Community, Philanthropy & Lifestyle
The Winter Issue 2024 frontdoorsmedia.com
Power Up
Kristen Sandquist and K2 Adventures Foundation are changing lives, one adventure at a time
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Magazine EDITOR IN CHIEF Karen Werner PUBLISHER & CEO Andrea Tyler Evans CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & COO Tom Evans CREATIVE DIRECTOR Neill Fox ART DIRECTOR Cheyenne Brumlow DIGITAL EDITOR & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Abby Petersen CHIEF OF STAFF & PRODUCTION MANAGER Lori Appleby Hoke FINANCE COORDINATOR Carly Parkhill LIFESTYLE EDITOR Zenobia Mertel CONTRIBUTORS Traci Chandler Julie Coleman Shoshana Leon Judy Pearson FRONTDOORS TV HOST & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Carey Peña
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SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Grannis Lindsay Green Robyn Lambert Morgan McClellan Michelle Schneider BEAUTY PARTNER The Sparkle Bar PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Foust Studios FRONTDOORS MEDIA ADVISORY BOARD Latasha Causey Russ Dickey Rusty Foley Sarah Krahenbuhl Larry Lytle Monique Porras Mason Brad Vynalek SOCIETY OF CHAIRS ADVISORS Deborah Bateman Linda Herold
On the Cover Kristen Sandquist, K2 Adventures Foundation Makeup by Brittnay Lopez from The Sparkle Bar Photo by Scott Foust
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TABLE OF CONTENTS THE WINTER ISSUE 2024, VOLUME 18, ISSUE 1
6 EDITOR’S NOTE
The Power of Passion
8 1 0 QUESTIONS
Kevan Hall, fashion designer
13 CREATING CULTURE Shaping Success
17 CHEERS TO THE CHAIRS
Upcoming philanthropic events
21 STYLE UNLOCKED
Refresh. Reset. Renew.
29 KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE
Traditions and Superstitions
34 COVER STORY Power Up
40 GOOD NEWS
2023 National Philanthropy Day Honorees
43 NEXT DOORS
Healing on the Streets
47 A 2ND ACT
A Picture’s Worth
50 OFFICE DOORS
Jennifer Gage, founder and co-board president of GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix
8 ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE + AZ Impact for Good + GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix + K2 Adventures Foundation + Kids in Focus + Sleep in Heavenly Peace + SOUNDS Academy + Street Medicine Phoenix
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63 CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
67 FROM THE ROAD Another Page
73 KITCHEN DOORS Let’s Eat!
79 BOOKMARKED
Kristen Wilson, CEO of AZ Impact for Good
80 LAST LOOK
The Masterclass
Ryan Corry, St. Vincent de Paul
Kate Fassett, Valleywise Health Foundation
Carmen Guerrero, Cultural Coalition, Inc.
Matthew Kasper, Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras
Monique Lopez, UMOM New Day Centers
Shelby Pedersen, ICAN
David M. Roche, Heard Museum
Torrie A. Taj, Child Crisis Arizona
Kris A. Volcheck, DDS, Brighter Way Institute
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Congratulations 2023 Piper Fellows! Celebrating excellence in nine Maricopa County nonprofit leaders.
pipertrust.org/2023fellows
© 2024 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
EDITOR’S NOTE
And then there’s Kristen Sandquist, who graces the cover of this issue. Sandquist traveled 9,600 miles to find her purpose. Today, she and her business partner Kevin Cherilla help people discover greater versions of themselves at K2 Adventures Foundation. All of these organizations are supported by BHHS Legacy Foundation. In fact, over the past 23 years, BHHS Legacy Foundation has invested more than $130
The Power of
PASSION Was it a fever dream, or did we build 109 beds this morning? Volunteers gathered in an industrial area of Phoenix on a rainy Saturday. After brief instructions, they started sanding, screwing and staining what would become bunk beds for children without beds of their own. The incredible effort started when Luke Mickelson decided he could personally do something to make sure that kids don’t have to sleep on the floor. He began building beds in his garage, but then a Facebook post sparked a surprise. People wanted to help. Today, Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national organization with a growing Phoenix chapter dedicated to helping children in need sleep better. (You can read about their efforts in Charity Spotlight.)
million in nonprofits and programs that improve the lives and health of people in Greater Phoenix and the Tri-State region of northern Arizona. Frontdoors partnered with BHHS Legacy Foundation on this issue to highlight some of the important collaborative work happening in the Valley. “We are proud to celebrate nonprofit leaders and BHHS Legacy Foundation grantees that enrich our community in so many ways,” said Gerald Wissink, CEO of BHHS Legacy Foundation. “By fostering collaboration, they unlock the collective power of passion, expertise and compassion, transforming challenges into opportunities and creating a brighter future for those we serve.” Speaking of the future, we kick off 2024 with a dazzling toast to the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon. You’ll also find back-to-basics fashions, restaurant recommendations and style advice from designer Kevan Hall. Cheers to a terrific New Year!
Karen
KAREN WERNER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
It’s amazing how one person’s actions inspired others to become who they want to be and help countless others in the process. It’s a pattern you’ll see again and again in this issue. “I just had to have an idea and act on it,” said Karen Shell about starting Kids in Focus, which has grown from Shell’s brainchild to a thriving nonprofit that serves 700 at-risk kids a year. A similar urge propelled Dr. Robert Fauer, aka “the coolest doc on the block,” to start Street Medicine Phoenix, a student-driven interprofessional healthcare team that cares for individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix. Jennifer Gage transformed her love for her daughter Kaitlyn into GiGi’s Playhouse, which provides programming and support for people with Down syndrome and their families. I was honored to brand a bed with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace logo.
6 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
10 QUESTIONS
1
How did you become a fashion designer? Early on, I would reimagine what I would see celebrities wearing. I would sit with a sketchpad and reimagine what I would see people on “The Sonny & Cher Show” and other shows wearing. That was the beginning of the design process for me. I went to a high school that had a fashion department and when I discovered that I could actually make a career out of it was probably the aha moment.
2
What is the secret to a great red carpet look? I think it’s finding the silhouette that will enhance the beauty of the wearer. For me, it’s about fit, which is so important with a red carpet gown. Everything has to be flawless — fit, and also color. Finding the right color for the red carpet creates something very beautiful. Because when the woman — or the gentleman, for that matter — steps out of the car, if the color pops, the paparazzi will go nuts.
3
What trends are you seeing in evening wear these days? There’s a lot of cutout work happening in evening wear. The sides are cut out, or you’ve got cutouts in the back of the gown. Sometimes the side panels are cut out. Beads are always important. That’s been a big trend, and sequins in all scales, going from the smallest sequins to very large, oversized, almost 60s-looking sequins.
4
KEVAN HALL
Fashion designer
8|
Is there anyone you would love to get the call to dress? I would love to dress Uma Thurman. I dressed Charlize Theron before her Dior contract; I’d love to dress her again. And I’d love to dress Michelle Obama again.
5
What does seeing your fashions elevated to that level mean to you as a designer? It’s amazing. I’ve dressed royals and politicians. These folks can be dressed by any designer in the world. So when they select something of mine, it’s humbling and thrilling at the same time.
Photos by Jeff Klaum
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
6
You’re known for giving back and helped start the Black Design Collective. Can you talk a little about that? That organization was started by TJ Walker, the founder of Cross Colors; Angela Dean, a designer of note dressing a lot of entertainers, musicians and artists; and Ruth Carter, a two-time Oscar winner with 40 films to her credit. These are my friends. We were sitting around the table one day, talking about some of our successes in the fashion and costume industry, but also how we would like to give back to the next generation. So, we started the Black Design Collective. It is a nonprofit that seeks to champion the importance and impact that Black designers have made in the world of fashion. In addition to that, it helps with scholarships for the next generation. We do workshops for designers to build viable businesses — how to market your brand, how to work with trademarks and funding. Over the course of the pandemic, I’m proud that we were able to help our designers and members access over $2 million in
funding, grants and loans. None of our folks were put in the position where they had to go out of business. Everybody actually thrived during the pandemic and came out of it very strong because of the funding we were helping them secure.
7 Is there any next-gen Black designer you think the world should know about?
There’s a gentleman named Charles Harbison that I think is really exceptional. And then there’s also Sergio Hudson, who I think is really talented. I would say those are my top picks.
8 You recently visited Phoenix for Holiday Prelude, benefitting The Phoenix Theatre Company Guild and Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras. What do you like to do while you’re in the Valley? Enjoy the food and restaurants. And you know I love the weather. continued
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10 QUESTIONS
9 What’s giving you joy these days? Being with my family. My son is currently in Paris, but my daughter lives in Los Angeles. My wife and I have a place that we enjoy in the Sequoia Mountains. It has rivers that run through the property. We’re there as often as possible to take in the spring when the poppies are out, and in the winter, when the rivers and waterfalls turn to ice. In the summertime, we go down the river in rafts. It’s a beautiful spot. So, as often as we can get there, we go. I actually design there. I’ll sit on the back screened porch. Sometimes, I’ll bring my team there, and we will sit and create by the river. It’s wonderful.
10 Do you have any fashion advice for our readers? Everybody needs a great-fitting pair of jeans. Because jeans are one of the cores of a wardrobe, they need to fit well. You can dress a jean up with a beautiful top or a beautiful pair of heels or with a ballet flat or runner. It’s a great piece to have. I also have a thing about white cotton shirts. Every woman should have a beautiful white shirt or blouse. That blouse can go with, of course, a pair of jeans. It also is amazing when you mix it with dressy pieces. You can wear a white blouse with a ball skirt, a beaded pant or so many things. And then I think you should have a trench. That can be a multicolored trench, which might be a little harder to find, but they’re out there, or a beautiful classic khaki-colored trench. They are great to mix with evening pieces, jeans and with day pieces. Finally, a great little black dress, something modern and clean with not a lot of goop on it, makes an excellent backdrop for pretty jewelry. To learn more, visit kevanhalldesigns.com.
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Until no child misses a meal. At Valley of the Sun United Way, we will never stop supporting our community until every child, family, and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and can succeed in school, work, and life. See how you can help at VSUW.org.
HEALTH | HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS | EDUCATION | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
CREATING CULTURE Tom Bollinger, Angelo Scura. Tempe Center of the Arts, 2016. Photo courtesy of Davin Lavikka.
Shaping Success
Bollinger Atelier is a world-class fine art foundry, here in Arizona BY ABBY PETERSEN
In the heart of Tempe stands Bollinger Atelier, a distinguished fine art foundry owned by the visionary Tom Bollinger. From Midwestern America to the global stage, Bollinger’s journey reflects a combination of determination and a profound love for sculpting as an art form. Against the odds, Bollinger Atelier has become a key player in the sculpture world, producing awe-inspiring pieces that adorn cities worldwide. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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CREATING CULTURE Tom Bollinger + Bollinger Atelier, Dove of Peace. Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Tempe, AZ, 2023. Photo courtesy of Bollinger Atelier.
Bollinger Atelier has created sculptures that Ed Mell, Jack Knife. Old Town, Scottsdale, AZ, 1993. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Public Art.
Bollinger’s story begins in the plains of North Dakota. He and his five brothers grew up on the Sioux Indian Reservations throughout the Dakotas, where his parents were teachers. It was an unlikely place to produce someone who would later go into the arts. “I had no exposure to art. I remember distinctly, I think in the eighth grade, that one of our teachers, with her own money, bought some print books of the Old Masters. And that’s the first time that I really had seen paintings. I was unaware of galleries. I was unaware of museums,” Bollinger said. During his time at Dickinson State University, the opportunity to create art would eventually fall into Bollinger’s lap when it came time to plan the classes he needed to take to graduate.
stand all over the world in cities like Paris, Istanbul and Hong Kong. Closer to home, it was selected by client artists to create two of Arizona’s most well-known statues: Pat Tillman, by artist Jeff Carol Davenport, the statue that resides outside Sun Devil Stadium, and the famous “Jack Knife” by artist Ed Mell, the statue in Old Town Scottsdale. The heart of Bollinger Atelier’s success is the collaboration between themselves and the artists. True to his Midwestern roots, Bollinger emphasizes the relationship aspect of the business, recognizing that the significance of these connections leads to the foundry’s prosperity. Bollinger Atelier is also a family business, with Bollinger’s wife Kim Nikolaev acting as the
“I was on an athletic scholarship, a wrestler, and I had to take a recreation class. So I took ceramics and then sculpture and called my parents and said I wanted to become an art major,” Bollinger said. Thanks to his affinity for challenges, Tom carved a path into the art world. His journey eventually led him to acquire what was then known as Arizona Bronze, transforming it into Bollinger Atelier. As Bollinger admits, the transition from a small art foundry to a global competitor was not expected. “We shouldn’t be in this position. We are out here in Tempe, Arizona, competing with other foundries in New York and London. And, you know, it shouldn’t be happening, but it is happening,” he said. It is this spirit that sets Bollinger Atelier apart. Not afraid to take on projects that might intimidate others, the fine art foundry has cultivated a reputation for embracing new methods. “I’m fairly fearless about taking on projects that may scare other people. You know, artists come up with a lot of crazy ideas these days. And I also think I’ve always been innovative in applying modern technology to our processes as quickly as possible,” Bollinger said.
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Jeff Carol Davenport, Pat Tillman Arizona State University, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe AZ 2017 Photo courtesy of Bollinger Atelier
director of special projects and restoration. An artist with an extensive
Tom Sachs, Crying Miffy and Crying Hello Kitty. Trocadéro site of the Palais de Chaillo, Paris, France. Courtesy of Ropac Gallery, 2008. Photo courtesy of Charles Duprat.
background in the industry, she runs her own business, Nikolaev Botanical Jewelry, on top of her role at the foundry. The two met when Nikolaev was apprenticing for the former foundry owner, and the pair married in 1998. “My joke is that I could never have afforded to hire someone with Kim’s educational background,” Bollinger said. Adding to the Bollinger legacy is the couple’s daughter Sé, also an artist, who has worked with top high-end designers in New York and Los Angeles. Embodying a fusion of art and functionality, the family’s furniture collection, EDITIONS, can be explored on the company’s website, offering a glimpse of the family’s next-generation prowess. With the industry being so niche, Bollinger uses the invaluable knowledge he’s acquired to mentor young and aspiring artists, ensuring that expertise and craftsmanship integral to the fine art foundry continue to be passed down through generations. “The stereotypical idea of an artist is that there’s someone with this absolute brilliant creativity going through their veins, that no matter what they touch is going to be great. The reality is being an artist is the most entrepreneurial job you’ll ever have — hard work and putting the effort in and overcoming the obstacles that are sure to come,” Bollinger said. “You just can’t give up, you know?” To learn more, visit bollingeratelier.com.
“FOR IT IS
IN GI
T H AT W E R E
VING,
CEIV
E .”
Will you give the gift of hope to children in foster care through the qualified charitable foster care tax credit? Arizona law allows you to contribute up to $526 individually and $1,051 jointly to Child Crisis Arizona as a Qualifying Foster Care Organization and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against your 2023 State tax liability.*
*Please consult with a tax advisor. The tax credits are available only to individuals who file taxes in Arizona. QFCO code: 10012. Tax ID#: 86-0324144
Scan to Donate
childcrisisaz.org • 480.834.9424
an evening inspired by the grand budapest hotel
satur day, m a rch 2 , 2024 CO C K TA I L R E C E P T I O N | 6 P M
CHAIRS
Jennifer Schuitemaker and Jill Krigsten
DINNER | 7PM JW Marriott Camelback Inn 5402 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale Arizona 85253
HonorHealth Foundation is proud to announce the
2024 Honorees
Priscilla and Michael Nicholas
beneficiaries: HonorHealth Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit HonorHealth Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
Scan code to secure your sponsorship or table now 8125 North Hayden Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85258 | 480-587-5000 | HonorHealthFoundation.org HonorHealth Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization
CHEERS to the Chairs!
A preview of the Valley’s premier philanthropic events and who’s leading these important efforts
Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon DATE: January 19, 2024
BENEFITTING: Jewish Family & Children’s Services CHAIRS: Cindy & Adam Brooks jfcsaz.org
Barrow Grand Ball DATE: January 20, 2024 BENEFITTING: The Women’s Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation CHAIRS: Kathy Munson & Carrie Hulburd barrowgrandball.org
Galaxy Gala DATE: February 3, 2024 BENEFITTING: Arizona Science Center CHAIRS: Regina & Patrick Edwards azscience.org
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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CHEERS TO THE CHAIRS
Drive the Dream Gala DATE: February 17, 2024 BENEFITTING: Childhelp CHAIRS: Carol & Jim Hebets, Dru Hammer and Scott Schirmer childhelp.org
Honor Ball DATE: March 2, 2024 BENEFITTING: HonorHealth Foundation CHAIRS: Jennifer Schuitemaker & Jill Krigsten honorhealthfoundation.org
Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars DATE: March 2, 2024 BENEFITTING: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley CHAIRS: Jody Sarchett & Basil Zaidi bgcaz.org/stars
Dancing With the Stars Arizona DATE: March 15, 2024 BENEFITTING: National Kidney Foundation of Arizona CHAIR: Jill Merrion & Dr. Katie Martin azkidney.org
18 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Top row, from left: Ricky Fox and Charlene Berge-Blum | Pam and Jim Risoleo; Brenda and Jim Howard | Libby and Dr. Joel Cohen | Natalie Gaylord and sons EL and Grant. Middle row, from left: Matt Veneman, Madisson Blum, Sterling Blum, Sean Harding | Rachel Ramirez and Tim Braun | Kristine Thompson, Carolyn Jackson, Craig Jackson, Charlene Berge-Blum, Lee Courtney, Natalie Gaylord, Pam Risoleo | Allie and Mark Brenner | Shannon and Joel Barthelemy Bottom row, from left: Lisa Shapiro, Matthew Boland, Lauri Termansen, Donna Johnson | Jane Christensen, Pat Leach, Jamie Lendrum, Penny Gunning, Nancy Berge, Jack Miller, Jerri Miller, Cay Cowie, Trisha Anthony, Betty McRae | Charlene Berge-Blum, Pam Risoleo, Kristine Thompson, Lee Courtney | Charlene Berge-Blum, Ricky Fox, Lee Courtney, Joe Courtney
T
hank you to our ACCELERATING hearts, generous donors and sponsors, who made the 2023 Annual Phoenix Heart Ball a huge success. Let’s all continue the fight against heart disease and stroke for the American Heart Association.
Charlene Berge-Blum 64th Heart Ball Chairman
OVER 30 CONCERTS IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE
Paul Anka 1/5 & 1/6
SHOP IT FORWARD
The Barricade Boys Leading Men of London’s West End 1/12
OCTOBER 15 THROUGH FEBRUARY 15
To celebrate our community partners, customers can shop, dine and enjoy Jazz at Lincoln Center entertainment at Scottsdale Fashion Square, then submit their receipts to earn Sing And Swing 1/29 The Doo Wop Project 2/2 & 2/3 ?????? $1000 to $10,000 for their favorite charity.
Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll Part 4 1/19 & 1/20
Visit FashionSquare.com/ShopItForward to learn more about the participating non-profit organizations: ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY SOLD OUT! THE BOARD OF VISITORS CARE CARD Brian Stokes Mitchell & Lara Downes 2/12
Kristin Chenoweth 2/17 ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY
HOMEWARD BOUND TREES MATTER
The spirit of giving... Moon River and Me 2/19
MozART Group 2/27
Gunhild Carling 3/12
Rita Moreno In Conversation 3/16
CONCERTS ARE SELLING OUT! BUY TODAY!
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STYLE UNLOCKED
Refresh. Reset. Renew. Back to basics for the New Year BY ZENOBIA MERTEL
Jonesy Sleep Robe | $170 Johnny Was, Scottsdale johnnywas.com
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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Saint Laurent Men Cassandre Tank | $550 Saint Laurent, Scottsdale ysl.com
Todd Snyder Long Sleeve T-shirt | $78 Todd Snyder toddsnyder.com
Ease into New Comfort Silky, fluffy and irresistible
Natori Luxe Charmeuse Slide | $250 Natori natori.com
J.Crew Oversized Cashmere Wrap | $198
22 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
J.Crew, various locations jcrew.com
STYLE UNLOCKED Max Mara Reversible Satin Robe Coat | $1,890 Max Mara maxmara.com
Naked Rebellion Barely There Body Suit | $32 Naked Rebellion, Phoenix nakedrebellion.com
Josie Natori Velvet Nightgown | $895 Bergdorf Goodman bergdorfgoodman.com
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STYLE UNLOCKED
Love the Skin You’re In Beauty at first blush
Drunk Elephant Glow Drops | $38 Sephora, various locations sephora.com
Clé de Peau HydroSoftening Lotion 5.7 oz | $125 Neiman Marcus, Scottsdale neimanmarcus.com
La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift | $785 La Prairie laprairie.com
Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Sunscreen | $55 Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix saksfifthavenue.com
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Davines Rebalancing Scalp Cleansing Treatment | $38 Davines davines.com
essie Vegan Nail Polish | $12 essie essie.com
STYLE UNLOCKED
Missoni Yamagata Cushion 60x60 | $580 Missoni missoni.com
Sferra King Somerset Duvet | $1,612 Valerianne, Scottsdale valeriannescottsdale.com
Stay a While Stylish winter comfort
Matouk Linen Apron | $125 Matouk matouk.com
Pottery Barn Organic Weighted Blanket 15 lb. | $249 Pottery Barn, various locations potterybarn.com
26 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Soho Sateen King Sheet Set | $318 Serena & Lily serenaandlily.com
Gingerlily Silk Eye Mask | $50 Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix saksfifthavenue.com
Restoration Hardware Hotel Turkish Towel Bath Sheet | $89
Restoration Hardware Hotel Turkish Towel Bath Sheet | $89
Restoration Hardware, Scottsdale rh.com
Restoration Hardware, Scottsdale rh.com
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KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE
Traditions and Superstitions Entertaining expert Dawna Pitts shares how to host a Lunar New Year party that celebrates luck, health and family
E
very year, people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year. Known as Spring Festival, it is the most
important holiday in several Asian cultures and dates back at least 3,500 years. In 2024, Lunar New Year falls on Sat., Feb. 10, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 24. Legend has it that at the beginning of each year, a mythical creature named Nian — the Chinese
STORY AND STYLING BY TRACI CHANDLER OF OH, SUGAR! EVENTS + PAPERIE
word for “year” — would come and eat villagers. The only
PHOTOS BY SCOTT FOUST
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KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE
way to drive Nian away was to use loud noises, bright
cooking to sell lunch sacks to students in her community.
lights and the color red, which are all now associated with
She eventually met her husband and, after traveling the
Lunar New Year celebrations.
world, settled in the U.S. to start a family. Her son Andrew is
Traditions surrounding the holiday are rich, diverse
her pride and joy.
and involve everything from decorating with red lanterns
For Pitts, entertaining has been a way to connect with
to honoring gods and lighting firecrackers. Yet, the one
her family and community. She hopes by sharing some of
element that is an essential part of every family Lunar
her favorite traditions, you may be inspired to host your own
New Year celebration is food.
Lunar New Year party.
There are several layers of symbolism when it comes to “lucky” Lunar New Year dishes. What the food’s name sounds like when said aloud, how it is prepared and how it is served can all infuse a meal with extra meaning.
MEET OUR EXPERT
DECORATE WITH RED
First and foremost, a Lunar New Year party needs festive decorations. A custom invitation is the perfect place to start. Red symbolizes power, happiness and vitality, so you’ll want to use red in your décor as much as you can. Hanging
Paradise Valley resident Dawna Pitts, author of the recently
red paper lanterns with gold accents represents wealth
released book, “Entertaining Is My Love Language,” shared
and good fortune and sets the scene perfectly. It’s also a
tips for hosting a dazzling Lunar New Year celebration. Born
tradition to write your guests messages wishing them luck,
in Seoul, South Korea, Pitts has carried her passion for Asian
good fortune and prosperity. Placing a red silk envelope
culture throughout her life. In high school, she moved to
filled with “lucky money” at each place setting will also
Sydney, Australia, to study. There, she parlayed her love of
bestow good luck on your guests.
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LUCKY FISH
In Chinese, the pronunciation of the word for fish (Yú) resembles the word that means abundance. On Lunar New Year, a steamed fish is traditionally served whole, with the head and tail intact. According to tradition, you’re only supposed to eat the middle part of the fish and leave the head and tail for the next day — the first day of the new year. This signifies the previous year’s surplus flowing into the new year and bringing more fortune.
DOUGHY DELIGHTS
Resembling coin purses, dumplings are said to bring prosperity and wealth in Asian culture. Their golden shape resembles the gold ingot once used as an ancient Chinese currency. Legend states that the number of dumplings you eat during the Lunar New Year predicts the amount of money you’ll make in the next year (meaning, the more, the better). While pork is the most common filling, you can also opt for chicken, shrimp or vegetables.
SOUP’S ON
For Koreans, an auspicious food for a prosperous New Year is tteokguk — rice cake soup. This brothy soup with rich, soulful flavors is not only a New Year’s tradition but a classic comfort food any time of year. Tteokguk is made with sliced rice cakes, usually in beef broth. The rice cake used is garaetteok, which is unsweetened and shaped like a long cylinder. The garaetteok is cut into thin oval slices. The white oval shape of the rice cakes signifies purity, so the soup represents a way to start the year fresh.
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KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE
USE YOUR NOODLE
Longevity Noodles, also called “Long Life Noodles,” symbolize a long and healthy life. Known as channgsou mian, they are long, thin wheat flour noodles cooked in broth, seasoned with soy sauce and served with vegetables. According to tradition, the longer the noodle, the luckier life will be.
SYMBOLIC CITRUS
Oranges, tangerines, kumquats and pomelos are widely used as Lunar New Year food gifts and decorations. They’re also incorporated into countless Asian dishes. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine are similar to words for blessings and wealth. Because of this, these fruits are thought to bring happiness and good luck. They are often incorporated in beautiful tablescapes and desserts because their rich gold hue symbolizes prosperity.
END WITH A BANG
It’s been said that no Lunar New Year celebration is truly complete without fireworks because the mythical beast Nian is terrified of the light and noise. The racket also wakes up a magical dragon who flies across the sky to bring spring rain for crops. Lunar New Year is a magical time full of rich traditions that bring cultures, families and friends together to wish good will, great fortune and generous blessings. “Saehae bok mani badeusipsio,” said Pitts, wishing you happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
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What do Arizonans agree on? More than you think.
Arizonans want quality education, healthy and vibrant communities, rewarding jobs, and equity and justice for all; we also love our great state and are committed to ensuring a thriving economy and stewarding natural resources for generations to come.
Be part of shaping the future based on the things that unify us as Arizonans arizonafuture.org
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As co-founders of K2 Adventures Foundation, Kristen Sandquist and Kevin Cherilla use nature to spur personal growth.
COVER STORY
Power Up Helping people has long been a theme of Kristen Sandquist’s career — but never more so than at K2 Adventures Foundation BY KAREN WERNER
T
here is a painting in Kristen Sandquist’s office. Hand-
quickly evolved. A woman on the team wasn’t showing up
painted from four photographs, it shows her working
for training hikes and Cherilla asked Sandquist to consider
with children at an orphanage, holding the hands of a young
taking her place as a guide. Sandquist had never camped
boy, guiding a team up Kilimanjaro
and rarely hiked. She’d never
and standing triumphantly on top of
dreamed of using the bathroom
the summit.
outside. Still, she was game and
The painting was a gift after
asked how long she had to prepare.
summiting Kilimanjaro for the 15th
Fifty-two days later, Sandquist
time. (Sandquist has since summited
and the group landed in Tanzania.
the tallest freestanding mountain in
The hike was an epic success. Over
the world a total of 25 times.) “I love
several days, the team climbed
it. It symbolizes everything Tanzania
over 19,000 feet of elevation. Every
for me,” she said of the painting.
member made it to the summit, four
As Sandquist tells it, she never set
world records were shattered, and
out to trek one of the Seven Summits
they raised more than $400,000 for
or start a career as a mountain guide.
blind and visually impaired Arizonans.
She was a former teacher and mother
But the trip was life-changing for
with a philanthropic heart. But that
another reason. “When we landed in
was before she met Kevin Cherilla.
Tanzania, Kevin had set up a meeting
In 2009, Cherilla, an international
for all of us,” Sandquist said. They
mountain climbing expert, was taking
were delivering Braille writers to a
eight blind individuals to climb Mount
local orphanage that housed 24 blind
Kilimanjaro and needed someone to
children and meeting the kids who
help with fundraising. His goal was
would benefit from them.
to pair each blind person with two
“We walked around this orphanage,
sighted people as a team, and all money raised would go to
and it caught me very off guard,” Sandquist said. “It changed
the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix.
me completely. I fell in love with these kids.”
Sandquist agreed to help with fundraising, but her role
The historic trip was a jumping-off point for Sandquist.
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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mountains for a living. She clearly enjoys fashion and knows what she looks best in. Outfit change — Sandquist is climbing Piestewa Peak to be photographed for the cover of this magazine. Clad in a velvet blazer, Gucci belt and 3-inch heels, she strikes a power pose while perched atop a boulder. Grounded, unpretentious, up-for-whatever, it is no Sandquist (second from left) started her first nonprofit when she was a young teacher in Wisconsin.
“I came back with a completely different lease on life,” she said. “I got off the plane and said to my husband, ‘I have a new plan. I want to start another nonprofit.’” At the time, Sandquist had been in the nonprofit world for 17 years. She started her first charity in Wisconsin, called Circle of Friends, as a 23-year-old schoolteacher who noticed that many of her students came to class hungry and tired. What began as a way for students to pick up items in her classroom ballooned into a program in 26 schools within three years. “Circle of Friends is what made me open my eyes to what I really wanted to do with my life,” she said. After a divorce, Sandquist moved to Arizona with sons Tyler and Cayden. She started Visions of Hope, a nonprofit that supported organizations as a pass-through to give back. Next up was a ladies’ clothing store called Swank. “It was a shop-for-a-cause. Twenty percent of every bit of your sale would go directly to a nonprofit that helped women needing clothing and support,” Sandquist said. Side note: Kristen Sandquist is fashionable. Like, much more stylish than you might expect from someone who treks
wonder people are willing to follow where she leads. “She is laid back and classy, but with a unique grasp of herself and her foundation,” said Scott Foust, who photographed her for this story. “She had to deal with wind, heat and posing on rocks in high heels, but she took it in stride and made it fun. She understands that, in the scheme of things, this is nothing.” All of which is to say, Sandquist has seen and done things that most folks would deem impossible. So when she decided to start a global nonprofit after her first trip abroad, people paid attention. Three months after their Tanzania trip, Sandquist and Cherilla opened K2 Adventure Travel, a company that combines international hiking adventures with communityservice trips to Africa, Peru, Argentina and Nepal. In tandem with the company, the pair runs K2 Adventures Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to care for children, adults and families with special needs or life-changing medical circumstances. Sandquist is the CEO; Cherilla is president. Here’s how the two parts of K2 work together. People on K2 Adventure Travel excursions have the option to do service. In Tanzania, for example, that occurs at one of three places: Summit Happy Home, a freestanding orphanage K2 Adventures Foundation built; a prosthetic center where K2 is providing brand-new legs to hundreds of people with below-the-knee amputations; and St. Augustine’s, a school that over 500 children attend, including orphans. “What’s happening is those individuals that came on a for-profit trip will then make a donation to
our foundation because they see firsthand what we’ve done with the money,” Sandquist said.
As a result, K2 Adventures Foundation has provided running blades; ballet, ski and hiking legs; and adaptive
Thanks to supporters, K2 Adventures Foundation is
surfboards to clients, as well as adaptive wheelchairs and
making massive impacts, both domestically and abroad. “It’s
horse therapy. “Just because you lost your limb doesn’t
pretty magical because it went from being such a small idea
mean that you have to lose your ability to be in the outdoors,
to now, where it’s huge,” Sandquist said.
to be an athlete, or to continue on,” Sandquist said.
Here in Arizona, the foundation has granted hundreds of
But K2 Adventures Foundation doesn’t only work with
thousands of dollars of award requests through its Strength
those already familiar with the powerful benefits of exercise
to Thrive program, which focuses on mind, body and soul. For
and the outdoors. It recently partnered with Elevate Phoenix
instance, people often come to the organization for adaptive
to provide 10 mentors and 10 mentees an opportunity to
equipment after being denied by insurance companies that
work on their mental health, physical health and nutrition.
deem the items luxury equipment. “If you lose a leg, you’re
At the end of the free three-month program, participants
going to get a new leg. But if you were a runner, they’re not
had the opportunity to hike the Grand Canyon. “It’s one of
giving you a running blade,” Sandquist said.
the best programs we’ve ever created,” Sandquist said. “We
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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of the human spirit, the team at K2 believes in collaboration. After all, teamwork is essential to navigating the challenges posed by a mountain. So, K2 Adventures Foundation partners with nonprofits all over Arizona. “That’s one of the biggest things I pride myself on,” Sandquist said. “We will never compete. We’ll raise our own money and build our own programs. But we will always work with other nonprofits, so if there’s something that they can’t do, we can do it.” Here is a recent example. Angels on Patrol, a nonprofit started by a former Phoenix police officer, got a call about a woman living on the streets with her dog. Jenny, a former nurse, had lost her legs and fingers from a fungal infection and was using a worn mobility chair. Angels on Patrol Sandquist with Cindy Wilhelmi, the visually impaired hiker she guided on her first climb with Foundation for Blind Children.
reached out to K2 Adventures Foundation, and Sandquist made a couple of phone calls. One was to BHHS Legacy Foundation, which supports K2’s Strength to Strive program. “What a blessing to help Angels on Patrol get a new electric wheelchair to help improve Jenny’s quality of life,” said BHHS Legacy Foundation CEO Gerald Wissink. “As a CEO, I’m all in on the power of nonprofits teaming up. It’s not just smart strategy — it’s required. When we collaborate, we make a bigger impact, use our resources smarter, come up with fresh ideas, and tackle the tough stuff in our communities.”
watched it transform 20 individuals’ lives in three months. One woman lost 20 pounds and reversed her diabetes; another individual lost 26 pounds.” Again and again, the team at K2 Adventures Foundation sees the monumental rebooting effects of being in the outdoors. “It refreshes people and helps them start over,” Sandquist said. “It helps clear their mind and gives a sense of peace.” It’s an effect Sandquist has experienced herself through her years trekking terrain, both external and internal. “I never expected it to change my life. And it did,” she said. “It’s changed me physically, mentally and emotionally.” Indeed, K2 Adventures Foundation programs are a Trojan horse of sorts, a gift that comes with secret benefits. What people realize — whether they are climbing Camelback Mountain or Machu Picchu — is that they can accomplish much more than they realize. “The training program, fitness and nutrition, teamwork, camaraderie, love and kindness make them more successful than they ever thought they would be,” Sandquist said. Along with an unwavering belief in the limitless potential
38 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Sandquist and Cherilla at the Masquerade Ball, K2 Adventures Foundation’s signature annual celebration.
Dedication to teamwork runs like a thread through all of K2 Adventures Foundation’s pursuits. The organization boasts one of the largest boards in Arizona. Between 36 board members, a junior board and an advisory board, it’s comprised of 56 individuals who are part of the K2 crew. “It’s a kind, warm, nurturing environment,” Sandquist said. “When you’re serving individuals with disablities, or mental health issues, or people that have lost something in their life, you have to approach it from a perspective of kindness.” The care and focus Sandquist applies to her work help explain why she doesn’t task herself with personal brand-building. Married to attorney Jeff Sandquist, she is mother to Cayden, Tyler and stepsons Joseph and Josh and enjoys a fruitful life away from the limelight. “We’re homebodies,” she said. “I work and spend time with my family — that’s it.” It’s a good bet her family did not predict Sandquist’s transformation from fundraiser to certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder. “It’s my way of making an impression for my family,” she said. “What are my kids and my husband going to say when I die? I would like them to say, ‘She lived her life of service. She was kind, she was giving, and she looked after others.’” So Sandquist goes about organizing K2 Adventures Foundation’s awards, programs and board meetings, along with fundraising events and finances. All the while, she periodically takes people to the mountaintop, providing tools to trace a personal path to wellness. Sandquist encourages others to get outside
Sandquist strives to be a good role model for her blended family, which includes sons Cayden and Tyler and stepsons Joseph and Josh.
and experience the world. “If you have an opportunity to go to another place, see what kind of magic it brings you,” she said. “Because I truly believe that you come back with a little piece from anywhere you go.” The painting in her office epitomizes this. It’s a daily reminder of what she’s experienced in Tanzania and a prompt to share those gifts with the world. It’s also a testament to 25 years of nonprofit experience that have taken Sandquist from a classroom in Sheboygan to the peak of Mt. Fuji. “My life could have gone in many different directions,” she said. “It’s been impactful. It’s been challenging. But, boy, has it been rewarding.” To learn more, visit k2adventures.org. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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GOOD NEWS { celebrating philanthropy }
Congratulations
2023 NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY HONOREES
The annual National Philanthropy Day Awards is a program of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – Greater Arizona Chapter. AFP is the premier organization for fundraising professionals and currently represents more than 250 members across the Valley. To learn more, visit afpgaz.org.
Leadership Awards Each year, these leadership awards recognize the individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest standards of philanthropic responsibility and generosity.
OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST
OUTSTANDING FOUNDATION
JoEllen Doornbos
Chandler Compadres
Nominated by Phoenix Zoo
Nominated by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER
Stacy Lovell Nominated by HonorHealth Foundation
Leadership Awards
OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE
OUTSTANDING YOUTH FUNDRAISER
(continued)
EMERGING FUNDRAISER
Ashleigh Leite
Pinnacle High School Key Club
Tatumn Zale
Nominated by HonorHealth Foundation
Nominated by OCJ Kids
Nominated by FSL
Spirit Of Philanthropy Honorees The Spirit of Philanthropy Award publicly recognizes those who exemplify philanthropy through their contributions of time, effort and/or resources. Formal praise of those who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and vision in support of your organization’s goals not only confirms their efforts, but also inspires others in Arizona to become more involved in our community.
Ryan & Sarah Ewing
Nominated by Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Forest Highlands Foundation
Nominated by Catholic Charities Community Services
Frankel Family Foundation Nominated by Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
Barbara Hatch
Nominated by Veterans Heritage Project
Jen Hisle
Nominated by Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona
Caraminia Muñoz
Nominated by Planned Parenthood Arizona
Erik Olsson
Nominated by Child Crisis Arizona
Roberto Reveles
Nominated by ACLU of Arizona
Marcus & Darla Sipolt
Nominated by Catholic Charities Community Services
The Stine Family
Nominated by Make-A-Wish Arizona
Val & Marilyn Wilson Nominated by A New Leaf
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NEXT DOORS
Dr. Robert Fauer, the executive director of Street Medicine Phoenix, says the immediacy of street medicine is important.
Healing on the Streets Street Medicine Phoenix gives medical students a chance to serve the homeless population BY TOM EVANS
H
omelessness is not an ideal situation in any way, but particularly from a health standpoint. The reason
Midwestern University and Creighton University. It’s described as “a student-driven interprofessional
shelter is so important to us all is that it protects us from
healthcare and social justice team” that goes out directly to
harm. So what happens when you don’t have that shelter,
the streets to provide medical care and support services to
and when you don’t have the resources to get the kind of
individuals experiencing homelessness where they are — in
treatment to counter whatever ailments pop up?
shelters, encampments or on the street.
That’s where Street Medicine Phoenix is coming in to help
There are dozens of similar programs across the country,
those experiencing homelessness. The Zuckerman College of
each with its specific focus, whether universities, nonprofits
Public Health coordinates the program, which brings together
or religious entities drive those. However, in Phoenix, it was
students and faculty from University of Arizona, Arizona
started in 2017 by two medical students, Jeffery Hanna and
State University, Northern Arizona University, Mayo Clinic,
Justin Zein.
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
| 43
NEXT DOORS
Today it is overseen by Catherine Miller, health education & promotion professional and Street Medicine Phoenix program lead, who helps coordinate several hundred volunteer aspiring medical professionals, supervised by doctors from the partner institutions, who are part of the effort. “There’s a lot of teaching involved,” Miller said. “The medical students are clamoring to get experience, and this is basically their first real clinical experience as medical students, besides some experiences they get in medical school. This is real life, and as far away from a textbook as you could get. The stuff that we see is pretty intense.” Intense is one way of putting it. Picture providing medical care to a population that not only lacks proper shelter, but lives in the Arizona heat, on streets where even the most minor injury can turn into a major problem. And a population
44 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Street Medicine Phoenix by the Numbers
11,782
Number of participants served from 2017–2023
13.7%
Percentage of the population served that are military veterans
60%
Percentage of the population served from minority communities
of individuals who often suffer from mental health issues that may prevent them from making clear and rational decisions about their health. What’s more, Street Medicine Phoenix is facing a problem — the City of Phoenix was ordered by the courts to clear “The Zone,” the large homeless encampment in downtown Phoenix where hundreds of people lived. The presence of The Zone made it easier to host events to provide care to the homeless population, so the program’s leadership has to reevaluate the best ways to reach patients moving forward. The next steps are a work in progress. But Dr. Robert Fauer, medical director for Street Medicine Phoenix, said that upwards of two-thirds of the medical students in University of Arizona’s programs are doing some sort of volunteer work, which can be an invaluable experience for them professionally. “Besides the empathy and compassion they learn, they also are getting their most challenging social patients right off the get-go,” he said. “I suspect going forward, when they see patients in the hospital and they’re in their clinical rotations, having this experience is probably very helpful for them to understand the needs of the people they are treating.” The scope of the program is comprehensive. Along with a gamut of medical services, additional screenings such as mental health, vision and even veterinary screenings for patients with pets are part of the overall effort, with coordination between other social service agencies that can assist with community resources. Additionally, Fauer said that during the COVID pandemic, Street Medicine Phoenix took an active role in getting the homeless population vaccinated. That effort was redoubled during the mpox outbreak last year. One of the volunteers is Ashwathy Goutham, part of the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix class of 2026. Goutham said the Street Medicine Phoenix experience has been rewarding both personally and professionally. Goutham is an aspiring emergency room doctor interested in serving a broad spectrum of populations, so Street Medicine Phoenix has been right up her alley. “It’s made me question my own biases against people and why I have them, and I think volunteering has really been able to break those down for me,” she said. “Also, as a medical student, I think the best way to learn about medicine is to talk to people. I think it’s going to help me become a better doctor.” FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
| 45
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A 2ND ACT
Pic 09 - Photo by Claudia Johnstone
Photo by Dennis Scully
Karen Shell and a group of kids review images while on a Kids in Focus field trip.
A Picture’s Worth
A snapshot of the work of Kids in Focus founder Karen Shell BY JULIE COLEMAN
W
hen you open the photo album depicting Karen Shell’s life to date, you see images that tell a story of
through some of it, I was actively seeking that out.” Shell’s work with those in need began when she spent
tenacity, drive and resilience. The photos do not emphasize
a few hours on a Saturday with kids at the Vista Colina
her more than three decades as a successful, award-winning
Family Shelter. When it was time for her to go, the kids
freelance commercial photographer. Instead, they shine light
wrapped their arms around her legs to prevent her from
on her support of others and how this mainstay in her life
leaving. The touching experience left Shell wanting to do
began when she was a child.
more, despite being “broker than broke” because she had
“I experienced a challenging and abusive childhood,
not yet begun building her photography business. Still,
and it gave me the desire and drive at a young age to want
she successfully harnessed her idea to provide a new
to help others,” Shell said. “So even while I was still living
swing set for the kids, realizing how easy it was to make
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
| 47
A 2ND 2NDACT ACT Photo by Eric Labas
Karen Shell with the inaugural group of youth to experience the Kids in Focus program.
a difference. “I just had to have an idea and act on it,” Shell
Focus in 2012. Kids in Focus empowers youth, ages 10 to
said. “From that moment on, I was in hot pursuit and started
18, who come from backgrounds of poverty, homelessness,
creating my own stuff.”
neglect or abuse to reframe the world around them,
A self-described “born entrepreneur,” Shell spent two
becoming more aware and connected. The nonprofit is
decades working on community projects ranging from
dedicated to mentoring youth to overcome adversity and
shoe drives to reading programs, including coordinating an
build resilience through the art of photography.
annual Picture Day for a thousand children experiencing
Youth from partner organizations throughout the Valley
homelessness at Children First Leadership Academy
participate in the no-cost programs. A camera, mentor, field
(formerly Thomas J. Pappas Schools for homeless children)
trips, self-celebration and continuum of care are embedded
so they could have free portraits.
in every program. “Using the camera as a tool is incredibly
Her deep connection as a mentor for five years with a
effective because it’s like a safety net,” Shell said. “You pair
group of 17 kids at the Leadership Academy sharpened her
kids with a mentor who’s trained to see and notice, take
focus. Hoping to build the kids’ confidence, Shell arranged
them on field trips to remove them from their daily stressful
for photographers to teach them photography and exhibit
environment, and the magic starts to happen.”
their work at Burton Barr Central Library. She didn’t expect
After eight years of working 18-hour days, seven days
to see the profound changes in these kids she had come to
a week, between her photography business and Kids in
know so well. “I thought, this is it! I had finally found the way
Focus, Shell could no longer do both and made what
to make a life-changing difference in these kids’ lives,” Shell
she felt was the clear choice. “There was no hesitation,”
said. “They were more open, connected, vibrant, confident
she said. “I’m going to give up my career because my
and calm. And I thought, I really need to build this.”
heart is with the kids.”
Build she did. Shell established the nonprofit Kids in
48 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Just as a camera’s fast shutter speed captures
quick-moving action, Kids in Focus has grown from only Shell and volunteer mentors to include staff and an expanded board of directors now supporting 700 kids a year. “I’m really proud of the profoundly life-changing programs I innately created because of my own experience, and that I grew the organization from nothing to where it is today,” she said. As you turn to the next page in Shell’s photo album, you will see it is not yet filled with images. That is because another act is on the horizon as Shell recently transitioned from her role as Kids in Focus executive director after more than a decade. She will undoubtedly continue her lifelong pursuit and intense focus on giving back. “When you go through really hard stuff, it’s going to change you, but you get to choose how,” Shell said. “You have two choices — bitter or better. I wanted to be better because of it. It’s always been clear to me there’s nothing more healing and rewarding than Photo by Tom Woodward
A Kids in Focus participant learning to reconnect with the environment and himself.
when you give to others.” To learn more, visit kidsinfocus.org and shell-photo.com.
Doctors take care of patients. We take care of their families. Promise them togetherness by donating now at rmhccnaz.org. Gifts of up to $421/individual or $841/couple are eligible for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit program. Learn more at rmhccnaz.org/taxcredit.
OFFICE DOORS 4:30 A.M. >> THE EARLY RISER GETS THE BIRD
I wake up and go to bed early. I quit drinking coffee a couple of years ago and now have my daily Celsius. I like to listen to the birds for about an hour and find it’s a great way to start my day. I use a bird app that tells you the types of birds in your surrounding area based on their sound. I also set my intentions for the day and review my planner to see what I have scheduled. 7 A.M. >> A FAMILY’S BATTLE CRY
I have an affection for young adults because my daughter, Kaitlyn, is 27 and has Down syndrome. She’s the reason I started GiGi’s Playhouse in 2015. At the time, she was in high school, and I was concerned about what we would do after the bus stopped coming. When the Playhouse came across my desktop, I knew it could hold the answer to what Kaitlyn was going to do with her adult years. I knew once we started GiGi’s Playhouse, we could move on to its next iteration for adults, which we did three years later, called GiGi University. GiGi’s Playhouse supports those with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome through the end of life. Our oldest participant is in his 70s. We cover it all, and it’s for a reason. Having a child with special needs requires a lot of support, and we’re there to provide for that child throughout their life, and their families as well. 10:30 A.M. >> PERSONAL CONNECTIONS
A Day With
JENNIFER GAGE Founder and co-board president of GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix
I spend 10 to 20 hours per week at Gigi’s Playhouse. Twice a week, I attend our music and sign language program for mothers and their children with Down syndrome called LMNOP, which stands for Language Music N’ Our Peeps. Of the 23 programs we offer, this is one of my favorites because I love to be around babies and new moms. It’s a wonderful experience because the new moms have the opportunity to be with their child with Down syndrome while networking and sharing their experiences about what’s working and what they need to know. I like to get a pulse while I’m at the Playhouse, so I touch base with everyone. I meet with our executive director to see what’s going on and discuss fundraising opportunities and events we’re putting on in the community. I’ll check in with our site coordinator, who also happens to be my mother, Cathy. I always get a big hug from Mom when I come to the Playhouse. Our organization is 90
BY JULIE COLEMAN
percent volunteer-run, and I enjoy interacting with our key volunteers, who are there almost every day, and the new volunteers to see how they’re doing and feeling.
50 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
Participants line up for the Language Music N’ Our Peeps music and sign language class for children 0-3 years old.
1:15 P.M. >> HITTING THE ROAD
in 2024 called GiGi on the GO. We will take our programs
I don’t go to the Playhouse as often as I used to, so I make
and materials on the road in a new van to underserved or
sure it’s a meaningful visit when I’m there. I handle the
remote areas for those who cannot come to the Playhouse.
organization’s public relations and manage social media.
We will start the program in Maricopa County and then try to
I give donor tours so they understand who I am, how the
expand into northern and southern Arizona.
Playhouse came to be and what we do as a group. I am assisting our gala chair in planning our biggest fundraiser. As founder, I will always hold a board position and am currently serving as co-board president. We are focused on strategic planning and fundraising and talk about programs, volunteers and new outreach ideas we have. Our next iteration of GiGi’s Playhouse is a program we will launch
4 P.M. >> BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Five years ago, I was in California and had a shoulder injury. My Pilates instructor recommended I check out the StretchLab next door. It’s assisted stretch, and I loved it and felt instantly better. When I came home to Arizona, I wanted to become a member but found out there weren’t any locations. I purchased the rights to 10 Valley franchises and have opened six locations. I know in my heart that without my start-up work with GiGi’s, I would not have been confident opening my own business — finding the location, writing the lease, building it out, then expanding. I like to accentuate this point because GiGi’s isn’t just for people with Down syndrome. It’s for their families, their extended families and volunteers. Because through experiences, you learn things and acquire the confidence to go out in the world and do something you might not have done otherwise. 6:30 P.M. >> CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
I unwind in the evening by watching mindless TV. I’m a geek and like Sci-Fi and am obsessed with “The Golden Bachelor.” My husband and I have four children, including Kaitlyn. They are wonderful kids who were profoundly affected for the better by having a sibling with Down syndrome. They are empathic and philanthropic, and I get choked up when I talk about them because they’re so great! To learn more, go to gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix. The GiGi Studio Cafe internship program helps GiGi U graduates build their résumé for a job or volunteer position in the community.
FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
| 51
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HER PATH TO SUCCESS
Begins Herffl
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BY FAMILIES, FOR FAMILIES
Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents
With the goal of increasing the stability, well-being, and connection of Arizona's foster, kinship, and adoptive families and their children, our purpose is to strengthen and encourage those families through education, financial and emotional support, relationships, and providing opportunity for a voice throughout their journey.
Serving foster, kinship and adoptive families statewide through 4 programs Children's Basic Needs- shoes, jackets, bikes, toys Family Connections- picnics, camps, days out, staycations Family Support Services- mentors, training, online chats Community Awareness- festivals, caregiver awards
Get a tax credit for your donation! You can receive
a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1e51 for joint filers and $526 for single filers for the 2e23 tax year. Most importantly, you'll know that your gift helps
AZ children impacted by foster care, and the families who care for them will get the support and
Help kids!
resources they need.
QFCO Code 1eee8 www.azafaR.org 142e2 N 73rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85381 6e2-884-18e1
Give them that safe refuge
Every child and mother deserves to feel safe at home. At just eight years old, Maria saw her own father inflicting violence on her mother at home. Thankfully, in a moment of hope, her mother found the courage to flee and seek refuge at CPLC De Colores. Our center provides families like theirs resources, such as therapy, free meals and bus passes, access to a healing garden, and classes to become financially independent. Survivors can also benefit from legal services to obtain orders of protection, file for divorce, or find immigration support. And our new pet program ensures even their furry friends are safe from danger. Here, Maria’s family found not just a safe refuge, but also a new home where they made beautiful memories together. Today, Maria is a pre-med graduate from Arizona State University with plans to become a doctor and volunteers often at the shelter garden. She still sees herself in the young children at the center and hopes they, too, can heal, grow beyond their trauma, and begin to dream. *Name has been changed to protect privacy
Your donation is eligible for the AZ Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) Tax Credit of up to $400 for individuals or $800 for couples filing jointly. Your support gives survivors of domestic violence a safe refuge where they can heal from trauma, get support, and begin to dream again.
Give now at
cplc.org/DeColores
do good, feel good and reduce your az state tax
www.idirectmytax.com
Use your AZ Charitable Tax Credit to help homeless families in YOUR community! Give shelter to families in crisis! You can donate your Arizona Charitable Tax Credit to A New Leaf and give a safe, temporary home to families facing homelessness! Your donation will change a life by providing: • Safe, secure shelter • Food and basic needs n scan ca ou Y • Baby formula and diapers this QR code • Counseling services • Supportive childcare to donate!
Donate your Charitable Tax Credit! By making a gift to A New Leaf you will qualify for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $841 for couples, or up to $421 for individuals. Put simply: when you file your taxes, you get your money back! It’s that easy!
Make a local impact for families! A New Leaf serves families facing homelessness across Maricopa County and Pinal County, helping people in your local community.
This information is not intended as tax or financial advice. Be sure to consult with a trusted professional advisor.
Your support can give safe shelter to families like Micah and her daughter!
Donate at TurnaNewLeaf.org/TaxCredit
OUR MISSION
Provide opportunity, create community, and fight for justice for foster and at-risk kids
Www.ocjkids.org/donate
ARIZONA FOSTER CARE TAX CREDIT QFCO #10018
Help Beacon Group Create Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Arizona Together, we can help more than 2,000 Arizonans with disabilities succeed in their employment journey
Providing real jobs and employment-related services to a vastly underserved community
beacongroup.org Refer someone for services at Beacon Group
Make an Arizona Charitable Tax Credit* eligible donation
*Beacon Group is not a licensed tax professional. Please consult a tax advisor to determine your eligibility for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Building a Better Night’s Sleep Sleep in Heavenly Peace makes sure no kid sleeps on the floor
Origin
In 2012, Luke Mickelson built a bed for a family in need in his hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho. What started as an act of kindness exposed something very few think about — children having no bed
ORGANIZATION
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
of their own to sleep in comfortably. Using his daughter’s bunk bed as a template, Mickelson started buying wood and supplies to build beds with his own money, recruiting friends and family to help during the holidays. The work became such a passion that Mickelson eventually quit his successful career and created Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children in need. The Phoenix chapter was created five years ago.
LEADERSHIP
Jordan Allen Executive director
Joe Genovese Phoenix chapter president
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CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Mission
“No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!” is Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s motto. With more than 65 chapters across the U.S., the organization has delivered over 100,000 free beds to kids across the country. In the process, the organization has built a tremendous sense of community as all of the beds are built from scratch by volunteers, with donations from local companies, generous individuals, churches, clubs like Kiwanis and Rotary, and funds from grants and foundations.
Annual Budget
The Phoenix chapter plans to build and deliver beds (or bunk beds) to approximately 1,500 children in 2024. At a cost of $250 per bed — which includes lumber, hardware, brand-new mattress, pillow, blanket and sheet set — that makes a revenue goal of $375,000. “All of our volunteers in Phoenix are unpaid — happily,” said Joe Genovese, chapter president of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “We do, however, have an amazing home office team of dedicated, paid individuals at our chapter support center in Idaho. Ten percent of our local revenue goes toward their efforts in supporting us, but most of those funds come right back to us in the form of insurance coverage, digital systems, marketing, social media and so much more.”
High school freshman Aanvi Verma delivered sheet sets to SHP, part of her solo project with the Girl Scouts.
Most Surprising Thing About the Organization
The sheer need for it. “I am shocked at the number of children who go to sleep each night in something other than a bed,” Genovese said. “Our current waiting list is up to 3,000 children, and this is just from the families who have discovered us.” Fortunately, another surprising thing is helping the nonprofit meet this need: “The amazing number of goodhearted, like-minded citizens who have come by our side and volunteered their time and passion for kids and their
SHP builds every bed it delivers.
families,” Genovese said.
Program Highlight
In its first year, Sleep in Heavenly Peace had a local plan to build 100 beds. It built 500 that year. “We never imagined the success we would have in attracting volunteers and in attracting donations. It’s truly a blessing,” Genovese said. The Phoenix chapter now builds and delivers a bed to about 150 children each month.
Recent Challenges
For its first five years, the organization’s operational strategy was to bring Sleep in Heavenly Peace to the companies, clubs and churches that sponsored the building of beds. “We literally packed up all of our equipment one Saturday each month and did a mobile build,” Genovese said.
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace provides a creative community service opportunity for individuals and large groups.
As demand rose, they worked to find ways to be more efficient while raising money to build a permanent site where volunteers could come from all over the Valley. “We wanted to be like St. Mary’s Food Bank or Feed My Starving Children and find ways to serve more kids, but with less moving, loading and unloading,” Genovese said. They recently accomplished that goal with a location near Sky Harbor Airport. “Our challenge now is having to pay rent. However, we are absolutely confident we can raise the needed funds and serve more kids,” Genovese said.
Future
Sleep in Heavenly Peace wants to reduce the number of children on its waiting list and be more efficient in building and delivering beds. The organization invites anyone interested in building or delivering beds to contact them. To learn more, visit shpbeds.org/chapter/az-phoenix.
FROM THE ROAD
Page is part of a Southwest road trip that includes Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, national parks in Utah, and Monument Valley.
Another Page Winter in this Arizona town offers scenic vistas and geologic wonders, away from the crowds BY KAREN WERNER
T
he whole point of going to Page is to experience
easier to enjoy the area’s natural landscapes and hidden
nature — and the options for doing it are almost
gems. So, my 19-year-old son and I recently decided to test
endless. Located in Arizona on Utah’s southern
the theory with a weekend trip.
border, Page boasts some of Arizona’s most spectacular
Our home for our two-day adventure was Hyatt Place
scenery. Close to Lake Powell’s stunning red rock formations,
Page/Lake Powell. Nicely situated in proximity to 11 national
the area is a summer favorite for boating, fishing, kayaking
parks, 16 national monuments and 20 scenic byways, as well
and swimming. It’s also become an important hub for tourism,
as a slew of day-trip destinations, the select-service hotel
thanks to its close proximity to Grand Canyon National Park
makes a perfect basecamp. Its 102 suite-style guestrooms
and Monument Valley.
and patios offer boundless views of Arizona’s landscape
But as temperatures cool, an argument can be made that winter is the ideal time to visit Page. With fewer crowds, it’s
and all the comforts you would expect. Still, the hotel clearly knows that guests are there for the scenery. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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FROM THE ROAD
Photo courtesy Hyatt Place Page/ Lake Powell
In fact, Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell offers an Adventure Concierge program unique to the property that aims to provide guests with expert help building customized itineraries that fit their outdoor abilities and desires. On the first morning of our trip, the property’s signature restaurant, Prickly Pear Kitchen, packed up a hearty picnic so we could enjoy lunch on the road. The hotel also arranged for us to visit one of the most photographed spots in the Southwest — Antelope Canyon. Known for its spectacular red rock walls and shifting beams of sunlight, Lower Antelope Canyon has become a bucket list destination for photographers, tourists and visitors from around the world. Sculpted by millions of years of water and wind, the sandstone has taken on incredible textures, shapes and forms. Throughout the day, ever-shifting sunbeams bounce light across the canyon’s walls, creating breathtaking color, light and shadow displays. Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo Nation land, and all tours must be led by a Navajo Nation-approved tour operator. Ours was Ken’s Tours, which has been leading tours of the canyon for more than 30 years. Photo by Eli Werner
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Photo courtesy of Tourism Whistler / Vince Emond
Ro, our guide, told us about the geology and history of Lower Antelope Canyon, which is called Hasdeztwazi or “Spiral Rock Arches” in Navajo. Ro was a whiz with several phone models and happily perfected light settings while pointing out photo ops. He snapped pictures of everyone in our group and even played a Navajo flute so we could hear its resonance in the narrow canyon. After we emerged from underground, my son and I decided to drive a half hour to cross the state line into Utah. Our destination: the Toadstool Hoodoos. Nestled in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the destination is an often overlooked stop that showcases balanced rock formations shaped like mushrooms standing tall in the desert. We took a fairly easy 1.5-mile hike from the trailhead to see whimsical formations created by 30 million years of erosion. Without the crowds, we had the trails to ourselves and couldn’t hear a sound. In fact, we both remarked that we had never heard quiet like this before — it was a unique and otherworldly experience. Of course, outdoor efforts require outsize eating,
Photo courtesy Bird House
and Page does not disappoint. The town has more chain restaurants than you’d expect from a place with a population of 7,375. But it’s the mom-and-pop eateries that give Page its pulse.
Photo courtesy Canyon Crepes
Start the day at Hot N Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop, a can’t miss stop for anyone visiting Page. In addition to pillowy donuts and hearty breakfast burritos, they have free arcade games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man to keep diners entertained. Craving fried chicken? Look no further than Bird House, which serves up delectable fried chicken and cold beers in a former Sonic. Or consider Canyon Crepes for a variety of savory, sweet and vegetarian options. To learn about the Indigenous culture, check out Red Heritage, a Navajo-owned and operated dinner theater that showcases Native American dancing, drumming, singing, flute playing and Navajo-inspired food — including Navajo Tacos. After a couple days of fun, it was time to head home, but we saved a must-visit destination for the ride. A mere 5 miles south of Page sits Horseshoe Bend, the horseshoe-shaped canyon carved by the Photo courtesy Red Heritage
Colorado River. continued
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FROM THE ROAD
Horseshoe Bend is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, but the parking lot is on city land. So visitors have to pay for parking at the trailhead, then take an easy walk over a hardened path. Their reward is the photogenic 270-degree bend in the Colorado River that has become an Instagram darling. But here again, winter has its rewards, because the season offers a chance to snap a rare shot of the setting dusted with snow. Page is perfectly suited for a short getaway like ours, or for a longer vacation. We could have easily enjoyed more days of active fun and dazzling scenery. On our list for a future trip is Skylight Arch, a natural sandstone formation that’s a 40-minute drive from Page. We also talked about mounting excursions out of Page to Monument Valley (a 2½-hour drive) and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument (2½ hours away). Ultimately, we agreed that our short jaunt felt like a real trip, instead of a winter weekend away. Page boasts excellent lodging, hearty food and abundant activities but, in truth, it’s all about the outdoors. In every season.
4001 N. 24th St. Phoenix, AZ 85016 www.WhiteHouseFlowers.com ph: 602.957.0186 fax: 602.956.0463
Turn Your Event Vision Into Reality Phoenix Technology Audio Visual provides top-tier AV equipment and crew to events both large and small. Our talented techs specialize in audio, projection, lighting, scenic and video production — both in studio and on location. Through hard work, dedication and love, our team has a personal share in the success of your event! Reach out today and discover how we can help design your event vision into a reality.
602.488.5765
Save The DaTe
Join us to toast the end of the social season with a new name for our signature celebration where we will honor philanthropic icons, event chairs and those who lift our community each and every day!
WeDneSDay, april 24, 2024 Warehouse 215 in Downtown Phoenix Presented by M Culinary Concepts Watch for the call for award nominations in the coming weeks! Award Sponsorships Now Available Contact publisher Andrea Tyler Evans at andrea@frontdoorsmedia.com for details.
Proceeds to benefit The Sauce Foundation The charitable arm of Frontdoors Media, dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer and creating the storytellers of tomorrow through the generosity of TGen & ASU Cronkite School journalism scholarships.
KITCHEN DOORS
Photos by Greg Bernstein
A Celebration of Arizona The Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars hilltop facility in Cottonwood highlights Arizona wine and produce BY SHOSHANA LEON
IN RECENT YEARS, Cottonwood, located about
a wine production facility. The complex is home to Merkin
100 miles from Phoenix, has flourished with a variety of local
Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, offering fresh Italian
restaurants and several tasting rooms featuring Arizona
food and wine flights, and the Velvet Slippers Club Ventura
wines. The newest addition to Cottonwood’s Main Street is
Room, an intimate private dining experience with tapas
the 7-acre Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars complex,
and exclusive wines. At the bottom of the hill is the Merkin
with amazing views, beautiful vineyards, a greenhouse and
Vineyards Pocket Park Gelateria. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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FROM THE ROAD
KITCHEN DOORS
“The local community has watched this project grow over the past several years and there was a lot of anticipation,” said Calvin Arnold, national sales director for Caduceus Cellars
tasting room and restaurant opened in Old Town Scottsdale in 2019. As of 2014, all of the grapes used to produce
and Merkin Vineyards. “We are thrilled with the support we’ve
these wines are grown in southern Arizona and
received from both locals and visitors. People are discovering
northern Arizona’s Verde Valley. “We take a lot of
this hilltop where we are growing grapes, making wine and
pride in where we come from. Everything we do,
presenting what this area has to offer.”
from our branding to our labels, is an homage to
Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards are family-owned
where we live,” Arnold said.
wineries based in Jerome with a strong presence in Arizona.
In addition to focusing on Arizona wine,
Owner and winemaker Maynard James Keenan, lead singer
the brands have multiple greenhouses and
for the band Tool, moved to Jerome in 1995.
orchards throughout the state that grow a variety
In 2009, Caduceus opened a tasting room in Jerome. The Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria opened in Cottonwood in 2016. “The focus was wine, but people started gravitating to our food and pasta programs,” Arnold said.
of items, including basil, mushrooms, microgreens and apples. The Trattoria menu at the hilltop facility is dominantly Italian and features produce grown in
In addition to Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards,
the greenhouses and orchards, as well as fresh
the family of brands has grown to include Four 8 Wineworks,
bread and pasta. Popular menu items include
which has tasting rooms in Jerome and Cottonwood, and
gnocchi with sage and prosciutto cream sauce
Puscifer Queen B, a line of canned wines. A Merkin Vineyards
and the Merkin mac and cheese, prickly pearinfused pasta with pancetta and mascarpone cream sauce. The menu also offers wood-oven pizza, bruschetta and wine flights. “Everything on the menu is made to pair with wine, as that is our focus,” Arnold said. “We grow as much as we can and try to source locally as much as possible. We have a taste of Arizona in everything we do.” To learn more, visit merkintrattoria.com.
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KITCHEN DOORS
Photos courtesy of The Farm at South Mountain
An Authentic Garden-toTable Experience Quiessence at The Farm at South Mountain offers local, fresh and seasonal fine dining THE FARM AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN provides a beautiful green space in the heart of Phoenix with three distinct dining experiences — Morning Glory Cafe for breakfast; the Farm Kitchen, offering sandwiches, baked goods and salads for lunch; and Quiessence, a fine-dining restaurant highlighting fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.
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Opened in 2001, Quiessence stands for a quiet, tranquil environment. “The restaurant has evolved a lot over time. It started out as a more casual restaurant, where we hosted cooking classes,” said chef and co-owner Dustin Christofolo. “Over the years and after a few remodels, it has evolved into a fine-dining establishment with specialized tasting menus.
At the beginning of 2023, we opened our new state-ofthe-art Q Kitchen, the perfect custom space for our farm-totable restaurant.” Christofolo describes Quiessence as farm fresh with a rustic soul. “The ambiance is very romantic and the menu is true farm-to-table with our onsite garden just steps from our kitchen,” he said. “We are inspired by the flavors and seasons of Arizona.” Guests can enjoy a three-, four- or five-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings featuring seasonal ingredients. Recent menu selections include butternut squash soup with goat cheese mousse, potato gnocchi with guinea hen confit and Alaskan halibut with chickpea puree and corn relish. The Quiessence chef’s spread includes local cheeses, cured meats, brick-oven baked artisan bread and seasonal jams. Additional bites like Japanese A5 Wagyu and foie gras macarons are also available. Beverage selections at Quiessence include several wines from Arizona, as well as cocktails featuring fresh ingredients from the farm, like a citrus margarita and a smoky Paloma. The stunning property includes an organic pecan orchard, the Soil & Seed Garden, which provides produce
for all three restaurants at The Farm at South Mountain, and a rustic farmhouse where Quiessence is housed. Dining options at Quiessence include the Chef’s Table in the heart of the new kitchen and the Brick Oven Experience, which offers a special tasting menu next to a fireplace under a private gazebo. In addition to onsite ingredients from the farm, including herbs, microgreens, beets, radishes, citrus, eggplant and zucchini, Quiessence uses a variety of local suppliers, including Noble Bread, Two Wash Ranch, McClendon Farms and Crow’s Dairy. “It’s important to support the people of your region,” Christofolo said. “Fresher ingredients imply more sustainable practices. We follow the lead of the seasons and the land to guide our menu and our cooking. The flavors of the Arizona terroir shine through each dish with the unique layering of flavors and exceptional use of the local ingredients.” For information, visit thefarmatsouthmountain. com/quiessence-restaurant.
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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
greenlivingmag.com
EDUCATE EMPOWER INSPIRE
BOOKMARKED
KRISTEN WILSON CEO of AZ Impact for Good (formerly the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits + Arizona Grantmakers Forum)
RECOMMENDS “The Fearless Organization” by Amy C. Edmondson
H E R TA K E This book explores the concept of psychological safety in the workplace and how it can foster learning, innovation and growth. Psychological safety is the belief that one can speak up without fear of negative consequences, such as ridicule, rejection or punishment. As a leader of a community-focused organization, it has always been important to me to create a safe, inclusive environment where all team members are not only encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, but celebrated when doing so. Edmondson contends that psychological safety is essential for teams and organizations that want to succeed in the modern economy, where complex problems require collaboration, creativity and experimentation. This could not be truer for the nonprofit sector in which we operate through our work as AZ Impact for Good. The book provides practical guidance for creating and maintaining a culture of psychological safety, based on Edmondson’s extensive research and experience. It offers a compelling vision of what a fearless organization can look like and how it can achieve better outcomes for its customers, employees and stakeholders. It also challenges readers to reflect on their own assumptions, behaviors and mindsets, and to take action to improve the psychological safety of their teams and organizations. I also highly recommend viewing Amy’s TEDx Talk, where she introduces the concept of psychological safety and why it matters.” Kristen Wilson has more than 19 years of experience leading efforts to support community stakeholders, including extensive involvement working with professional associations, Chambers of Commerce, and various community and business organizations, both public and private. She works to advance AZ Impact for Good’s mission to unite nonprofits and philanthropy to transform Arizona through education, advocacy and innovation. For more information, go to AZImpactforGood.org. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE
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LAST LOOK
THE MASTERCLASS SOUNDS Academy students recently participated in a special masterclass with internationally renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine. The opportunity came after SOUNDS Academy founder & CEO Kirk Johnson met Pine at the Sphinx Connect Conference, an event dedicated to diversifying the stages of classical music throughout the country. Johnson had traveled to the conference as part of his 2022 Piper Fellowship and was delighted to meet Pine, who wrote a book called “Music by Black Composers” that several SOUNDS students play out of. Students were awestruck receiving personalized feedback from Pine, who “The Washington Post” calls “an exciting, boundary-defying performer.” The room was electric when Pine exclaimed, “You nailed it!” “I know that for them, being able to say, “‘When I was 12, I performed for Rachel Barton Pine’” will be a big deal and motivator for them for years to come,” Johnson said. To learn more, visit soundsacademy.org.
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Photo courtesy of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust/Sharon Price
Congratulations to the 2023 ATHENA Award Recipients! Jeri Royce President & CEO, Advance Community Melody Lewis Owner & Founder, Indigenous Community Collaborative Naquana Borrero, CFRE Director of Development and Communications, Jazz in Arizona/The Nash & Owner, Bella Vita Consulting Group
ATHENAs demonstrate inspiring leadership within their industry, mentor women throughout their career, and dedicate themselves to the community. Thank you to all ATHENA nominees, finalists, and to our recipients for your dedication to the Valley!