January 1, 2020 • Vol. 18, No. 6
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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True Pursuit offers support and fun for at-risk kids BY TRACY DEMETROPOLIS
NORTH PHOENIX — Impact. Empower. Restore. That’s the mission of Phoenixbased True Pursuit, a non-profit organization that partners with local groups to host carnivals and camps for area foster children and other at-risk kids. Phoenix residents Angel Bishop and her husband, Shane, have been hosting events for atrisk children for the last 18 years. In 2019, their organization, True Pursuit, became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. True Pursuit partners with local churches, group homes, schools and emergency shelters to meet the needs of children in vulnerable
situations. The children range in age from just a few months to 18 years old. The Bishops have a special place in their hearts for foster children and other at-risk kids. In fact, they adopted their two daughters from foster care. The girls, now 12 and 15, were adopted when they were 11 and 12 months old. “These events are a chance for these kids to explore new things and have the opportunity to just be a child,” Angel said. In addition to hosting sports, art and music camps, True Pursuit provides resources that allow children in foster care to participate in extracurricular activities and special events.
For example, Angel said the organization purchased prom dresses for girls who could not afford them. The group also bought a bike for a boy so he could attend early-morning football practice. One of the group homes True Pursuit helps houses teen moms and their babies. These teens need strollers, car seats, baby swings, etc. True Pursuit and their partners make sure they get those items, Angel said. “We go wherever the need is,” Angel said. “A lot of these kids just don’t have everything they need.” True Pursuit hosts four big events each year, which draw an average of 250 children per
Make 2020 a year of change BY TRACY DEMETROPOLIS
NORTH PHOENIX — Almost everyone wants to become a better version of themselves at the beginning of a new year - whether it’s landing a better job, spending more quality time with family or taking an often-postponed vacation. Whatever is on your 2020 goals list, those things will only materialize if you have good health. Thousands of people join gyms in late December and early January with the intention of exercising several times a week. That initial enthusiasm might last a few weeks or even a few months. But many of us will soon forget about our fitness goals and get back into old habits. Our plans to eat well and
Members of the Pinnacle Pioneer Spirit line painted children’s faces at the December 14 carnival. Photo courtesy of True Pursuit
event. Their largest event, the Christmas carnival, brings in about 350 kids. Annual events include a music and dance camp in the spring, a get-together at the beginning of summer, a back-to-school bash in August and the Christmas carnival in December.
Last month, True Pursuit invited 350 kids to its Christmas carnival at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix. The school’s football field was transformed into a carnival - with rides,
FOSTER
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A moving story: Arizona still nets gain of residents from other states BY LINDSAY WALKER CRONKITE NEWS
Personal trainer Mark Olson (right) trains clients at his in-home studio and at client's homes.
exercise often give way to work and family demands. But before you give up
HEALTH:
CHANGE
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NATURE
Donors needed for holiday blood supply
Lake Pleasant bald eagles star in new live webcam feed
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WASHINGTON — Californians have been beating a path to Arizona over the last decade – but it’s not exactly been a one-way street. While close to 500,000 people moved from California to Arizona from 2010 to 2018, just over 308,000 people were moving in the other direction, according to state-to-state migration flow data released this fall by the Census Bureau
ENTERTAINMENT
The numbers show that Arizona continues to be a net importer of people, taking in 2.2 million new residents from
MOVING
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OTHER :
Looking back on the Best Films of 2019
• Bluhm Column • Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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