Stories of Your Support | Spring 2026
Support That Lasts a Lifetime
Michaela, Joaquin, and their four children
That’s what you provide for families like Michaela’s!
Michaela was just a toddler when she and her brother first connected with Casa de los Niños. They needed a safe and loving home to grow up in, and our foster and adoption services workers helped them find the perfect one.
“I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but looking back, Casa de los Niños was a place of comfort,” says Michaela. “They helped guide me toward safety, stability, and ultimately a permanent home through adoption.”
Eileen and Mimi began fostering Michaela and her brother around Christmas time. Michaela remembers the smell of the Christmas tree and the wonder of wrapped presents. Most of all, she remembers feeling safe. Eileen would go on to adopt Michaela and her brother, providing them with the understanding and unconditional love every child deserves.
“We stuck together through everything,” shares Michaela.
Thanks to donors like you and hundreds of volunteers over the years, Casa de los Niños stuck with Michaela’s family too.
When Michaela had kids of her own, she turned to us for the support she needed to give her children a strong start.
“I reconnected with Casa de los Niños when I was searching for childcare for my oldest child,” explains Michaela. “A family member recommended the Kelly Early Education Center. I immediately loved the program and the support they offered. All four of my children have attended.”
She’s also participated in parenting classes and other programs here, and says they have helped her become more aware, more confident, and better able to understand her children’s needs.
“What stands out to me is that everyone works together with the same goal: to help families. You can truly feel that sense of community and support throughout the organization,” adds Michaela.
Thank you for your past donations, which have provided such meaningful support in Pima County. You’ve made a real difference for families like Michaela’s.
You’re
Invited to GratiTour 2026!
You’ve opened your hearts to Casa de los Niños… now we’re opening our doors for you!
Please join us for this special evening of gratitude and celebration, where you’ll tour our facilities, meet some of our staff, share some light refreshments, and learn more about the incredible programs that you help make possible.
Thursday May 7 | 5:30 – 8:00pm Davis Family Center, Casa de los Niños, 1120 N. 5th Avenue, Tucson
Cost: optional/pay what you can
Please RSVP by Monday May 4
By email: give@casadelosninos.org
By phone: Monica at (520) 870-2760
Breaking Cycles and Building Skills
Thank you for helping families like Patricia’s get stronger
When Patricia’s three kids share how they’re feeling, she is so proud of how far they’ve come. Through programs supported by you, their family has built essential life skills, such as emotional regulation and self-expression. They’re breaking the cycle of a stressful home life and finding healthy ways to feel secure and free.
Growing up, Patricia didn’t experience the safety of a stable home and family. She was determined to change that when she had a family of her own. But when Patricia’s kids started to display behavioral problems, she realized that she was repeating the patterns she’d grown up with. She and her husband were fighting, and it was taking a toll on their kids.
“It felt like they were losing themselves, and like I was losing my family, like everything was falling apart,” Patricia says. She turned to Casa de los Niños, hoping to get her kids out of the house to play. She was amazed to find so much more.
Therapy is helping Patricia manage her stress, and helping her kids learn to advocate for themselves. It’s also bringing more laughter back into their home.
“Casa de los Niños was the perfect place at the perfect time,” says Patricia. “Now we’re more communicative than ever as a family. These programs have brought us closer. And I know if we ever need extra support, it’s there.”
When you support Casa de los Niños, you’re helping families like Patricia’s get the therapeutic programs they need. Please donate today so even more families can build skills and safety together.
Meet Lina, the Kindness Dog
I’m so happy to meet you! Woof!
Hello, friend!
I’m Lina. Technically, I’m a therapy dog, but I like to think of myself as a kindness dog. You see, I have a very important job when I visit Casa de Los Niños with my best friend, Loren. I go there to bring children joy, even when they’re having a hard time.
Because you’re a supporter of Casa de los Niños, I know you care about making kids happy, too. You help them and their families get support through therapeutic programs, counselling, and school.
But sometimes kids feel uneasy while waiting for appointments or attending class. That’s where I come in. I visit the waiting rooms and classrooms throughout Casa de los Niños with Loren.
I always wear a fun outfit when I go to meet the children, and I just love showing off my finest tricks. I can jump through Loren’s arms, lie down, and shake a paw. And Loren does tricks too! Can you believe he sits when I tell him to? The children laugh and laugh when we pull that one out of our hat.
Loren and I have a lot of fun with the kids and families at Casa de los Niños. The best part is seeing them
smile and watching a sense of calm fall over them as they pet my soft fur.
I know how hard it can be to smile and feel at ease when you need help. When I was young, I needed help too. I lived in many different foster homes before Loren and his wife, Ellen, adopted me. I was scared and reactive when they first brought me in. But with time and training, I learned to be trusting. Now, I get to help kids feel more trusting too.
Thank you for modelling kindness and spreading happiness alongside me. I’m glad that together, we can give kids more reasons to feel cared for—and more reasons to smile!
Love, Lina
Share Your Story!
Why Does Casa de los Niños Matter to You?
Are you a long-time donor or volunteer? Or have you recently joined our caring Casa de los Niños community? Either way, we’d love to hear YOUR Casa de los Niños story. Your story can help us inspire others in their generosity — while celebrating the tremendous work you make possible. Use the enclosed reply form, or email us at give@casadelosninos.org. We’re always happy to hear from you!
The Benefits of Giving
Some charitable tax rules have changed
Many donors who do not itemize donations will be able to take advantage of a new charitable tax deduction of up to $1,000 per year for single filers and $2,000 for joint filers in 2026. Those in the very highest income bracket may see a slightly smaller tax benefit than in previous years. We encourage you to discuss your personal situation with your tax or financial advisor.
Are you taking advantage of the Arizona Tax Credits?
Casa de los Niños is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and a Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) under the Arizona Tax Credit program. This means that your donation to Casa de los Niños will reduce your tax bill directly, unlike standard federal charitable tax deductions.
In the 2025 tax year, the maximum tax credit amount is $495 for single, head of household, or married filing separate, and $987 for married/filing joint taxpayers. For the current 2026 tax year, those amounts increase to $506 for single/filing separate and $1,009 for married/filing joint taxpayers.
Expecting a tax refund this year? Consider donating it to Casa de los Niños. Not only will you be making a difference in the lives of children and families in our community, but you’ll also maximize your possible tax benefits. Remember that any donations made by April 15, 2026 can be included in your 2025 Arizona income tax return, instead of waiting until 2026.
Interested in exploring the tax benefits of giving? There are many ways to set up annual and planned gifts so that you can benefit from tax savings while also supporting Casa de los Niños. Because everyone’s situation is unique, we encourage you to speak with a financial or tax advisor for guidance. You can also learn more on our website at casadelosninos.org/legacy, or plan to join us at our upcoming Estate Planning Seminar on April 23.
Save The Date: Estate Planning Seminar
Plan for the Future. Protect What Matters Most
Join us for a free Estate Planning seminar with industry expert Christina Noz, Esq., of Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall LLC on April 23. Christina will share best practices for estate planning and why having a will is one of the most important gifts you can give to the people—and the causes—you love.
Whether you are just beginning to think about your legacy, or ready to revisit an existing plan, this is an opportunity for you to learn more in a warm, no-obligation setting. We hope to see you there!
Thursday April 23 | 10:00 – 11:30am Maxwell Conference Room, Casa de los Niños 1120 N. 5th Avenue, Tucson
To register, please email giftplanning@casadelosninos.org, or call (520) 624-5600, ext. 10223.
If you have questions about your past donations, or would like to learn about other ways to support Casa de los Niños, we would love to hear from you! Contact us by phone at (520) 870-2760 or by email at give@casadelosninos.org.
How to Give:
Send back your personalized reply form in the enclosed envelope Give online at casadelosninos.org/spring Scan this QR code with your phone
1120 N. 5th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 | casadelosninos.org