Gifts of Hope Come In Across the State

 In a year when many families 'hoped' they would be able to give holiday gifts to their children, AZCA donors across the state went out of their way to make sure no family who requested help was turned away.

For the third year, Dr. Christopher Cox, owner of Discover Chiropractic in Tucson held a holiday toy drive for children in foster care.  He and his wife Colleen and their staff also sponsored a family for Gifts of Hope. 

The Tucson holiday party for foster families was a private event on December 9 at the Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo.  The children and foster families enjoyed the lights, visited with Santa in his workshop, drank hot chocolate, ate cookies, had their faces painted and were even able to touch a hedgehog.  As the families left the event, the children selected one of the many stuffed animals that were donated by Raytheon, the Artists of the Superstitions in Apache Junction, AzCA staff and a private donor. Three private donors also funded the entire holiday party.  In the words of one foster mom, "the wee ones really enjoyed their evening seeing Santa, getting their faces painted, seeing the wood chuck, drinking hot chocolate along with cookies and especially the stuffed animal on our way out!  They went home and took them to bed with them. Many thanks again, it is amazing how much these events bring to the kids”

Adams Giving Circle in Safford selected Arizona's Children Association to sponsor this year.  Adams Giving Circle began three years ago when Adam presented his mother with an extensive Christmas list that was both costly and inappropriate.  Adam's mother, Rosemary, decided her son needed to learn some different values and she made him spend an entire Saturday outside of Safeway collecting for the needy.  Adam was so inspired that he emptied out his own piggy bank into the jar and said, "let's do this every year."  And that's how Adams Giving Circle was born.  This year Adam and Rosemary collected infant and children's clothing, infant and children's toys, books, videos, a complete tool set, gift certificates from local movie houses and Burger King, bicycle helmets and three bicycles which were all donated to the AzCA office in Safford.  The total of all the gifts was approximately $2,000.   

Yavapai County had its biggest year ever for Gifts of Hope, with 170 children receiving gifts.  Arizona Helping Hands in Scottsdale provided two very large donations that included toys, music CDs, learning systems and much more. A nursing group at the local VA hospital provided toys and a cash donation and an advanced woodworking class at Yavapai College donated six children's rocking chairs.  Private donations of nearly $2,300 ensured the drive's success.

Families in the mid central region are grateful for the generosity of these companies and organizations: Starbucks Apache Junction, Kinder Care Gilbert, Red Sage Restaurant Gold Canyon, Mission Royal Golf Club, Indian Wells Apache Junction, Papa Murphy’s Pizza Apache Junction, Imagine Schools Apache Junction, Fatmans Pizza and Grill Apache Junction, Apache Junction Library, Apache Junction Justice Court, Skyline Aquatics Apache Junction, Affordable Dental Care  Apache Junction, Oasis Grill Apache Junction, State Farm Mesa and the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce.

In Flagstaff more than 50 children and parents received "Gifts of Hope." Thanks to Anytime Fitness for putting up an Angel Tree in it's gym for members to choose children to sponsor.  An anonymous sponsor donated $500 that allowed the office to purchase gifts for anyone who was not chosen or sponsored. 

With the support of our generous donors, more than 400 children and 136 families in the central region received a gift of a happy holiday season, enabling us, once again, to meet our goal of helping every child referred to the program have a special holiday.   Wendy Curran from First Solar pulled up to our office with a U-Haul truck filled with toys and bikes and the Maricopa County Bar Association Paralegal Division once again overwhelmed us with toys from their toy drive

We appreciate our generous donors in the Central (Phoenix) region:  Chelsey Bardgett, Len Campanaro, Citadelle Plaza, Mary Cost, Rebekah Cunningham, Karen D'Agostini, Jessica and Trevor Gelder, Kendra Holdgraf, Lindsey Huth, Jess Lorona, Kimberly Lourier, Andrea Rapson, Chris Ryder, Brooke Giddens and friends, Judy Walden Terri White, the Gap, Starbucks, CBS Outdoor, American Express, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Humana-Right Source Rx, Sage, Ports America, USAA, Holy Trinity Academy, Toolbox.com, Stanley Consultants, Maricopa Health Plan, ATSU Student Organization, Syntel, Inc., Phoenix Law School Hispanic Law Student's Association, First Solar, Bank of Arizona, Maricopa County Bar Association Paralegal Division, Direct Alliance and Anytime Fitness.

Thank you Tucson Gifts of Hope donors:  Steve Alexander, Jeff Angle, Dr. Patricia Anthony, Stacy Atnip, Lenora Austin, Brooke Billman, Pat Broyles, Kimberly Cajas, Deanna Candek, Diana Chapin-Tsi, Tracy Collett, Rich and Janet Couch, Abby Dodds, Tom Flake, Paige Gavin, Shaun Halbert, Rebecca Hill, Quinea Lassiter, Carolyn Leonard, Kim Marshall, Shane McCormick, Roya Montakhab, Heather Morton, Heidi Oliver, Tyson Polley, Linda Robnett, Rachel Sacks, Diana Chapin-Tsi, Arizona Internal Medicine Specialists, AZ Dept of Education, Bank of the West , Discover Chiropractic, Employees of Reay's Ranch Investors, John, Janet and Steven Horkey , Hollywood Tans, Intuit, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa , Pima County Procurement Dept., Raytheon, The Gap--Park Place Mall, Toys for Tucson, Tucson Moms, U of A College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Administrative Services Office, U of A Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, U of A Dept. of Ophthalmology.

The toys were overflowing at the Phoenix area foster care party thanks to the efforts of  Kendra and Martin Holdgraf  though their employment at The Edge on Wellness and PerfectPower.  They, along with family and friends, contributed many wonderful toys for our holiday party! Thank you to Rick Smith for helping spread the word about our need for donations and to all the organizations that helped with gift donations for children in our foster homes: Toolbox.com, Highland Park Elementary, Bikram Yoga Institute and Starbucks.

Thank you to Hickman’s Eggs generously donating all the eggs to feed our families and to Corona Ranch for helping us host with their beautiful location.

The Yuma County community collected more than 700 gifts for this holiday season.   We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors: Cornerstone Preschool,Desert Mesa Elementary School, Dr. Podolski’s Office, Heritage Festivals, Kohl’s, National Bank, Professor Behunin-AWC Sociology Class, Quechan Indian Tribe, Renee & John Dinwiddie, San Luis High School, Sentinels Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Southwestern Eye Center, Stephanie Watson & Friends, Tierra Fertil Church, Toys for Tots, US Customs Department-San Luis Port of Entry, Verizon Wireless, Women’s Health Specialists, Yuma Community Foundation, Yuma County Adult Probation Office and the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office.

The staff at Arizona’s Children Association also hosted a Holiday Party for the children and foster families at Tierra del Sol School Cafeteria where everyone enjoyed great food and sweet treats.  The children had the opportunity to give their wish list to Santa and take a picture with him.  There were games, crafts and karaoke! The KARE Center families were sponsored by the US Customs Department who hosted a beautiful Holiday Celebration providing all the food and gifts for the children as well.