AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS

8 Career & Education Opportunity Summer 2020 Support students through community programs

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

As kids prepare for the upcoming school year, school supplies remain critical to their success. While school districts struggle with the challenge of delivering education and resources to students amid a pandemic, many parents are working to determine how they will ensure their children have the necessary supplies.

Community youth programs are innovating to fi ll gaps and ensure kids from low-income families in particular are equipped with learning materials and supplies, enrichment activities and food. For example, when schools closed, local corps of The Salvation Army started adapting creative alternatives to their youth programs to provide activities, snacks and educational materials like coloring sheets, scavenger hunts and more to keep kids entertained and learning.

If you’d like to make a similar im

BY THE AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS CENTER

The Luke AFB Airman & Family navirus pandemic. It is projected to be closed at least until the end of September.

The center will be available to receive phone calls at 623-856-6550, Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for routine and Readiness Center business. selves. pact in your community, consider lending a hand in one of these ways: Tutor or mentor students. Although most kids across the nation face the same challenges with academics, some are at more of a disadvantage because their access to remote learning resources is limited or parents are unable to assist at home. You can help by volunteering to tutor students as they practice learned skills and get back into the swing of a new school year. Donate supplies. There are 30 million children in the United States whose parents will have to choose between buying school supplies or other necessities like putting food on the table. Consider adding extra common items like crayons, markers and glue when you shop for your own children and dropping them off at your local youth center.

Students...continued on page 9

AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS CENTER

NEVER THE WRONG PLACE TO GO!

MILITARY MEMBERS, DOD CIVILIANS* & FAMILIES The Luke Airman and Family Readiness Center is projected to be closed until the end of September 2020 due to the Coronavirus.

We will be available to receive phone calls at (623) 856-6550 Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm for routine and emergency Airman and Family Readiness Center Business.

We look forward to serving you in person again soon! Everyone stay safe and take care of yourselves.

Contact us for further information: (623) 856-6550 Email: 56fss.fsfr@luke.af.mil 7282 N. 137th Ave. Bldg.1113 Luke AFB, AZ. 85309 “We’re never the wrong place to go!”

Airman & Family Readiness Center will soon serve again

Readiness Center is closed until Readiness Center is closed until further notice due to the corofurther notice due to the coro

emergency Airman & Family emergency Airman & Family

We look forward to serving We look forward to serving you in person again soon! Everyyou in person again soon! Everyone stay safe and take care of yourone stay safe and take care of yourCampaigns like The Salvation Army’s

Contact Airman & Family Readiness Center for more information at 623-856-6550 or visit its Facebook page, Luke A&FRC. The address is 7282 N. 137th Avenue, Building 1113, Luke AFB, AZ 85309.

Angelo Talamantes is a recent graduate of Deer Valley Academy. (Photo courtesy Deer Valley Academy)

Graduation: SeniorCOVIDitis

BY DEER VALLEY ACADEMY

For high school seniors like Angelo Talamantes, a 2020 graduation is not as comical as the social media memes. Talamantes, like most seniors, is taking it in stride but has challenges he never dreamed of just three months ago.

As a Deer Valley Academy senior, Talamantes has been anticipating the moment when he would walk across the stage and be handed that small piece of paper that means the world to him; his ticket into adult life and the new experiences a diploma brings. He looked forward to sharing this milestone in front of peers, family, friends, and others who helped him achieve his goal. The ceremony will go on, but scaled way back due to social distancing restrictions.

Talamantes found his biggest challenge to be online schooling; something he tried before and hoped to avoid. He misses the interaction and direct communication with the teachers and, of course, socializing with friends. He learned to juggle school, work and travel to the hard-to-fi nd job he accepted, 30 minutes from home.

The time spent with family has been positive.

“With more time at home, I’ve learned a lot about the strengths and struggles people have gone through. I enjoy the efforts everyone makes to stay connected.”

Talamantes knows he will make changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ll be more cautious in groups and try to spread more happiness. I’ll listen to the medical professionals who are trying to keep everyone safe.”

As for graduation, Talamantes will get that prized diploma. And while the ceremony may look and feel a little different, he realizes that “if it has to be this way, it has to be.” It seems Talamantes is well equipped to face the future.

Deer Valley Academy is a charter high school. Call 602-388-4444 or visit deervalleyacademy.org.

Open

since 2001

Enrollment 9-12 Charter High School

2710 W. Bell Road, Suite 1221 602.388.4444 www.DeerValleyAcademy.org

10 Career & Education Opportunity Summer 2020 Peoria Chamber: The sky’s the limit for charities

BY SCOT ANDREWS President and CEO Peoria Chamber of Commerce

The 501 (c)(3) charities in Peoria and the West Valley benefi t from the forward-thinking and full support of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce.

The Peoria Chamber of Commerce has many 501(c)(3) members. These charities complement the Peoria Chamber’s leadership as the “voice of business” by serving the thousands of needs in the West Valley.

The chamber business association affords 501(c)(3) opportunities to beef up their messaging. Wayne Cole, president of 501c Realty and Peoria Chamber member, who has a rich history of support and enablement of 501(c)(3)s throughout the Valley said “501(c)(3)s can increase donations and better communicate their vision into their market by investing time, attention and energy connecting in a relevant way with a business association like a chamber.”

These fi ve strategies will ensure a solid ROI for 501(c)(3)s investing in a chamber of commerce: • Execute a “Give to Get” formula fi rst to be successful. Many times, too much emphasis is put on getting donations, and not working to give time and attention fi rst, to the new people connections, events, tools and other processes a chamber offers. • Participate! Each week the Peoria Chamber has digital events. Charities are featured at all the events. It’s a real opportunity. These meetings are complimentary, easy to attend and connections are made. • Invest in marketing and relationships development. “Any business has to spend money on marketing, especially not for profi ts. Nonprofi ts must focus on their passion, but they need to supplement this passion with proven marketing and relationship tools,” said Carri Kaufman, the Peoria Chamber’s business development manager. • Give genuine thanks often. It was surprising to research and learn how some

times a 501(c)(3) overlooks an expression of gratitude for donations, support and referrals. A simple letter, card or other gesture goes a long way, yet many charities neglect this important aspect of relationship building and development. • Last, give a business update often in a newsletter or other digital avenue about who and how you have helped the community. This building of a sense of accomplishment and pride attracts connections, referrals and donations.

The Peoria Chamber of Commerce has built a solid program for the development and support of member 501(c)(3)s. As with any Peoria Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Scot Andrews. courtesy Peoria Chamber of Commerce) (Photo business, its success is a Peoria Chamber priority and a strong To learn more, call 623-979-3601. Reach out enabler for the less fortunate in our to the chamber at memberservices@peoriacommunity. chamber.com for additional information.