The Salvation Army Christmas Angel program annually helps around 8,800 families with gifts for more than 50,000 Arizona children in need. There
are 13 participating malls: 11 in the Valley, one in Prescott and one in Flagstaff.
4. What has changed since the program started? Besides the increased numbers, probably the most significant change is how specific we have pinpointed the wish lists of the kids. Tags used to read “Male” or “Female” with an age and some generic gift suggestions. Now, each tag has the first name of a real child, that child’s age, and a wish list of three or four gifts. This is one of the few programs of its kind where the suggested gifts on a child’s Angel tag are purchased for that specific child. If a tag reads, “Timmy,” then the gifts are going to Timmy. That helps generous donors connect with the program even more. We often see parents at the Christmas Angel trees with their kids looking for tags of a child who has the same name or is the same age.
warehouse for several days. It’s like being at Santa’s workshop. The great thing about that part of the system is that the parents or guardians are the ones who wrap the presents and put them under the tree. So for the children, the gifts are coming from their parents or guardians. That’s the way we like it.
8. What’s the biggest challenge each year? Every year, there are tags that don’t get picked from a tree or tags that don’t get returned because someone has simply forgotten or life has gotten hectic. But we have a fail-safe for that. It’s called “Forgotten Angel.” Big-hearted corporations and organizations conduct internal toy drives and they and the general public bring gifts to an
5. Has anything new been added this year? We have added an online component over the last couple of years. If you visit SalvationArmyPhoenix.org and click on the Christmas Angel logo, you can find information about making a straight monetary donation or purchasing a gift package for a child in need.
6. How many volunteers and volunteer hours make this all possible? Wow, that’s difficult to quantify. I think it’s safe to say hundreds of volunteers putting in hundreds upon hundreds of combined hours.
7. How and when are the gifts delivered? Gifts returned to an Angel tree are delivered to our warehouse. All gifts going to children in the same family are bagged up in the same bag. When families register in advance of the program’s start, they are designated a date to pick up the gifts, and we have cars coming to our DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 9
all-day Forgotten Angel drive at Chandler Fashion Center. The online component I mentioned is also a part of the Forgotten Angel effort. Those donated toys are separated into categories at our warehouse, where they are matched to tags that weren’t picked or returned.
9. Have you witnessed a moment that lets you know you’re creating holiday magic for these families in need?
and CBS5 for partnering in Christmas Angel with The Salvation Army for what is now the 34th straight year. We are also very appreciative of the 13 participating malls and all of the wonderful people in our community who help us brighten the holidays of families and kids in need. The Salvation Army is your generosity put into action, and Christmas Angel is the epitome of that. To learn more, go to salvationarmyphoenix.org/christmas-angel.
We witness them all the time. Often, it’s tears of joy when a parent picks up the gifts at the warehouse and thanks you for what The Salvation Army does. Other times, someone comes to choose tags at an Angel tree and tells us about how they were helped by The Salvation Army when they were younger and they are now giving back. Those moments are priceless.
10. Is there anything that we didn’t ask that you’d like to share? We are incredibly grateful to Arizona’s Family: 3TV
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BOOKMARKED {holiday 2019 edition} Local books make great gifts for everyone on your list.
FOR MOM: “The Color of Mother” by Chelsea Young This beautifully illustrated hardcover picture book for kids doubles as a gift for moms to treasure as a keepsake. As a tribute to moms told through colors, “The Color of Mother” shows kids they are loved — while teaching them how to express what’s in their hearts — and acknowledges mothers and mother figures for who they are. This holiday season, a portion of proceeds from book sales will be donated to support victims of domestic violence at Sojourner Center.
Available at coloreverything.love | $24.99
Chelsea Young
FOR DAD: “Legends of Speed Catalogue” from Phoenix Art Museum This 168-page hardbound exhibition catalogue features beautiful photography and the history of cars featured in the “Legends of Speed” exhibit. The unprecedented collection of cars by Maserati, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Ford and others have won many of the world’s most iconic races, including Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 and the Italian Grand Prix. The exhibition runs through March 15, 2020.
Available at store.phxart.org | $75
FOR ARIZONA LOVERS: “Grand Canyon National Park: 100 Views” by Scott Thybony This 10” x 10” hardcover book is the official publication of the Grand Canyon National Park’s Centennial. It features 100 breathtaking photos by many of the canyon’s most talented photographers paired with essays by canyon veteran Scott Thybony. This love letter to the aweinspiring beauty of the canyon’s rims, trails and river makes the perfect gift for anyone who has made the trek to marvel at Grand Canyon.
Available at shop.grandcanyon.org | $30 Scott Thybony
DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 13
OFFICE DOORS {valley changemakers}
A DAY WITH IB ANDERSEN Artistic director of Ballet Arizona
As told to | Julie Coleman
5:30 a.m. >> LOCATING HIS CENTER I love the mornings. It’s my favorite part of the day. Every day, I have coffee and read The New York Times. I do some painting or sculpting every day. I create my own recipes in terms of glaze and colors. It’s like a mania. It’s something I need to do, not for me to feel good, but for the exploration of the unknown. It stimulates my brain and is something I’ve done since I was a teenager.
10 a.m. >> THE DAY’S PIROUETTE I’m in the studio basically nonstop as we are always working on multiple things. Right now, we are rehearsing for “The Nutcracker,” which begins Dec. 12, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in February. The production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” includes more than 100 new costumes and sets. I’m very involved, including choosing fabrics, colors, costume design and
14 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
fitting. I am also starting to choreograph the fourth production in the Desert Botanical Garden, featuring all original work by me specifically hand-tailored for the Garden. If I’m lucky, I will do half of it before we do “The Nutcracker” and continue choreographing again in March, with a premiere in mid-June.
1 p.m. >> TAKING FLIGHT Working in the studio all day with the dancers and rehearsing is a lot of work and very intense. You have 40 people looking at you and just waiting for you to say what’s next. It’s not me working with myself. It’s me being in front of a group of people telling them what we are doing and what comes next. Every minute of it is super intense because they all rely on what you have to say. My job is to get things out of people that they didn’t know they had. It’s giving people mental wings to
Photos by Alexander Iziliaev.
Locally, Andersen has choreographed such beloved works as “The Nutcracker” (left) and “An Evening at the Desert Botanical Garden” (right).
execute what needs to be done. I’ve done it for so long and I’ve always had an eye for seeing what someone needs to do in order to do it better. I don’t think there are many jobs like a dancer, where you receive constant feedback. I know as a dancer, it’s extraordinary when you get real feedback. After that feedback, you will never be the same. It completely changes your outlook in this life.
3 p.m. >> BEYOND THE OPENING ACT My job is very complicated, complex and 24/7. I have been at Ballet Arizona 20 years and my greatest accomplishment is that I’m still here in a business that is really difficult. We rely on other people’s generosity, and to be able to keep motivation and belief in myself, do this year after year, and survive in an environment where raising money is not so easy is something I’m proud of. Curiosity about what’s next keeps me here. It’s gone unbelievably fast and I still feel that I’ve only scratched the surface.
6:30 p.m. >> CREATIVE EXPRESSION After work, I shop for food, go home and cook. I am a good cook and enjoy it. I shop because I like knowing exactly what I’m eating. I love eating and love eating good food! I don’t use a recipe and am creative nonstop.
8 p.m. >> IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER A lot of people have a phobia about ballet because they think it’s something they don’t understand, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There’s nothing to understand. You just have to open your eyes and then see what you get out of it. There’s beauty in it for sure. There’s no one who does not like music and there’s no one who does not think it’s fun to dance. You get a high to a degree watching ballet because it is a little bit like being in that person’s body feeling what they’re doing. It’s part of the experience. There’s a freedom in dancing. And it will definitely take you out of your daily rut by experiencing something live.
10 p.m. >> THE ART OF LEADERSHIP I do feel that I am a servant to the art form. I have been super lucky to work with the best throughout my life. I am privileged, and my knowledge allows me to serve the next generation. To learn more, go to balletaz.org.
Julie Coleman CONTRIBUTING WRITER juliecolemanconsulting@gmail.com
DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 15
CAREY’S CORNER {carey peña reports}
GIVING IS IN THE CARDS Local DJ puts happiness in hand
Carey Peña | Contributing Writer
I have met a lot of great people over the years. People who are determined to do their part to spread light, love, security, food, shelter and clothing to those in need — not because they have to, but because they want to. This describes radio personality Mathew Blades. Blades, who has been in radio for 25 years, is the popular morning host of iHeartRadio’s Mix 96.9, host of the “Fathers Like Me” podcast, and a youth hockey coach. Like many of us, he has screaming busy professional and personal lives. Still, he’s determined to make a more significant impact. Enter Cards for Kids. For the past five years, Blades and co-host Priscilla Ornelas have been working to build the Cards for Kids program in the Valley. It began with an idea to encourage their morning show listeners to donate $25 gift cards for students at Title 1 schools.
$50 cards — per student. And this year, they are aiming to give cards to all of the teachers, too. (Gotta love it when teachers are recognized.) “We were trying to get into Title 1 schools and inject some energy,” Blades said. “Reach out to that community and wrap our arms around them — literally.” Title 1 schools have large concentrations of lowincome families and receive federal funds to help support the students. Ninety percent are eligible for free or reduced lunch. “First up,” Blades said, “you have many students who don’t even know what a gift card is. Never even seen a debit card in their life. And once they find out what it is and what’s on it, they lose their mind.”
Good intentions grow, and that’s what happened with this event.
Watching video of previous gift card giveaways on their website makes it easy to see why Blades and Ornelas are so connected to this cause. Blades said they even gifted the very school that Ornelas, a Valley native, grew up attending.
While it began with $25 gift cards, Cards for Kids has increased to multiple Title 1 schools receiving
“Two years ago, we were able to go back to the Title 1 school that my co-host Priscilla went to, and
18 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
Mathew Blades (far right) says the best part about the Cards for Kids program is the reactions from the kids.
The idea behind Cards for Kids is simple: Give kids in Title 1 schools a holiday card designed by kids for kids just before winter break.
DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 19 
CAREY'S CORNER CONTINUED
we gifted every kid at her school the Cards for Kids program,” Blades said. “This program is me to my core. There’s nothing quite like the smile on the faces of the kids. What I get out of it is a sense of ... the world’s O.K. And there’s a lot of good kids out there,” he said. It’s a project that feels right to Blades. “I think it’s our role as media people to get behind something and do something, but I think it’s more about what speaks to your soul and what makes you feel good about things,” he said. When Blades said this to me, I began thinking about my role, too, as a member of the media. Or anyone, for that matter, who has a platform. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to use my public and personal platforms to inspire positive change, encourage conversation and lift people whenever and wherever I can. If we can think outside ourselves about what may make life at least a little bit better for someone else, that’s a win, which is why the work
that Blades and Ornelas are doing stands out. Rather than signing off their morning show at 10 a.m. and going on about their day in this busy season, they are thinking about the hundreds of children (and teachers) whose lives they can impact. And, their listeners love it, too. Blades and Ornelas have had tremendous support from the community as this program continues to grow. “When people find something that makes sense to them, and when they find a cause or a program that speaks to them, they want to help,” Blades said. “At their core, people are very good.” To learn more, visit mix969.iheart.com.
Carey Peña CONTRIBUTING WRITER
@CareyPenaTV
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MORTGAGE UPDATE /// Economists are not the only ones warning of the possibility of a looming recession. Mike Fratantoni, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association, believes we could see a recession on or before Q2 of next year. A mild recession could simply reset the economy and pull back housing to more affordable levels. A slowing economy should also drive long-term rates lower, further improving home affordability and fueling a refinance boom, which is already underway. If unemployment numbers spike upward, a recession would be nearly unavoidable and could lead to a surge in credit defaults in all categories. Mortgage defaults are currently extremely low, but the economy has been strong for a decade, and credit has not been tested for some time.
WHAT THE HOLIDAYS MEAN TO ME This time of year has always been special to me. It’s the time to reflect, give back to the less fortunate, celebrate with loved ones and spread holiday cheer. While you’re out shopping and celebrating, please take the time to give back to those in need. Happy holidays, everyone. And cheers to a wonderful year in our community.
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COVER STORY {by karen werner}
Treasures Heart of the
KURT AND BRENDA WARNER HAVE TURNED LIFE’S CHALLENGES INTO AN ENDURING DRIVE TO GIVE
Brenda Warner doesn’t want this story to be about football. “I don’t like football,” she said in her no-nonsense way. Instead, the former Marine would prefer it to be about the things that she does love: her family, her metalwork and Treasure House, the home for adults with developmental disorders she founded with her husband, Kurt. Yes, that Kurt Warner. The Hall of Fame quarterback whose 12-year career is one of the greatest stories in NFL history. So let’s get the basics out of the way. Not drafted out of college, Kurt got cut by the Green Bay Packers and wound up bagging groceries at a Hy-Vee to pay the bills before signing with the Arena League. He went on to become an NFL star playing for the St. Louis Rams, winning the Most Valuable Player Award and leading the team to a Super Bowl win in his first year. He had a second act with a celebrated run with the Arizona Cardinals, leading the team to its first Super Bowl berth before retiring in 2010. The only person inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Arena Football Hall of Fame, his rags-to-riches story is legendary. But it’s not remotely the most interesting thing about him. To learn that, you have to travel back decades to when he met the love of his life at a country-andwestern bar. Brenda was a divorced mother of
two who needed to get out of the house. She and her mother took a line-dancing class, and Brenda stayed with friends after her mom left. That’s when she noticed Kurt. “I thought he was cute, but I come from a marriage with an affair, so I was like, ‘No way,’” Brenda said. But providence had other plans. “We did this dance called the barn dance, where you switch partners, and at the end, he was my partner,” Brenda said. “He asked if I wanted to keep dancing and we danced until they flicked the lights at the bar.” When Kurt walked Brenda to her car at the end of the night, she gave him the low-down. She had young kids and wasn’t interested in games. If this night was all they had, that was fine. She left without a kiss. The next morning, there was a knock on the door of her parents’ house, where Brenda was living at DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 23
A close-knit family, the Warners have seven children, who they try to teach the joy of giving to others.
the time. It was Kurt. He had gotten her address from mutual friends and wanted to meet her kids. “Zachary heard his voice and, being blind, his hearing is impeccable. He immediately took Kurt’s hand and walked him around the entire house,” Brenda said. “Finally, they came into the living room and were wrestling on the floor. I remember thinking I didn’t have to explain Zack’s disability. We dated from then on.” Brenda was a U.S. Marine Corps corporal when her first husband, also in the military, accidentally dropped their 4-month-old baby Zack while bathing him. The injury left Zack brain-damaged and blind, causing Brenda to get a hardship discharge from the Marines in 1990. Doctors told Brenda she’d be lucky if Zack ever sat up. She was 21 at the time. “I think the Marine Corps taught me to step up and do what you have to do,” Brenda said. “When you’re in that mode, you’re not thinking about the future. You’re just hoping he doesn’t have a seizure and makes it through that day.” But when Kurt stepped into her life, Brenda allowed herself to start thinking about a future. “Kurt fell in love with the kids right away. I was tougher to fall in love with,” she said. Yet Brenda 24 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
recognized there was something different about him. “I mean, what 21 year old starts dating a divorced mother of two who is 25 with two kids, on food stamps, living in her parents’ basement? He did, and did it well.” For his part, Kurt found someone who believed in him and his dreams. Brenda stood by him during the lean years of trying to make it as a professional athlete, following him from city to city. “Brenda has been there from day one. She shaped everything, from my perspective on life to helping me grow up,” Kurt said. The two married in 1997 and began living their improbable dream. Kurt officially adopted Brenda’s two kids, Zack and Jesse, and had five more of their own: Cade, Jada, EJ and twins Sienna and Sierra. Today Zack is 30 and, despite his old doctors’ dim prognosis, is walking, talking and changing lives. Like a lot of families of kids with disabilities, Kurt and Brenda thought Zack would always be with them. But they came to realize they were holding Zack back. He had graduated from high school, where he took part in work programs and thrived. But after that, he was home full-time in a busy house with six other kids and a family with lots of
commitments. “We came to realize that we’re so busy doing everything else that he was kind of stuck. His life was waking up, seeing what today brought and then going to sleep and doing it again tomorrow,” Kurt said. “Being able to wake up with a purpose is important.” Purpose is fundamental to the Warners’ lives. Both Kurt and Brenda come from humble backgrounds and don’t take the blessings of success lightly. “I remember growing up, wanting to see myself on TV, people wearing a jersey with my name on it, and making lots of money. But you come to a realization very quickly that that’s not what life’s about,” Kurt said. He recognized his fame afforded him opportunities bigger than football — he had a chance to impact people. For years, Kurt and Brenda have done just that through their foundation, First Things First, which they created in 2001. The organization has been involved with numerous projects, much of it shaped by the Warners’ life experiences. Because Brenda was a single mom for years, they adopted a program called Homes for the Holidays that gives furnished homes to single parents —
they’ve done about 50 so far. They’ve also done an annual coat drive in St. Louis for the past 20 years, inspired by the time Brenda saw a child with no jacket waiting for a school bus during a Midwestern winter. “We’ve given away 10,000 coats,” Kurt said, “It’s amazing what can happen when you get behind efforts like that.” First things first — faith and family — is the formula for their success. So it’s no surprise that their biggest undertaking is inspired by both. Back when Zack was struggling after high school, Kurt and Brenda knew he deserved more. After an exhaustive search, Brenda found a residential community for adults with intellectual and learning disabilities in St. Louis. Though the family lived in Arizona and would miss Zack, they decided he should live there. “It was incredible to watch him explode in the four years he was there,” Kurt said. Zack got a job at a movie theater, made friends and started to blossom. “Before that, if you’d ask him a question, he would answer but never had his own agenda. When we would call him, it would be 20 straight minutes where he would talk. The ability to communicate, the desire to connect and the social part were key for him. He was thriving there.”
“WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING WHERE OTHER FAMILIES LIKE OURS IN THIS AREA CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEIR CHILD CAN THRIVE BUT ALSO BE A PART OF THEIR FAMILY’S LIFE.”
A lot of Kurt and Brenda’s charitable activity has been driven by their children and their faith. Treasure House combines both.
But it was a long way from family. When the Warners went to parent meetings, they realized other families like theirs had come from all over the country for a community like this. “You put all those things together and we realized that we need to do this. We need to bring Zack closer to us. We need to have something where other families like ours in this area can have a safe place where their child can thrive but also be a part of their family’s life,” Kurt said. That’s where Treasure House comes from — the Warners’ love of their son and their desire to bring him closer to home in a safe and loving environment. They rallied their forces and brought together people who donated land, architecture and more to build a facility in Glendale. Today, Treasure House is the only Arizona living community for young adults with cognitive disabilities that blends support for independence with community building. Each resident has his or her own studio apartment and shares a community family room, game
room, patio, recreation area and family-style kitchen. In October, Treasure House celebrated its first anniversary and passed the 50-percent occupancy mark. “With God’s grace, we want to fill this place up, model it and then go build another one somewhere else for more families,” Kurt said. The road hasn’t been easy, starting from finding a neighborhood that would welcome the place. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, that’s sweet, but not in my backyard,’ and that broke my heart because they don’t know what they’re missing,” Brenda said. “It isn’t their fault. It has to do with how society treats people with disabilities. But once you meet somebody from Treasure House, you will want them to be a part of your life.” Which is a critical part of both the name and the master plan. “There is a scripture that says where your heart is, your treasure is. I know the value of knowing somebody like Zack and I want you to open your heart and see the treasure,” Brenda said. So the Warners are putting their money, time and energy into Treasure House. “This is where our heart is,” she said.
TREASURE HOUSE COMES FROM THE WARNERS’ LOVE OF THEIR SON AND THEIR DESIRE TO BRING HIM CLOSER TO HOME IN A SAFE AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT.
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The ultimate goal is to connect Treasure House residents with the community. “We want people to see the kind of blessing they are when you get to know them,” Kurt said. That means finding businesses willing to give residents jobs so the community gets a chance to see those with disabilities in a different light. “That is our allencompassing dream and goal,” Kurt said. For his part, Zack is flourishing in his new home. He loves music and friends and lights up when visitors walk into the room. He enjoys reading palms and is diligent about what Kurt calls “landscaping.” Every morning Zack goes for a walk, picking up sticks and garbage that need to be disposed of. “He makes the world more beautiful,” Brenda said. “He is a light to this world.”
After Brenda filled their home with so many metalworks it looked like “Game of Thrones,” Kurt suggested she start to sell her art. Brenda refused. “I thought, no, I don’t need the money. I don’t want to deal with people’s opinions,” she said. But then she came up with the idea of selling her works to benefit Treasure House. Today, Brenda has a workshop and makes everything from jewelry to wall art. In fact, she created a lot of the art around Treasure House, including the large metal sign at the front of the building. After selling her wares for a year, she wrote her first check to Treasure House. “I know Kurt can write huge checks. But this was from me. It was special,” she said. Both Kurt and Brenda see the beauty of looking to their past to find their future. He has found his
Knowing that Zack is settled and flourishing, Kurt and Brenda can shine their own lights in new directions. Earlier this year, Kurt started coaching high school football for free at Brophy College Prep, which his son EJ attends. “It’s a great opportunity to spend time with my son in a different setting, and a chance to help shape the character of these young men,” Kurt said. “I’m passionate about the game and it keeps me connected to something that I love as well.” For her part, Brenda has found something that she loves — metal art. Over the years, she had dabbled in yoga, photography, hiking and other pursuits but failed to find what made her heart sing. Then, approaching 50 — a difficult birthday, because a tornado killed her mother, with whom she shares a birthday, on her 50th birthday — Brenda felt like it was time to do what she wanted, other people’s opinions be damned. She found her calling in a surprising place: welding. She realized that wherever she traveled, she would pick up metal art, turn it over and try to figure out how it was made. “My mom and grandma taught me to sew. This is honestly sewing with fire because you’re welding two pieces together like a loop stitch,” she said. “It was something that was finally feeding me, and it felt like it was me.”
Treasure House specializes in developing individualized strategies and supports for young adults with cognitive disabilities.
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“We have seen so many instances of these young people learning to do new things and really embracing their newfound independence,” said Lauri Tanner, CEO of Treasure House.
passion, she has found hers, and they are hoping Treasure House residents find theirs as well. “We’re able to take what we’ve learned and help others, so it’s not for nothing,” Brenda said. The way their lives have evolved has shaped their approach to giving, including in their own family. Each year, they take Make-a-Wish families with a child in medical crisis for a week in Disney World. “We spend the whole week with them and get to know the families and show them we love them and understand their struggle,” Kurt said. They also host a reunion of some 200 of these families each year, either here or in St. Louis, an event their own kids look forward to. The Warners feel a duty to raise kids who recognize their privilege and see the needs of others. “Back when I was on food stamps, I couldn’t go to restaurants, couldn’t afford a Happy Meal for my kids. Once we got money, we’d go to restaurants and it would be free because somebody paid for it or the manager was thrilled we were there. The rich get richer, and that’s messed up,” Brenda said. “You can’t do everything for everyone, but you can do something for someone. We’ve had seven kids. If we can have
seven more people coming behind us that look for other people’s needs, we’ve made a difference.” So whether it be through their family, Brenda’s artwork, Kurt’s coaching, their philanthropy, or the opportunities they are creating through Treasure House, the Warners are trying to do as much for as many as they possibly can. And though Brenda may not like football, they are grateful for the platform the sport has provided. “I’ve been out of the game for 10 years, and if my legacy hinges on how long I hold onto a record or how long people remember me playing a game, it’s not going to last very long,” Kurt said. “I feel like I’m young and there’s so much more out there. We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of blessings, but I feel like there’s so much more we’re going to do in the next 40 years. That’s what excites me — to bless people.” To learn more about Treasure House, go to treasurehouse.org. For information about the First Things First Foundation, visit kurtwarner.org. To see Brenda’s artwork and jewelry, go to metalartbyb.com.
BOTH KURT AND BRENDA SEE THE BEAUTY OF LOOKING TO THEIR PAST TO FIND THEIR FUTURE. HE HAS FOUND HIS PASSION, SHE HAS FOUND HERS, AND THEY ARE HOPING TREASURE HOUSE RESIDENTS FIND THEIRS AS WELL.
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NEXT DOORS {ahead of the curve}
CONNECTING COMPLICATED ISSUES Arizona Town Hall’s conversations show how much needs to be done to create healthier families and communities Tom Evans | Contributing Editor
It’s a fairly simple premise — create an environment where Arizonans from all walks of life can discuss some of the issues affecting our state. But what the Arizona Town Hall has found over the past few years is far from simple. The organization is helping create a pathway where Arizona residents can tackle some of our state’s most complicated issues. And sometimes, just like any conversation, things come up by accident. First, a quick bit of background: Arizona Town Hall was created in 1962 by a diverse group of Arizona
leaders looking for ways to solve big problems facing the state. “That’s what we still do,” said Tara Jackson, Arizona Town Hall’s president. “We’re bringing diverse people together to have fact-based discussions to work toward solutions.” The organization holds a series of meetings across the state in a variety of different environments. Rural. Urban. With the elderly. With young people. They even hold meetings in prisons. All the while, Arizona Town Hall is encouraging discussion with four key focuses: to educate, engage, connect and empower. DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 29
Arizona Town Hall helps citizens resolve important issues through consensus, not division.
It all culminates with the Arizona Town Hall main conference, which wrapped up a few weeks ago. “One of the things I look for is where there are commonalities in these conversations, especially when the groups you are engaging are very different,” Jackson said. “So for example, how was the Lake Havasu meeting similar or different than the one that happened in Lewis Prison, or Apache Junction, or Sierra Vista?”
Arizona Town Hall is encouraging discussion with four key focuses: to educate, engage, connect and empower.
You would think the Town Hall would pick a key issue, facilitate some discussion around it and try to find solutions. Easy peasy. But what happens ends up being far more complicated than that.
a crime, no matter how serious or what the circumstances might be. But that’s the kind of action that breaks up families, which can have ruinous effects on children and perpetuate a host of problems that our communities face.
Take the past few years, for example. The 2018 Arizona Town Hall focused on criminal justice. For most of us, that’s a pretty esoteric concept, assuming we have not been directly involved in the criminal justice system. You might not think about the criminal justice system and the effect it has on our communities much at all.
“What we are doing with policies with a ‘tough on crime’ message has created a system where we have more people in prison per capita than almost any state in the country,” Jackson said. “We should be smart on crime, and focus on how we can keep the family together.”
If that’s the case, it might floor you to hear that a 2015 study found that one out of every nine Arizona children has a parent who has been incarcerated. The number is probably higher now. So think about how that affects educational outcome, or hunger and poverty, or employment, or the economy as a whole. Many people operate with the mentality that we should simply lock up anyone who commits 30 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
So as Arizona Town Hall moved from 2018 into 2019, the focus changed to “Strong Families, Thriving Children.” You’d think the conversation would shift a bit, and you’d be right. But it became exceedingly difficult to have a conversation about strong families and thriving children without revisiting criminal justice, for the reasons I mentioned previously. Common threads stretch through all these conversations, despite what you may think going in.
Using a process based on respectful dialogue, Arizona Town Hall solicits public input and discussion on significant, and potentially controversial, issues facing the state.
One thing that Jackson said surprised them was the conversation about a very basic question: What is a family? That answer can differ significantly depending on your life experience. Some people have very “normal” family structures, but others may have lost a loved one or had a loved one leave. Some people have escaped abusive families, and their family infrastructure may be more focused on supportive friends. “The answer to that question is that family should be defined very broadly,” Jackson said. “We need to recognize in this day and age that family should be broadened to include those who support you and care for you.” For 2020, the theme is “Creating Vibrant Communities.” And the conversational threads will almost undoubtedly continue. “I might have thought criminal justice was separate from families and children,” Jackson said. “Now we are realizing they are very much connected. The same is true with vibrant communities — you create one by having strong families and thriving children. Those are the
building blocks. So there’s a natural overlap where these conversations are built on and elevated.” From conversations comes understanding, and hopefully, consensus. Once that happens, change for the better can be just around the corner. Once the conversations are over, Arizona Town Hall encourages people to focus on the things they can do individually to help address the problems we face as a state, as well as creating public policy recommendations for state leaders. But it all starts with an exchange of ideas. “The one way to create change about these big topics is to have constant conversation,” Jackson said. “Next year, as we shift to a new topic, it will allow us to continue conversations that have already started.” To learn more, go to aztownhall.org.
Tom Evans CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
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STYLE UNLOCKED {living fashionably}
THE BUBBLY BLONDE’S HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK Giving gifts over the holidays always feels good. But this year, your giving can take on deeper meaning by supporting charities and causes that actually do good. Here are some local companies that fully believe in giving back. McKenna Wesley | Contributing Writer
GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT! Believing that kindness can be contagious, The Be Kind People Project is dedicated to providing students with comprehensive youth development programming that uses a positive approach to social, emotional and academic learning. All proceeds from sales of their super-cute Be Jolly T-shirts support their programs. This Be Jolly T-Shirt would “Be” so cute to wear with a pair of jeans or a jean skirt and promote some extra kindness during the busy season. thebekindstore.com/products/bejolly-holiday-t-shirt-13-99
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FOR YOUR LITTLE CHEF The Give Garden is a unique culinary adventure for kids that strives to build healthy habits through fruit and veggie introduction and recipe exploration. The monthly meal kit delivery includes a recipe card that breaks down directions into three categories: “child” steps, “family” steps and “adult” steps. Plus, Give Garden gives up to 15 percent back to the charity or fundraiser of the subscriber’s choice. What a great way to teach kids both how to cook healthy and the art of giving back while spending quality time together. My 8-year-old friend Ellie made the cheesy broccoli potato skins and gave them two thumbs-up! give.garden
SCENT-SATIONAL Let’s support strong women! Through fragrances, this “perfume with a purpose” strives to empower women to believe in themselves and all they can do. With each sale, Ilsa Frangrances gives back to the community by donating to Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that teaches girls they have limitless potential. The rollerball duo includes both scents in a beautifully packaged box for only $40. ilsafragrances.com
A PIECE OF DESIGN HISTORY Frank Lloyd Wright is an architectural icon and when you purchase items featuring his designs from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation gift shop, a portion of sales will help preserve and maintain the historical work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Among many FLW gifts to choose from, this architecturally inspired backgammon set is great for anyone on your list. Playing games with friends and family over the holidays is always fun and this beautiful backgammon set is sure to be a conversation piece as well. shop.franklloydwright.org/flw-gift-guide
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STOCKING STUFFERS The MAShop at Mane Attraction Salon at 32nd Street & Camelback Road is filled with gifts that give back. Check out the Gem Girl bracelets and support local animal rescue with every bracelet sold; the Bloom & Give scarves that give a percentage of every scarf sold to help educate girls in India; or Blue Planet sunglasses that give a pair of corrective glasses to those in need with each pair purchased. So many fun options — it’s definitely worth a stop. maneattractionsalon.com
DON’T FORGET YOUR FUR KID Adorable #LovePup holiday T-shirts are now available at Oh My Dog! Boutique Hotel for $30 with 100 percent going back to #LovePup. OMD! is also selling Bentley’s Biscuits Pocket Packs for $4.50 with 100 percent give-back to #LovePup. I’ve already ordered my dog Jax’s holiday T-shirt and can’t wait to see how cute he looks in it. ohmydogboutique.com
LUXURY LOVE The 2019 Christmas Book is here and with it comes the announcement that Neiman Marcus is supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America creative arts programs this holiday season as a part of their “Igniting Creativity” initiative. Show your support when you shop and donate online or in stores from now until December 31. NeimanMarcus.com/HeartofNM
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BEAUTY BAUBLES Locally, Saks Fifth Avenue Phoenix is supporting Childhelp with a toy drive on Dec. 12, 2019 at their Biltmore Fashion Park location. I hope you will stop by and join the Frontdoors team for a bit of holiday cheer and shopping! childhelp.org/toydrive saksfifthavenue.com/Gifts
McKenna Wesley CONTRIBUTING WRITER
@thebubblyblonde
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A 2ND ACT {helping is healing}
Sharon Bates started the Anthony Bates Foundation in an effort to spare other parents the heartbreak of losing a child to an undiagnosed cardiac malady. She is shown at right with her son, Anthony.
ENSURING THE BEATS GO ON One million hearts and counting Judy Pearson | Contributing Writer
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 later, he was returning to his apartment after working out in the weight room when he passed out at the wheel, his car careening into a tree. On their arrival, the paramedics extricated him, discovering more than his injuries from the accident. Anthony’s heart was in severe distress. An emergency room ultrasound revealed an enlarged and damaged heart. By the time Sharon received the call and got on the first plane out of Phoenix, Anthony’s prognosis was dire. He was gone before his mother reached
him. Anthony had no prior indication of heart issues and no family history. “How could a boy who had received 25 sports physicals in his lifetime have a heart condition?” Sharon asked everyone. Her questions were answered with a sad truth: Young Americans with no risk factors are never screened for cardiac issues. Every year, 12,000 children experience a sudden cardiac arrest. That’s 30 kids a day, and every three days it’s a high school athlete. But only one in 200 people suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Anthony was that one. Sharon vowed that her son’s death would not be in vain. In 2001, she created the Anthony Bates Foundation with a two-fold mission. The first is to screen as many young athletes as possible so that DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 37
no other mother would have to experience what she had. Her second mission is to raise awareness about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its counterpart, sudden cardiac arrest. “In Japan, kids are checked in kindergarten, seventh grade and when they enter high school,” Bates said. “In Italy, they started screening kids in 1974, beginning at the age of 12. And they’re screened every year they’re active in sports up to the age of 36. America sadly lags behind.” The foundation holds cardiac screening events for student-athletes throughout Arizona, Colorado and at Kansas State (where Anthony had played). Of course, the ultrasound machines required come with a hefty price tag. When she began, Sharon borrowed machines from manufacturers’ sales reps, which worked for several years. “The first ultrasound I actually owned came about as a result of Hurricane Katrina,” Bates said. “The first-floor office of a New Orleans radiologist was flooded, although his machine was on the second floor. By the time he relocated and was ready to open, new equipment had come onto
Sometime during 2020, the Anthony Bates Foundation will conduct its 1 millionth screening.
the market. But his machine worked perfectly for our purposes!” Sharon bought a couple more demo machines from sales reps, and in 2014 obtained her own digital electrocardiogram machine. The foundation is also beginning to supply automatic external defibrillators for elementary schools. Equipment such as this doesn’t come cheap. Donations for screenings cover part of the costs, but they will conduct the screenings for free if necessary. As Sharon says, how can you put a price on a life? The foundation also holds fundraisers — walks and peer-to-peer fundraising contests — and gratefully takes monetary and in-kind donations.
The Anthony Bates Foundation works to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac arrest by raising awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the leading killer of young athletes in this country.
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Of the many miracles the Anthony Bates Foundation has brought to families, one family experienced three. “Scott, a young athlete, had been passing out on the football field. We screened him at one of our events,” Bates said. Fortunately, his issue was exerciseinduced asthma, a much more manageable condition to treat. “His father, Scott Sr., mentioned that he had been experiencing chest discomfort. He had pooh-poohed his symptoms, never going to a doctor, even though he had a family history. So we screened him on the spot and found a seven-centimeter aneurysm on his aortic arch,” Bates said. “Shortly after that, Scott Sr.’s father arrived for a visit, complaining of chest pains after getting off a plane. The family took him to the ER immediately, a trip that saved his life. Even more incredible was the fact that his cardiac nurse was the volunteer who had been at the two Scotts’ initial screenings!” Sometime during 2020, the Anthony Bates Foundation will conduct its 1 millionth screening. Not only is the number alone a remarkable achievement, but Sharon has also calculated what those hearts represent. “Now that those children who had issues will receive the kind of medical care and observation they’ll need, they’ll be productive members of society for another 60 years or more. Saving their lives means $3.4 billion is saved, as they become taxpayers, homeowners and get involved in giving back to their communities,” she said. Making sure those hearts keep beating is the best tribute a mother can give to her son. To learn more, go to anthonybates.org.
Judy Pearson CONTRIBUTING WRITER
info@A2ndAct.org
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT {giving back}
LEGACY OF ANGELS The Pearce Family Foundation makes life easier for families of a child facing a life-threatening disease Catie Richman | Contributing Writer
THE STORY Six years ago, Meghan Alfonso started the Pearce Family Foundation to carry on her family’s legacy of making a positive impact on the community. Her family’s influence on the Valley spans decades. Alfonso’s great-grandfather settled in Arizona in the late 1870s. He was known for his feed and grain business before Coors beer approached him to use his large cold storage unit to help bring their product to market. After Prohibition was lifted in 1933, Alfonso’s greatgrandfather became the licensed distributor for Coors beers, which her grandfather then father would take over until the company sold to Crescent Crown Distributors in 2004. 40 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
“I felt it was important to bring back the Pearce name,” Alfonso said. “I’m fifth-generation Arizonan and wanted to leave a legacy behind that my great-grandfather started and then my father took over.” The Pearce Family Foundation’s mission is to provide financial assistance at the home to Arizona families with a child suffering from a chronic or life-threatening illness. Alfonso, the CEO and founder of PFF, is no stranger to the philanthropic world, having worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and then Phoenix Children’s Hospital. It was during her time
at PCH that she gained an understanding of the toll a child’s illness can have on a family’s life. “They would have all the assistance and support in the hospital but then go home and realize their rent wasn’t paid or other everyday bills had been forgotten about,” Alfonso said. Outside the hospital, the impact of caring for a seriously ill child can have an overwhelming and devastating effect. Lengthy hospital stays mean parents miss work. And the huge cost for medical testing, doctor visits, surgeries and transportation often leaves families unable to make their mortgage payments or cover their heating bills. The Pearce Family Foundation steps in to alleviate the financial burden of daily life so families can focus on their child’s health.
by engaging community members to donate time, services and physical needs for the home such as furniture, repairing storm damage, landscaping and vehicles. “We just helped one of our families whose car was hit at urgent care while they were taking their daughter to get checked out. It was a hit and run. We put an ask out to our supporters, and one of our donors covered the damages,” Alfonso said.
THE CAUSE The Pearce Family Foundation is committed to bridging the gap between hospital and home through their three main initiatives — Angels Around Us of AZ, Angel Pups and Community Angels. Angels Around Us provides financial assistance for bills like utilities, rent, mortgage payments, car payments — anything that helps to stabilize a healthy living environment. “It’s such a humbling moment when you’re able to call a family and tell them you can pay their rent for two months,” Alfonso said. “They’re just so thankful, and I am glad we can provide these families with that relief.” The foundation’s second initiative, Angel Pups, covers a portion of a service dog for a child in need. “It can cost up to $30,000, if not more, for one service dog, between training, certification, vet costs and normal upkeep of owning a pet. Most insurance won’t cover it,” Alfonso said. Angel Pups helps cover the costs of a service dog for children with conditions such as autism or epilepsy. In 2017, the foundation introduced its newest initiative, Community Angels. The program works to help families already in the grant program
Recently, the Weathermon family reached out to the Pearce Family Foundation for financial assistance to provide their 8 year old, Kenneth, with a service dog. The Weathermon family adopted Kenneth after he was found abandoned and wandering the streets. Kenneth is autistic and has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, among other health issues. An Angel Pups grant of $7,000 allowed Kenneth to get a service dog and continue his road to healing. “He’s doing so great now,” Alfonso said. The Weathermons, who are big Disney fans, named the dog Mike Wazowski after one of Kenneth’s favorite characters in “Monsters, Inc.”
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THE FUTURE The foundation has distributed more than $110,000 and provided life-changing assistance to more than 120 Arizona families. “I am grateful to our supporters, and I can see the foundation continuing to grow and help even more families,” Alfonso said. Currently, the foundation only focuses on families in Arizona but hopes to expand its reach to help families nationwide. Alfonso also dreams of being able to offer not just financial assistance, but a place for families to go in their time of need.
“I would love to one day provide affordable living to these families, so they don’t have to worry about being kicked out or moving in the middle of their child’s treatment. I want them to have a safe and clean environment to go home to,” Alfonso said. Having a child with a severe or ongoing illness can happen to any family. It can turn the family’s world upside down and impact all aspects of their lives. With an outpouring of support from donors and the community, PFF can help these families get back on their feet.
The foundation has distributed more than $110,000 and provided life-changing assistance to more than 120 Arizona families. “I am grateful to our supporters, and I can see the foundation continuing to grow and help even more families.”
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“It’s hard to think about, but if your child was to get sick, what do you do?” asked Alfonso. “It’s great that we have people that will be there for you and lift you up. I almost pinch myself that people believe in this mission as much as I do.” To learn more, visit pearcefamilyfoundation.com.
Catie Richman CONTRIBUTING WRITER
catie@frontdoorsmedia.com
KITCHEN DOORS {where to ring in the new year} Lisa Mullavey | Contributing Writer
CENTURY GRAND Phoenix | centurygrandphx.com Century Grand is the latest concept from Barter & Shake, the award-winning team behind UnderTow, the pirate ship and tiki bar-inspired cocktail lounge. After much anticipation, Century Grand officially opened to the public in November, offering guests two experiences through Century Grand and Platform 18. In both cases, you’ll find yourself stepping back in time to the 1920s, when the flapper and Art Deco influenced everything from fashion to architecture. Century Grand offers a large selection of cocktails and a truly unique dining experience with food served dim sum style — small bites and other dishes served from a cart, which allows you to pick and choose what you’d like. The menu changes often, so check their website for details. Meanwhile, Platform 18 is what Barter & Shake calls an “immersive cocktail experience,” fashioned like a Pullman train car with scenes displayed out of the windows that will make you feel as if you’ve been whisked away on an exotic trip. Ring in the New Year with Century Grand, an experience that will take you to another place and time. Reservations are highly recommended, so make yours early.
HEARTH 61 PROUD MEMBER:
PROUD MEMBER OF:
PROUD MEMBER OF:
Scottsdale | mountainshadows.com/dining/hearth
Located at the beautifully restored Mountain Shadows resort, Hearth 61 serves flavorful seasonal American fare prepared by acclaimed Chef Chuck Wiley and his talented culinary team. Hearth 61 will be hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration with music, dancing and a special four-course Champagne dinner that will help you bring a deliciously delightful close to 2019. The menu features a caviar hors d’oeuvre followed by cauliflower chowder with Alaskan king crab, black truffle and celery. Next is a flavorful Hamachi crudo (Japanese fish served raw) and then an herb-crusted Niman Ranch prime beef striploin accompanied by a foie gras croquette, porcini mushrooms and mustard greens finished with a classic Sauce Robert. Finish with a delectable Valrhona chocolate chai opera cake made with chai tea Bavarian cream. Join Hearth for a 6:30 p.m. seating ($125 per person) or for their second seating at 9:30 p.m. ($150 per person). Price includes favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. Contact the resort for reservations.
TALAVERA RESTAURANT Scottsdale | talaverarestaurant.com Talavera Restaurant at the Four Seasons in Scottsdale serves up amazing Spanish cuisine alongside sweeping views of the Arizona desert. At the helm of this incredible steakhouse is Chef Samantha Sanz, a 2019 James Beard nominee for Rising Star Chef of the Year. Talavera has put together a special six-course tasting menu to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year and it is one not to be missed. From 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. for $345 per person, sip on Krug champagne and indulge in a menu that features seafood, a winter salad with pickled squash, paella made with duck confit, Iberian sausage, and Jamón Ibérico (cured ham), a grass-fed tomahawk ribeye and a dessert aptly named the Midnight Chocolate Orange Cake. Following dinner, guests can extend the party into 2020 at the Onyx Lounge’s Glitter & Gold New Year’s Eve Party hosted by Krug Champagne. The party features a live DJ, complimentary passed sweets, late-night bites and a Champagne toast at the stroke of midnight. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 480-513-5085 or visiting OpenTable.com.
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ZUZU AT HOTEL VALLEY HO Scottsdale | hotelvalleyho.com/zuzu PROUD MEMBER:
PROUD MEMBER OF:
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ZuZu has created three different New Year’s Eve experiences so you can welcome 2020 any way you’d like. Those looking to turn in early or head out for the rest of the night should book the Early Birds dine-and-dash evening (5:30 to 7:30 p.m., $99 per person), featuring a three-course dinner prepared by the exceptional Chef Russell LaCasce and his talented culinary team. Those looking to celebrate into the New Year will want to check out The Roamers late-night experience from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. For $129 per person, you’ll enjoy three glasses of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label or cocktails while noshing on hors d’oeuvres and dancing to the sounds of live DJ entertainment. Those wanting to take their celebration to the next level should choose one of ZuZu’s All-Nighters VIP packages. You and your party will enjoy reserved table seating with a bottle of Veuve La Grande Dame, a seafood platter and hors d’oeuvres or customize your night further by adding a three-course dinner or doubling your order of Champagne. Prices are $400 to $1,000 based on the number of guests in your party. Visit hotelvalleyho.com/NYE for additional details and to make your reservation.
CHEERS TO THE CHAIRS {
Society of Chairs } Why do you support the Arizona Burn Foundation? DIANE: I am a longtime burn nurse whose passion has been the support of the burn survivor. I’ve been active with the Arizona Burn Foundation since 2001, and their work has always held a special place in my heart. CHRISTINE: As a paralegal with the Cunningham Law Firm for the past 30 years, I’ve been privileged to work with numerous burn survivors. I support the Arizona Burn Foundation because they help turn burn victims into burn survivors.
Describe this year’s event.
Diane Caruso and Christine Farling Co-chairs of the Festival of Trees benefiting Arizona Burn Foundation azburn.org
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DIANE: The spirit of Christmas will be in full force during our gala. From the 10 professionally decorated Christmas trees, to the strolling Dickens carolers, to the life-sized nutcrackers, to the cinnamon roll cookies our guests will receive when they leave, it will be a fabulous start to the holiday season. We’re also excited to bring back live music and dancing to the celebration.
Why do you feel so strongly about this organization? DIANE: Many reasons. My late first husband was a child burn survivor in the late 1950s. Today, children in Arizona have so many more resources available to them, thanks in great part to the Arizona Burn Foundation. I began my nursing career at the Arizona Burn Center, and continued there for many years as a nurse and nurse practitioner. It was hands down the most fulfilling nursing job in my career. And finally, my husband, Dr. Daniel Caruso, was instrumental in the growth and development of the Foundation over 20 years, and since his death in 2017 I am honored to keep his passion for this organization alive in any small way I can. CHRISTINE: My firm represents individuals and families who have been seriously injured or killed due to fire, propane/natural gas explosions, products causing automotive and/or home fires as well as electrical, scald and chemical-related burns. Many of these burn injuries are preventable and the Arizona Burn Foundation provides excellent burn prevention programs in an effort to protect individuals from suffering these devastating injuries.
Secret talent: CHRISTINE: I am an excellent bowler and even made the Amateur Bowling Tour when I was 20.
Proudest accomplishment: Thank you to our December 2019 Cheers to the Chairs Runners-Up: Bathsheba Adams & Cyndy Joseph Event co-chairs, Christmas Benefit and Gala 2019 benefiting Eyes Like Mine
Wendy Dewane & Jill Hegardt 54th Desert Ball chairman and co-chairman benefiting Desert Foundation Auxiliary
DIANE: As cliché as it sounds, my proudest accomplishment has been raising four outstanding children — Lindy, Zack, Anna and Joey — and being blessed to take part as they raise my extraordinary grandsons Deegan, Beckett, Georgie, Navy and Dax.
Fun fact about you: DIANE: For eight years as a teenager, I water-skied with the Chain O’Lakes Ski Club in Wisconsin where we performed local and traveling ski shows throughout the summers. And yes, I climbed the pyramid! CHRISTINE: I was a contestant on “Wheel of Fortune” back in the day when Vanna turned the letters.
Frontdoors is proud to recognize those who volunteer their time, treasure and talents to support local organizations in a leadership role. To Nominate Your Event Chair, Co-Chairs, Honorary Chair or Board Chair, Contact publisher@frontdoorsmedia.com. 46 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
CONNECTING WOMEN WHERE THEY WORK, LIVE OR PLAY Join us where you live, work or play to connect with like-minded women to share information, ideas, contacts and opportunities. Learn more at: eastvalleywomen.org | centralphoenixwomen.org womenofscottsdale.org | northvalleywomen.org
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE PAW REPORT {PetSmart Charities}
MEET LUNA: PETSMART CHARITIES’ 9 MILLIONTH ADOPTED PET!
JOIN US
Are you a proud pet adopter? Join our Facebook Adopter Group to share pictures, stories and tips with pet-lovers just like you! Visit our Facebook page to join: facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
ADOPT
This holiday season and all year round there are a variety of adoptable pets just waiting to find their forever homes at the Every Day Adoption Centers in nearly every PetSmart store. Find a local PetSmart store near you at: petsmartcharities.org/locator
GIVE TODAY
More than 90 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to help pets in need. Learn more about ways to give at: petsmartcharities.org/get-involved
Luna, a five-year-old dog Pitbull mix from Phoenix, AZ, became PetSmart Charities’ 9 millionth adopted pet when Bekah Wilson and Bri Sommers adopted her. “My aunt shared a picture of her from the Arizona Humane Society,” Sommers said. “And then she (Wilson) had found the same photo on a different pet finder, pet for adoption site.” The two realized Luna was at their local PetSmart and visited with her that same evening. “We just couldn’t leave without her,” Wilson said. “We just saw how loving she is and how adorable she was, and we were just hooked on the spot after that.” Luna is a special-needs dog. Arizona Humane Society’s Emergency Medical Team rescued her after a dog fight. She had extensive injuries, especially to her front leg. AHS tried to save the leg, but it had become lame and ended up removing it. “She instantly brought so much joy and happiness in our lives,” Wilson said. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t give her a chance.” For those looking to adopt their new pet, the couple has a few words of advice. “Never give up on your pet,” Wilson said. “They’re never going to give up on you.” Watch Luna’s journey home story in full and get inspired to help more pets find a home for the holidays: PetSmartCharities.org
OPEN DOORS {publisher’s page} Andrea Evans | Publisher
HOLIDAY GIVING DECEMBER 2019 - VOLUME 17, ISSUE 12
T reasures Heart of the
KURT AND BRENDA WARNER HAVE TURNED LIFE’S CHALLENGES INTO AN ENDURING DRIVE TO GIVE
HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK + CARDS FOR KIDS + THE ANTHONY BATES FOUNDATION
2019 THE YEAR OF es ! Y
When I look at the covers of the dozen 2019 issues of Frontdoors Magazine, I am quickly reminded how each story came to be. Some of them are people I have known for decades, other stories came from an invitation to tour an organization, and some came from sitting in the audience at events — meeting those sitting with me or the presentation from stage. What do all of those relationships have in common? The word yes!
50 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019
. . . o t Yes 01
es to a meeting with The Nature Y Conservancy in 2011 that led to working with Melani Walton.
02
Yes to editor Karen Werner and I attending National Philanthropy Day and meeting the team from Grand Canyon Conservancy.
03
Yes to an invitation from Linda Herold that Karen and I accepted to come meet the co-founders of F.A.B.R.I.C.
04
Yes to catching up with Lin Sue Cooney over lunch at the Arizona Good Business Summit.
05
Yes to honoring Nancy Hanley Eriksson for her lifetime of philanthropy.
06
Yes to asking Kristine Thompson to share her family with our readers.
07
Yes to celebrating amazing education leaders like Katherine Cecala.
08
Yes to a lunch that Karen and I had with filmmaker Kristin Atwell Ford and our desire to tell the story behind the story.
09
Yes to being the first publication to feature ONE Community on the cover.
10
Yes to highlighting the positive youth programs being done by Phoenix police officers.
11
Yes to heralding the global premiere of “Victoria the T. rex” in downtown Phoenix.
12
And, yes to sharing the incredible successes happening at Treasure House, thanks to Kurt and Brenda Warner’s love for their son.
We can’t wait to show you what’s in store for 2020 … and what the next round of yeses will bring. Cheers to a beautiful holiday season with those that you love,
Andrea Andrea Tyler Evans PUBLISHER
@AndreaTEvans
51 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019