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COMMUNITY
THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | APRIL 3, 2022
Chandler woman joins music nonprofit as fundraiser BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer
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handler resident Darcy Hill learned how to raise money out of necessity. “I was actually in the performing arts, as a director, behind the scenes,” Hill said. “I went to school in Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and after that they don’t really give you a business plan. They tell you all about the art, they tell you all about how to deal with actors, but they didn’t tell you how to deal with producers, managers, executives. They didn’t tell you how to get yourself paid a living wage.” So, if she wanted to put on her own shows, she had to secure the financial backing first. That led her on a path that became her career. “I can pay my rent with this. This is a day job I can do,” she realized. Now she raises money for Rosie’s House, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that
Chandler resident Darcy Hill has joined Rosie’s House, a non-profit in downtown Phoenix that provides music education to low-income students. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
provides free music lessons to youth. It takes a lot of money for a worthwhile cause to do good in the community. It’s Hill’s job to make sure Rosie’s House has the funds. Rosie Schurz saw a need in her community in 1996. “Lots of kids with nothing to do after school, lots of crime,” Hill said. “She had left Germany after the war, and had to leave her instrument behind. She really felt like that was a missed opportunity in her life. So, she wanted to make sure that was available to the kids in her neighborhood.” Schurz was 7 when her family left Germany after the war and she had just started taking violin lessons at the time. She and her husband bought a house in Central Phoenix and renovated it. Then she started giving saxophone lessons out of a bedroom in that home. They quickly outgrew that space and soon started renting a room at a local church. Rosie’s House moved into their new
facility about a year ago on 9th Street and Jefferson in Downtown Phoenix. Hill said they raised about $5.5 million of a $6.5 million goal to move into that building. Most of the renovations to their new space are complete. The rest of the money that is raised will go to furniture and signage. “This is our first permanent facility,” Hill said. The facility includes a digital music lab and a recording studio. She said her main goal now is to get some sustainable funds so Rosie’s House can expand for the long term. There are currently a little more than 500 students taking classes at Rosie’s House and could only accommodate about 350 students before moving into the new space. That meant turning down half the students who applied, Hill said. Now, she said, the new space should be able to house about 1,000 students once they finish the fundraising.
ership building to local audiences and volunteering with local organizations through his employer Holian will be discussing his role as an international director in an upcoming Radio X - Phoenix Business Radio interview at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, with Karen Nowicki, and will appear at the District 3 Toastmasters Arizona Conference on May 20-21 at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort in Maricopa. He will present a keynote on May 20 and moderate a panel of leaders on May 21. As with most Toastmasters, Holian’s relationship with the nonprofit began at the club level as a member and eventually he took on club officer leadership roles. “Practicing and developing strong communication and leadership skills brought him to the highest level within the District 3 organization when he was
elected District Director 2018-2019,” Duckdett said, calling him a “standout” in the way he “he supports fellow Toastmasters, volunteering to lead clubs as an area and division director, helping to support district activities such as speech contests while sharing his insights on leadership.” Holian said he has benefitted in many ways from his membership. “My Toastmasters experience has also expanded my understanding of other people and cultures, providing opportunities for friendships and increasing my understanding of diverse experiences and perspectives,” he said. As an international director, Holidan will work to develop and support the policies and procedures that guide
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Chandler man elected to Toastmasters International board ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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Chandler man has been elected to the Toastmasters International Board of Directors. Michael J. Holian will be a “working ambassador” for Toastmasters International, a 98-year-old nonprofit that aims to “empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, it boasts a membership of more than 300,000 in over 15,800 clubs in 149 countries. “Mr. Holian’s journey through levels of Toastmasters leadership and his career advancement are a testament to the benefits of the personal and professional growth Toastmasters experience,” said Nancy Duckett, District 3 Toastmasters spokeswoman, saying he “generously gives back, speaking on the topic of lead-
Michael J. Holian
see TOAST page 28
