JANUARY 2018 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 1
Thoughts on the New Year
Charity Spotlight: New Pathways for Youth
Office Doors: Courtney Bennett from Tito’s Handmade Vodka
TAKE ME TO
MARICOPA MARICOPA INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM AND MARICOPA HEALTH FOUNDATION WORK TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH Nita Francis, Board Chair of Maricopa Health Foundation JANUARY Nate Lowrie, President2018 & CEO of Maricopa Health Foundation
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CANCER SURVIVORS' STORIES ISSUE
SEPTEMBER 2017 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9
FULL SPEED AHEAD
Publisher Andrea Tyler Evans Talks About Odds
Office Doors: Collin Cunningham
Charity Spotlight: Foundation for Blind Children
Cancer Is The Worst. But It Brings Out Our Best.
Generations Generosity OF
Sharon and Dr. Oliver Harper Carry the Giving Torch
HOW LUCI'S HEALTHY MARKETPLACE OWNER FACED DOWN FEAR AND CANCER
'You Will Find That Strength'
Bryan Sperber, president of Phoenix Raceway SEPTEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 11
OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 10
FRONTDOORSMEDIA.COM | 1
OCTOBER 2017
FRONTDOORSMEDIA.COM | 1
NOVEMBER 2017
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DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 12
Driven to Give CAROLYN JACKSON’S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNIT Y GOES FAR BE YOND THE AUCTION BLOCK
2017 FRONTDOORSMEDIA.COM |1 10 DECEMBER Questions with Vet Tix / Remembering Mike Saucier / An Inside Look at UMOM
PUBLISHER Andrea Tyler Evans CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cheyenne Brumlow CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Tom Evans CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jamie Killin CONTRIBUTING WRITER Judy Pearson SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER Tyler Butler BEAUTY PARTNER - MAKE-UP The Sparkle Bar BEAUTY PARTNER - HAIR STYLING Julia Mendez
On the Cover
PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER Thurlkill Studios
PHOTOGRAPHY Thurlkill Studios
GENERAL INFORMATION & PRESS RELEASES info@frontdoorsmedia.com 3104 E. Camelback Road #967 | Phoenix, AZ 85016 480-622-4522 |
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Frontdoors Magazine is dedicated to the memory of Mike Saucier.
JANUARY 2018
Give your children the gift of giving THE CHILDREN OF TODAY ARE THE PHILANTHROPISTS OF THE FUTURE. WE MAKE SURE THEY ’RE READY FOR THE CHALLENGE. We’re Generation Next, and we recognize that philanthropy is an integral part of the fabric of our society. That’s why we work with you to make sure your children — the next generation of philanthropists — understand the power of giving and find the causes they will support passionately. Find out how we can help your most precious legacy leave a legacy of their own.
MOLLIE C. TRIVERS
generationnextaz.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS {january 2018, volume 16, issue 1}
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MARICOPA HEALTH FOUNDATION
NEXT DOORS............................. 06 The New Year is Here (Thank Goodness). Here’s What to Expect for 2018... COVER STORY........................... 08 Take Me to Maricopa 10 QUESTIONS WITH.................18 Brian Steele KITCHEN DOORS....................... 22 Where We Ate This Month OFFICE DOORS.......................... 24 Courtney Bennett from Tito’s Handmade Vodka GIVING IN STYLE....................... 26 Fashion in the Philanthropy Lane HEAR HERE................................ 30 News, Updates & Events CHARITY SPOTLIGHT................ 32 New Pathways for Youth BOOKMARKED........................... 36 Who’s Reading What this Month A 2ND ACT. . ............................... 38 with Judy Pearson OPEN DOORS.. ........................... 40 A New Year, New Horizons, New Hopes and Dreams
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PATRICIA FIELD JANUARY 2018
NEXT DOORS {ahead of the curve}
THE NEW YEAR IS HERE (THANK GOODNESS). HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2018... Tom Evans | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Well, 2017 is over, and all I can say is “Thank Goodness.” That thing was a bear. It was up there in difficulty, drama and potential style points for success with…2016? As you are reading this I am probably taking a nap to try to recover. Also, #%$& cancer. But now here we are, in 2018, ready to approach the new year with a clean slate, clear eyes and an open heart. And the good news is, there are already some bright spots on the horizon that promise to make 2018 a great year for our community. Here are just a few things to watch for in the Valley in the new year. A Home for Helios Construction work is underway on the expansive new Helios Education Foundation campus just south of Camelback on 32nd Street. This 65,000 square foot building is being designed to serve as a hub for education nonprofits and other community activities, and is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. It promises to provide a huge boost to the work of the nonprofit sector in helping our children succeed.
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Phoenix Rising…to MLS? Over the course of the past year the highprofile owners of Phoenix Rising FC (that’s Football Club, for those of you who think a football is exclusively a brown, oblong object) have made a very, very serious bid to bring the Valley its fifth major professional sports team. They’re under consideration by Major League Soccer to join the top-tier league in the country by 2020, although the timeframe on selection is a bit fuzzy. Will they pull it off? Stay tuned. New Mayor One thing we do know — Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is moving on to run for Congress, so we’re going to have a bit of scrum to fill the office in the fall. The field is fairly open, creating what promises to be one of the more entertaining races in the 2018 cycle. The ripple effects won’t be insignificant. Leaders Being Recognized Valley Leadership’s Man & Woman of the Year, Sharon Harper and Neil Giuliano, are the best of the best when it comes to leadership, philanthropy and positive contributions to the community. Their impact
JANUARY 2018
NEXT DOORS CONTINUED
will be celebrated at the organization’s annual luncheon on March 8. New Eats The Valley’s burgeoning restaurant scene continues to expand. Just within driver/7iron of our palatial Frontdoors Media world headquarters in Arcadia, we’ve seen The Porch and a new Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers open up to the south, a whole gaggle of spaces under construction at 32nd and Campbell, and the new Gadzooks nearing completion at 40th and Camelback. Will the boom continue? Will some of the new concepts throughout the Valley go bust? Getting the answers will be more than half the fun, at least for foodies. Spring Giving Some of the most prominent events of the philanthropic calendar are coming up in short order and are coming off highly successful years. The spring event season is a blur in the most average of years, but with a sound economy and some major momentum for organizations and events such as Celebrity Fight Night, PANDA, and more, it could be a big year for Valley charities.
the entire month of March between Spring Training and events — to break just about every record you can think of this year, which might just happen regardless of the weather conditions. Knock Knock Knockin’ on Frontdoors Finally, this month will mark the oneyear anniversary of my wife Andrea and I purchasing Frontdoors from our friend Julia Patrick, and the March 1 issue will mark the one-year anniversary of our first issue. We’re grateful to all of you in the community who have taken the time to view our work and support us over the past year, in good times and in bad. And we’ve got some exciting things in store for 2018 — stay tuned for some big announcements in the coming weeks and months. One thing we can safely say — 2018 isn’t going to be dull. My wish for all of us is that it’s…fantastic. Maybe a bit more chill than the past couple of years, but a happy and prosperous new year at the very least.
Adult Spring Break Will the incredibly warm winter weather we’ve seen so far this year continue? If it does, look for Adult Spring Break — my term for the week of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and basically
JANUARY 2018
Tom Evans CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
@tevans927
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Photo: Thurlkill Studios
COVER STORY {by karen werner}
TAKE ME TO
MARICOPA MARICOPA INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM AND MARICOPA HEALTH FOUNDATION WORK TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH
regnant refugee, new to p this country.
father and child in an A accident on the I-10.
family searching for A information about a new diagnosis.
Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) helps people in situations like these. A community resource that provides medical services to all, MIHS trains future healthcare providers, performs cutting-edge research and provides a safety net for the otherwise underserved. For more than 140 years, its mission has been to serve the community and its most critical needs. “The newest refugees, the unemployed, the poor — they find out about us when they’re sick,” said Nita Francis, RN, MBA and newly elected board chair of Maricopa Health Foundation (MHF), the nonprofit that supports MIHS.
JANUARY 2018
Many longtime Valley residents refer to MIHS as “County” hospital, and over time a bit of a stigma became attached to the facility. However, those familiar with the care provided there, such as first responders, have always known how special MIHS is. Today, with expansion and growth, the old “County” has become something much more substantial. It’s all part of MIHS coming full circle, and why the foundation is energized and mobilizing for its future. “When the main campus was built, everybody was quite proud that the facility was there to take care of the community,” Francis said. In fact, the facility is so respected by first responders that police officers and firefighters familiar with the work happening there would sew “Take me to Maricopa” in their vests in case they were injured on the job. The Valley’s only public health-care system, MIHS includes Maricopa Medical
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COVER STORY CONTINUED
Center, home to the highly respected Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma department as well as the top-ranked Arizona Burn Center. It also operates 13 family health centers around the Valley and a host of community outreach programs, centers and services. One such program is the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic started by Dr. Crista JohnsonAgbakwu. Born out of the influx of refugees in the Phoenix area with unique cultural and medical needs, the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic is the first of its kind in the country. Since 2008, more than 5,000 patients have come from 49 countries, speaking more than 41 different languages. Despite many never having been to a doctor before, Dr. Johnson-Agbakwu has bridged cultural gaps to establish trust with refugee communities. Another valuable resource is the Family Learning Center, a small but bustling space on the main MIHS campus that houses a medical library, computers for Web surfing, and a bilingual staff with child-development expertise. It was the brainchild of physicians who knew how to treat family medical needs but recognized that there were unmet social needs also affecting the community’s health. Today, doctors can write a prescription to visit one of the four Family Learning Centers around the Valley to take free childbirth, breastfeeding or nutrition classes, get vaccines, have a meal or even take a Zumbini class (aka Zumba for babies). “All of the learning centers are open to the public. You don’t have to be a patient,” said MHF director of development Kate Fassett. “The focus is on how we can make the community better and provide more resources to create a sense of community.” Nita Francis and her husband Phil, the former CEO of PetSmart, helped fund
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the Family Learning Center. A retired women’s health nurse manager and childbirth educator, Nita knows firsthand the difference support like this can make. “Nobody is prepared for a sick child’s illness. Suddenly you need all this information,” she said. “The truth is community health is public health. We’re only as good as the sickest or least caredfor child or family in this community.” That’s why Francis has such big plans for her role as MHF board chair. “I want to increase our funds, grow the board, increase our impact and certainly let the world of Phoenix and Maricopa County know how good we are,” she said. Since its founding in 1995, MHF has impacted thousands of MIHS patients each year by supporting medical education, research programs and capital improvement projects, and by performing health-related community outreach. Through fundraising, charitable gifts and grants, MHF secures funds that go right back into the community. One person who intimately understands how MIHS serves patients in a time of need is Maricopa Health Foundation CEO Nate Lowrie. A native Phoenician, Lowrie grew up with a misconception of what MIHS is. “I thought it was part of the jail,” he said. “I really had no concept of what a safety-net hospital meant to a growing megacity until I had to rely on it.” When Lowrie was 19, waiting tables and working construction to put himself through school, he was in an accident. “I don’t know what hit me. I just woke up in another room with a paramedic asking me what year it was,” he said. The injury crushed his orbital floor. “My whole eye socket is now a titanium plate,” he said.
JANUARY 2018
COVER STORY CONTINUED
Nita Francis in the Family Learning Center
Photo: MIHS
COVER STORY CONTINUED
Because of the care he received at MIHS, Lowrie was able to finish ASU and become an owner and investor in small Arizona businesses such as Zoe’s Kitchen in Phoenix and the Bicycle Haus in Scottsdale. With his success, he started giving back to the community and gaining a sense of what it takes to support a city. “This is the greatest investment vehicle I have an opportunity to be a part of to affect my hometown and the people who live here,” he said. As a teaching hospital, MIHS puts heavy emphasis on research, which means patients have access to medicine’s latest treatments. “That’s the kind of future I like to dream about — one where we’re all more capable and working together to better our community,” Lowrie said. That dream is about to take a big step forward with a rebuilding program that will help MIHS maintain its historic role as Maricopa County’s premier public teaching hospital and safety-net health system. In 2014, Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 480 to develop, improve and expand MIHS facilities for outpatient and behavioral health care throughout Maricopa County, and to expand its teaching hospital. Shovels will hit the ground this year to build a new $70 million multi-specialty health center in Peoria. With new facilities and new board members, it’s an exciting time for the foundation. “The public has supported this and generously allowed this money to be spent for facilities,” said Francis. “But unbelievably that money will not cover all the building, and it’s not to be used for staffing, programming and delivery of care. So the need will be bigger than ever.” As a result, MHF plans to ratchet up its
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operations in order to support what it sees as a community jewel. And from a business perspective, Lowrie said being known as a city that takes care of its people will make the Valley more competitive when it tries to attract top companies and highquality talent. “This activity that we’re a part of redefines what, culturally, this town is known for. If we back that up with the community knowing MIHS as the medical field knows us, it becomes a point of pride.” Although many in the Valley aren’t aware of the exceptional care MIHS offers, it is common knowledge in the medical community. “When we meet doctors out in the world and we mention where we work, you should see them light up,” Lowrie said. Doctors from across the country and in some of the most prestigious local practices trained at MIHS. In fact, MIHS is Arizona’s only public teaching hospital, training more than 400 physicians each year. “It’s a badge of honor,” said Fasset. “For 14 residency spots in emergency medicine last year there were more than 1,500 applications from across the country.” Although MIHS has $935 million for capital needs thanks to Proposition 480, that money won’t go toward funding patient programs such as the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic or Family Learning Center. That’s where fundraising comes in. “We have a lot of education to do in the community to let people know about the amazing things going on here,” said Francis. “Philanthropy has to step up. I’ve seen this community — Phoenix and across the state — and it has a good heart.” Individual gifts can make a huge impact. In the Cancer Center, for instance, where the cost of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can be extraordinary, donations
JANUARY 2018
COVER STORY CONTINUED
can mean that doctors can provide a service and save a life. “The needs are not just frosting,” Francis said. “Sometimes they are down to ‘This patient could live if we can get her $10,000 worth of care.’” As a result, MHF is also growing the Arizona Legacy Circle, its designated group of community leaders. “The impact is huge because we’re able to pool all of those donations so that when a call comes in that there’s a woman in the breast cancer clinic who needs radiation, we can act immediately and get the funds so she can get that treatment,” Francis said.
Although the prominence of MIHS has ebbed as the community has grown, the MHF board is confident the system will again be a point of pride in the future. “The better we can all take care of each other, the better it’s going to be for everyone,” Lowrie said.
Karen Werner is a writer, editor and media consultant. She has interned at The New Yorker, worked at Parents Magazine, edited five books and founded several local magazines. Her work has appeared in Sunset, Mental Floss and the Saturday Evening Post. JANUARY 2018
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Photo: MIHS
TAKE A TOUR
Maricopa Health Foundation 2901 East Camelback Road Phoenix AZ 85016
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The Maricopa Health Foundation invites Frontdoors readers to walk in the shoes of Maricopa Integrated Health System doctors, nurses and patients. “You get a feel for why they’re here and what makes this place special,” said Kate Fassett, Maricopa Health Foundation director of development. “It’s a joy to share this really unique story.” To schedule a tour, call Kate Fassett at 602-687-9031 or write her at kfassett@maricopahealthfoundation.org.
JANUARY 2018
STRENGTHENING
COMMUNITY HEALTH Money raised by the Maricopa Health Foundation supports the following Maricopa Integrated Health System facilities and programs: • MARICOPA MEDICAL CENTER • THE ARIZONA BURN CENTER • ARIZONA CHILDREN’S CENTER Photo: MIHS
• M IHS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS • THE MIHS BREAST CLINIC
MIHS Mission Statement
• MIHS CHAPLAINCY PROGRAMS • LABOR AND DELIVERY • A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER SERVING BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS • M ARIPOSA: WINGS TO SAFETY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLINIC • THE PHOENIX CANCER CENTER • THE REFUGEE WOMEN’S CLINIC • FAMILY LEARNING CENTERS • 1 3 FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY
JANUARY 2018
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Brenda & Kurt Warner’s
Celebrity
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
ROSS AVIATION
South Complex South Hangar 14700 N. Airport Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
$250 INDIVIDUAL TICKET
Includes admission for one person, complimentary valet, food and drink.
$1,000 EXCLUSIVE VIP TICKET Includes admission for one person, complimentary valet, food and drink. Also include access to exclusive pre-event reception with Kurt, Shane and other celebrities, commemorative sports memorabilia signed by Kurt and Shane, as well as other perks.
Visit treasurehouse.org/gamenight to purchase tickets and get in the game! Must be 21 or older to attend.
Join Hall of Fame Quarterback Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda for the most fun and unique fundraising events of the year! Kurt is honoring former Arizona Coyotes captain and hockey legend Shane Doan and will be joined by celebrities as well as current and former professional athletes at this premier event.
GAME TIME The event promises not to be the same stodgy old fundraiser — we’re breaking out all your game room favorites and giving you a chance to mingle, play and compete. The program will feature some of your favorite athletes competing in a “Win, Lose or Draw” contest to benefit the charity. We will then have a very special program in honor of Shane Doan, including a “fireside chat” about his life and career.
BENEFITING TREASURE HOUSE Kurt and Brenda are raising money for their most passionate cause — Treasure House, a supportive living environment where young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can participate in their community, achieve independence, and realize their purpose. It’s going to be a great evening benefiting a very worthy cause.
For more information, visit treasurehouse.org/gamenight.
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QUESTIONS WITH… Brian Steele
Executive Director, Phoenix Dream Center
1. Working with human trafficking survivors became a priority for the Phoenix Dream Center in 2009 — what lead to that decision? In late 2008 my wife Skye and I began to do work with law enforcement in Phoenix. Some of this work included ride-alongs with the Phoenix Police Department. We knew that we would see gangs and drugs and your usual inner city stuff going on but we had no idea that every weekend the police would be arresting girls who were only 12, 13 or 14 years old. At the time there was nowhere to place them so the safest option was juvenile corrections. We knew then we had to do something about helping with these young women.
2. How has the human trafficking problem in Arizona changed since the Phoenix Dream Center put a focus on it nearly a decade ago? One of the largest changes I can think of has been to our community’s awakening to the 18 |
issue as not just a teen runaway or prostitution problem. I feel our community has really rallied around the cause of it being a victim centered issue and most aspects of our community from law enforcement to social services have responded in a way that truly is geared toward helping these girls and seeing them first as victims who need help.
3. How has the Phoenix Dream Center worked to make a positive impact for human trafficking survivors? Our focus initially was purely to provide housing resources to get the girls off the street but we really were just learning about the issue and what the girls needed and we added services as we went along the way. The first hurdle we tackled was the immense amount of medical care that the girls need, then the behavioral healthcare needs needed to be met. A couple years into it and we realized that many of the teen girls were coming to us pregnant and needed that added layer of JANUARY 2018
crisis pregnancy care. Along the way, we also realized that many of the laws in our state are not geared in the favor of the girls and subsequently took roles on government task forces to try to change ARS statutes, which we've been very successful at doing.
4. What are the biggest challenges human trafficking survivors face? Many of the challenges are as unique as each of the girls' situations are, which varies broadly. Some of the common hurdles that all of the young women face are the medical and treatment needs that they have, the socialization challenges and behavioral health needs that they have, and then the need to gain a longterm vision for their lives in “normal” society. Some of the girls who don't get rescued as teenagers but still are trapped in it as young adults often pick up records for petty crimes and prostitution charges that they get caught up in. Trying to unravel all of these pieces of their history and their past that affect everything from their job applications to housing applications is a challenge for many of the girls that they look to us to help them overcome.
5. What makes someone susceptible to becoming a victim of human trafficking? It’s a myriad of various and sometimes nefariously wicked schemes that ultimately enslave these young women and young men into this lifestyle. The most predominant form of luring into a trafficking situation that we see locally here in Phoenix seems to be young JANUARY 2018
teen women that at some point begin to trust an older boyfriend or an older friend of a friend and then that trust becomes compromised and gets taken advantage of. While we see cases of extreme kidnap and force immediately, very often what we see here locally is more of a very subtle exploitation of trust first, which leads then to that young person at some point doing compromised things.
6. Human trafficking cases in Arizona appear to have decreased in 2017 after rising in previous years — what do you attribute this to? A lot of our government task forces and council work is done to try to better understand these dynamics. The Governor's Office of Youth Faith and Family, Arizona State University, the McCain Institute and many different social service agencies are all working to better understand for most how deep and broad the problem of trafficking in our community is and also how can we best be equipped to serve the needs of the survivors who are coming out of these situations. Some of the things we've identified that drive the fluctuations are greater focus on human trafficking which can drive the numbers high, but don't necessarily in indicate an increase in the problem.
7. Is there anything unique to Arizona regarding the human trafficking epidemic? I believe that Arizona is leading the way in our broad scale approach to fighting this issue. | 19
10 QUESTIONS WITH... CONTINUED
I'm very fortunate to be involved in numerous Dream Centers across the nation and have a sense of what other states are doing and I've never seen the same level of commitment at so many different tiers within a state as committed as we have here in Arizona. Not to say that we've solved everything, but I think we're geared up for the fight in more ways than many communities are.
8. Human trafficking is an issue that remains clandestine to the general public despite the severity of the issue — why do you think that is? This is a very hard topic to talk about. For those of us in the advocacy and awareness the thing is, the answer can't be that we just sit around and expect people to be bigger than themselves and their fears and get with the program. I think we have a role in trying to better package the issues and the answers to those issues so that people genuinely see themselves being a part of the solution rather than the problem being so big that there's nothing anybody can do about it. The fact is, there is something that everyone in our society can do to be involved in this. To the degree that we're able to help people find their place in the solution is the degree that will be successful helping this issue no longer be the thing we don't want to talk about.
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9. What can a member of the community do to help prevent human trafficking? Education and awareness that leads to prevention has to be the key. I encourage everyone I know to check out resources that are put out by the research giants of our community like Arizona State University and the McCain Institute which can be found at EndSexTrafficking.AZ.gov. Aside from a greater need to be educated on the issue, for those who have the heart to go deeper, every one of these young people need mentors, they need people to believe in them, they need jobs extended to them, and every one of the nonprofits that serves them needs financial support.
10. What is something most people probably don’t know about human trafficking? Some of the research for our state has indicated that there are between 10,000 and 50,000 online transactions of sexually based and usually exploitative activities occurring every day. Surveys by Arizona State University have concluded that at any given time there are a minimum of 1,200 people in our community that are actively receiving healing services from a life of being exploited sexually through human trafficking in our state.
JANUARY 2018
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BEHIND THE DOOR {the caniglia group}
FEATURED LISTINGS
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KITCHEN DOORS {where we ate this month}
MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUB Scottsdale The folks at Mastro’s don’t do things small, and perhaps one of the best examples of this is Mastro’s Ocean Club. The spacious Kierland establishment goes big in almost every way. Big room. Big bar. Big cocktails. Big portions. Not that any of this, of course, is a bad thing. The weekends often find Ocean Club overrun with the who’s who, but The Missus and I and another couple snuck in on a more subdued Sunday night, which perhaps better allowed us to focus on the food. The steaks are top-notch, and the sea bass Andrea ordered as the evening special didn’t disappoint. Ocean Club is great if you want to see and be seen, but also if you want some great steak and seafood.
— Tom Evans
Photo: Mastro's Ocean Club
D’LITE Arcadia Eating healthy is hard enough (hello New Year’s resolutions!) without the added inconvenience of not being able to find a healthy restaurant to enjoy on the go, but fortunately D’Lite has brought its good-for-you menu and drive through option to Arcadia to keep us all on track in 2018. And, the best part is that their options are delicious as well. Our favorites are the Breakfast Buzz for busy mornings, the Southwest Rice Bowl or the Humanitarian Wrap for quick lunches, and the Almond Butter & Jelly sandwich for kids. They also offer great drink options — from kombucha teas and iced coffee to juices.
— Jamie Killin Photo: D'Lite
SICILIAN BUTCHER Scottsdale The Sicilian Butcher is the latest concept developed by the operators of Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant, Tomaso’s When in Rome and Hash Kitchen and is the first restaurant of its kind in Phoenix. Described as a “modern-casual meatball and butchery-inspired concept,” the brand-new spot is offering up everything from panelle fries to charcuterie and bruschetta boards to their signature craft meatballs in a beautiful yet laid-back environment, complete with a welcoming patio that’s perfect for casual group meals. Their unique cocktails can’t be missed either — such as my favorite, the Milan Margarita, which features tequila, pineapple, rosemary agave, lime juice and campari.
— Jamie Killin 22 |
Photo: Sicilian Butcher
JANUARY 2018
KITCHEN DOORS CONTINUED
Photo: Pitch
Pitch South Scottsdale South Scottsdale has seen the development of a new office complex called The Quad, home of Pitch Pizzeria. The Omaha-based restaurant is serving up handmade pastas, house-cured meats, and the star of the show, coal-fired pizzas. But it would be a mistake to think this is just another pizza joint. Pitch caters to the work force and the weekend warriors alike with a coffee bar, breakfast and lunch on the weekdays, brunch on weekends, dinner served every night of the week and their killer happy hour. If you are looking for something that is as pretty as it delicious, make sure to try my favorite the Arugula — a fresh pile of arugula architecturally
wrapped up in house-cured prosciutto. Other menu highlights include everything from the classics like Margherita Pizza and Pitch Wings to the ever indulgent VIP Lobster Mac and Cheese and Coal Fired Duck. Their dining room features high ceilings, a large wrap around bar, and a great view of the coal-fired oven. When the weather is nice, it opens up to spacious patio — the perfect place to enjoy one of their signature cocktails or house-brewed beers – and yes, it’s dog friendly! With a lively atmosphere and delicious bites made from scratch, Pitch has quickly become one of my go-to neighborhood hangouts. — Catie Richman
OFFICE DOORS {leadership}
COURTNEY BENNETT Courtney Bennett wearing a custom Tito’s Handmade Vodka suit with a Kendra Scott necklace.
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO AREA MANAGER OF TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA Jamie Killin | CONTRIBUTING WRITER “If you’re going to do something, you do it right. You do it hard and you go long.” That’s the mantra Courtney Bennett lives her life by, and it’s the mantra that’s catapulted her career from a bartender to Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s Arizona and New Mexico area manager. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in business marketing and finding herself unfulfilled with a retail position at Neiman Marcus, a friend encouraged her to try bartending while deciding her next steps. One night while she was training a fellow bartender at Scottsdale bar, Cien Agaves 24 |
Tacos & Tequila, fate intervened and she discovered her career when she began upselling a group of customers a high-end tequila — Clase Azul. “I’m basically giving my sales pitch on it and they’re all kind of looking at me like I’m an alien, but in a good way and it was very surreal, so I’m going on and on and they’re like ‘We’ll take four, sure,’” she said. Turns out, she was pitching Clase Azul’s CEO and master distiller Arturo Lomeli himself, and the sales pitch impressed him so much, he hired her as a sales representative the next week. “I figured out what I wanted to be when I JANUARY 2018
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grew up that night,” she said. She became increasingly successful — selling different alcohols over the years, from Pinnacle Vodka to Karlsson’s Gold Vodka before being hired on by Tito’s Handmade Vodka in 2013. “I found my home, finally, and I love what I do,” Bennett said. “Before Tito’s Handmade Vodka the brands that I worked for, it was just sales.” “With Tito’s the bigger part of my job is yes, making the sales goals and managing the wholesaler and making sure we look good on the shelves and the pricing is there and the structures are in place but it’s also events and giving.” Giving has been a part of Bennett’s life for years — from being a part of National Charity League with her mother in Los Angeles to her time as a member of Alpha Phi sorority at the University of Arizona. Now, she is able to incorporate her spirit of giving into her career by donating time, resources, product and making monetary gives to nonprofits in the areas she oversees. Her passion for this kind of giving is clear — especially to Tito's joyologist Amy Lukken, who awarded her the inaugural Tito’s Spreading the Love Award. “This brand and this job are extremely fulfilling,” she said. “I have purpose and meaning because every day I wake up and I know the more Tito’s I sell the more Tito will enable me give to my community.” Her favorite causes include the Colleen’s Dream Foundation, which funds ovarian cancer research, and anything dog related — which pairs perfectly with Tito’s “Vodka for Dog People” program, which is committed to rescuing and protecting
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dogs in need. She also loves working with Kendra Scott, another Austin, TX based company whose focus on philanthropy parallels Tito's. For Bennett, who jokingly says that Tito's is her life, all these aspects blend together seamlessly — with her own two dogs, Larry Fitzgerald and Pumpkin, just as incorporated into the brand as she is by enjoying their own "Vodka for Dog People" dog toys. “I’ve always just been very driven and motivated and when I find something that I love it gets all my attention and my heart,” she said. It’s that motivation that’s caused her to continue to grow in the company, and to set her sights set on more territories, more employees to manage and more responsibility. “The way to move up in my world is very clear and defined, where in some industries it’s not really,” she said. “It’s the more territory you have the more business you have to manage the more sales goals and then more people.” Her most significant goal is to continue growing with the brand she’s come to love so much. “Tito knows I will retire working for him, 100 percent,” she said. And while she may have committed her work to Tito’s Handmade Vodka, she still enjoys a great tequila — the alcohol that brought her into the industry. “Agave is my first love,” Bennett said. “I drink Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Clase Azul or another good tequila and good wine and that’s it.”
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GIVING IN STYLE {fashion in the philanthropy lane}
PATRICIA FIELD IN THE CITY The Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), under the pioneering leadership of Dennita Sewell, struck gold at their 2017 luncheon by bringing famed stylist and designer Patricia Field to Phoenix. The celebrated stylist is best known for her work creating looks for television shows and movies such as “Sex in the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Ugly Betty.” The fiery red-haired fashion maven brought with her a sense of whimsy and laughter and regaled the audience with stories about her famed career. Right out of the gate Field had the audience laughing referencing a signature look of hers, a silk jumpsuit and sneakers. The punch line — on the day of her visit to ACI, she was actually wearing the exact same ensemble as she was in the photos taken for the promotional materials used to publicize the luncheon. This amusing introduction into Field’s fashion philosophy continued throughout her speech and within the way she has lived her own life. Field left 26 |
no topic untouched sharing both personal style advice and accounts of her storied style-shaping of Hollywood elite. A native New Yorker, Field grew up exposed to the eclectic scene of the fashion mecca. Field’s many years of retail experience was the launching pad for her illustrious career. She was first noticed for her exemplary window and mannequin styling. She learned through hands-on experience and leveraged her innate knack for making seemingly mismatched items work in synchronicity. Fashion was second nature to Field. Her interesting style led her to open her namesake store on Bowery in NYC’s Greenwich Village, where for 55 years she based her work. Through this endeavor, as well as through her many movie and television costume designs, Field has lived her life out loud, sharing her antiestablishment attitude and =promoting a flair for individuality through style. Field JANUARY 2018
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took her joy for design and continuously expressed herself through a unique twist with each project she undertook. Field’s store combated the globalization of fast fashion where everything is the same; people instead came to her store with a purpose. Her store became like a clubhouse where all types could find treasures that were uniquely their own. Everyone from Miley Cyrus to Sarah Jessica Parker shopped at the famous location. And just as her store fought against the mundane, so did her professional costume endeavors. The most captivating account of her ventures is the story behind the famed tool tutu worn by “Sex In The City” star Sarah Jessica Parker in the opening credits of the groundbreaking show. Patricia found the piece in a bargain bin for a mere $5. Knowing the actresses’ ballerina background and the edgy nature of the show, Field felt in her heart that this would be the perfect emblem for the opening credits. And while producer Darren Star disputed the idea of the tutu and t-shirt combo, Parker and Field joined forces to fight for the look that would ultimately set the tone for the show as one that was both crazy and cool. A lesser-known fact about Field, though, is her years of dedication to a few key causes. Field is an avid advocate for AIDSrelated causes who has given her time and energy to DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS), an AIDS-service organization that helps improve the lives of people living with HIV. And through the neighborhood where her store is located, she's grown her philanthropic work through the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Field has long considered this charity as a main part of the community where she has operated her retail business. This organization has helped impoverished girls create a plan for their futures. This mission and the charity’s location, combined with Field’s focus on
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women and independence, made for a perfect synergy for paying it forward. The organization has even honored Field at a star-studded event where Rosario Dawson and Chloë Sevigny joined to celebrate the uniquely iconic woman. Earlier this year, after five decades serving the decadent NYC crowd selling an extraordinary mix of glitter, rhinestones, neon and leather collections, she shuttered the physical store which had become a New York institution. Her online shop, however, continues to flourish and serve the quirky and progressive fashion lovers, now allowing anyone to easily reach an assemblage of the Patricia Field effect. This change has allowed the creative to have greater flexibility and to pursue new projects. Whether it’s her current role leading costume design for the show “Younger” or her participation in a collaborative documentary effort which is tentatively titled the “House of Field,” Field has no shortage of exciting projects to keep her clever nature flowing. The stylist shared some words of wisdom with the audience in an effort to promote continued innovation in personal style and to leave her mark on the Valley of the Sun. She told the audience to connect with who they truly are and to also express this without excuses. She pollinated her mantra of self-love and encouraged creativity as a vital component for mental health and for quality of life. She urged everyone to take time in their own closets and to combine things that they might never think to pair together. She left the audience with the notion to reimagine staple pieces, throw away and traditional rules about dressing and to let their creativity direct each day.
Tyler Butler
SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER
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GIVING IN STYLE EVENTS Tyler Butler | SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER
SECOND WEDNESDAY
GALINA MIHALEVA, VISITING PROFESSOR OF FASHION DESIGN, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Fashion and Textile Design: Innovative Approach for a Better Future Designers today are working directly with natural green materials to develop and modify new techniques to grow textiles and make apparel. From recycled polyester to textiles grown from Kombucha, sustainable applications and processes from alternative materials found in nature are being used for textile and fashion design. Mihaleva has shown her wearable technology designs at international competitions and established the sustainable textiles lab at Nanyaung Technological University in Singapore.
Wednesday, January 10 Luncheon - 11:30am Presentation - 12:30pm Phoenix Art Museum 1625 N. Central Ave Phoenix, Arizona 85004
CONNECTING WOMEN WHERE THEY WORK, LIVE OR PLAY Join us where you live, work or play to connect with like-minded women to share information, ideas, contacts and opportunities. Learn more at: eastvalleywomen.org | centralphoenixwomen.org | womenofscottsdale.org
Hair by Julia Mendez
Corrective Cutting • Event Styling • Color Specialist Personal Appointments Available
602-312-5245
HEAR HERE {news, updates and events} The best stories we saw this month about those who give generously and work for a better future.
ARIZONA CARDINALS DAVID JOHNSON’S INAUGURAL EVENT ‘MISSION 31: POSSIBLE’ RAISES NEARLY Arizona Cardinals running back, David Johnson’s first “Mission 31: Possible” was held at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley on December 4. David Johnson’s Mission 31 Foundation has a mission dedicated to providing opportunities, support and resources to seriously ill children and their families by offering daily support and life changing experiences. Johnson and about 20 of his Cardinals teammates including Chandler Jones, Kareem Martin and Elijhaa Penny showed up to meet and greet event attendees, sign footballs and pose for photos. More than 200 guests enjoyed a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception presented by Rose+Moser+Allyn PR as they mixed and
mingled during the silent auction, keeping a watchful eye on their favorite items. The silent auction featured signed Cardinals items, jewelry, resort stays and even signed music and Hollywood memorabilia. Once inside the ballroom, guests enjoyed an elegant three-course meal and wine and then a touching program that also included a spirited live auction. The evening’s emcee was Jody Oehler from Fox Sports 910 and auctioneer Brian Bauhmor, Pacific Coast Auctioneer was at the helm of the live auction excitement. During the evening, David and his wife Meghan Johnson announced a $15,000 donation to jumpstart programming for the foundation. READ MORE ONLINE
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SCOTTSDALE ARTS RECEIVES $410K FOR WEBSITE AND TECH RESTRUCTURE The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded Scottsdale Arts with a $410,000 grant to support a comprehensive website and technology restructure initiative — making it the largest grant ever provided by a foundation to Scottsdale Arts for a technology project. “We’re extremely grateful to Piper Trust for its generous support that will enable us to advance the technological future of Scottsdale Arts,” said Scottsdale Arts interim president and CEO Mike Miller. “This initiative will enhance comprehensively the entire Scottsdale Arts experience while supporting online revenue generation, customer service and ongoing brand identification.”
The project aims to improve customer service and engagement processes with a new website and upgraded technology with the ultimate goal of allowing Scottsdale Arts to more effectively connect with its patrons and improve communication online. The website will also provide more integration and continuity amongst Scottsdale Arts’ divisions — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Education & Outreach programs. Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich the health, wellbeing and opportunities of Maricopa County citizens.
READ MORE ONLINE
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GIVING BACK {charity spotlight}
NEW PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH Jamie Killin | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
THE STORY New Pathways for Youth was founded in 1989 as Greater Phoenix Youth at Risk to deliver mentor programming to transform the lives of youth in difficult circumstances.
risk and what they found instead was a new pathway. Our name changed with the input and involvement of our youth and we became New Pathways for Youth.”
In its first year, it provided mentoring services to 40 young people — and now it has grown to provide services to over 500 pre-teens and teens annually. Since it was founded, New Pathways for Youth has served more than 5,500 young people in the community.
The organization utilizes research and evidence-based curricula to make the largest possible impact on youth — empowering them to move past self-defeating thoughts, create new possibilities, and develop the life skills they need to reach their goals.
Just five years ago, the nonprofit changed its name to reflect the desires and beliefs of the youth it serves.
“We were founded understanding that we all have greater possibility within ourselves than we often realize and sometimes it takes someone else seeing that possibility and helping us develop that understanding, that awareness and then develop the skills to live into that and identifying a well-trained volunteer mentor to do that is key,” she said.
“New Pathways has been a part of the Phoenix community for almost 30 years,” said president and CEO Christy McClendon. “Our youth identified that they didn’t want to be known as youth at
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New Pathways for Youth mentor and mentee
THE CAUSE New Pathways for Youth utilizes mentoring to empower youth and ultimately aid in ending the cycle of poverty. “We recognize a couple of forms of data,” McClendon said. “One is the data that talks about the way that we break the cycle of poverty is through education and employment. We all know that, we read about it, we hear about it, but when we really dive deep into what it takes to break the cycle of poverty there’s a third element — and it’s relationships.” McClendon said these relationships are what allow children in poverty to build a network that exposes them to new possibilities and resources as well as helping them to develop critical skills like shaking hands, making eye contact and communicating effectively.
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The population New Pathways for Youth serves are teens and pre-teens coming from at-risk scenarios — who are facing extreme poverty, difficult home situations and are struggling in school. “Our belief system here at New Pathways is that there are no bad kids,” she said. “There are kids having to make very difficult choices. How we intervene and support and interrupt that process so that they take responsibility for those actions and start to see other possibilities and ways to accomplish their goals that are more meaningful, rewarding and positive in their own way.” According to McClendon, the risks facing these youths are extreme and include problematic decision making and crisis decision making that can lead to health issues, low livable wages and ultimately a
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New Pathways for Youth fundraising breakfast
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lower life expectancy than youth without adverse childhood experiences. “The research also indicates that one of the most powerful ways to reverse the effects of that trauma is a stable, consistent relationship with a caring adult, so we’re becoming extremely clear in our mission that it’s not a nicety the work that we do for kids to have mentors it’s an absolute necessity based on the circumstances that they are coming from,” she said. New Pathways for Youth’s programming has led to some incredible success stories — like the story of a young man who entered the program as a freshman with a 1.2 GPA. After participating in the program he went on to become the first person in his family to graduate from high school — graduating with a 4.2 GPA a semester early with a full-ride scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
cost-effective interventions in the lives of youth,” said McClendon.
THE EVENT Each year, New Pathways for Youth holds an annual breakfast to raise funds for its programming. This year’s event will take place on February 27. Last year’s breakfast hosted more than 450 community members and reached a goal of raising $300,000, which will allow the organization to serve more than 100 youth with its programming. New Pathways also hosts the Dave Trout Golf Tournament each year in memory of Dave Trout and his philanthropic spirit. This year’s tournament will take place on March 23.
“Mentoring works and the research shows over and over it’s one of the most effective, 34 |
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BOOKMARKED {what are you reading} Where Frontdoors Media asks high-profile Valley visitors and residents what books they have been reading.
Tracy McCormick Founder of Lightfinder Public Relations
IS READING “My Olympic Life: A Memoir” BY ANITA DEFRANTZ AND JOSH YOUNG H E R TA K E In this riveting book, Anita De Frantz shares stories of how she used leadership and influence in Olympic circles to fight sexual harassment and racism, growing women’s Olympic sports, influence new eligibility requirements, change outdated gender verification rules
and more. She even delves into hotbutton Olympic issues like doping and political scandals. Much more than a celebration of civil rights and Olympic victories, it reveals how one motivated, courageous, and passionate person can help change the world. I loved it!
Tanya Wheeless Founder + CEO of Happy Grace
IS READING “Judgement Detox: Release the Beliefs That Hold You Back from Living A Better Life” BY GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN H E R TA K E It's a great book for anyone who finds themselves judging others for say, political views, social media posts or life choices. The book will help you
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shift your thoughts and raise your energy. I just started, but it's already hitting home.
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BOOKMARKED {what are you reading}
Clayton Klapper Real-Time Editor for ABC15 (web editor)
IS READING “The How Not to Die Cookbook: 100+ Recipes to Help Prevent and Reverse Disease” BY MICHAEL GREGER, M.D., FACLM WITH GENE STONE H I S TA K E In 2017 I took up a passion for cooking at home, instead of eating out as much as I have in the past. My goal for 2018 is to focus on making those meals healthier, and ‘How Not to Die’ encompasses exactly why. The plant-
based recipes in this book are quick and easy, and just about anyone can pick them up and learn how to make healthy dishes.
Michael J. Fox Director & CEO of Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
IS READING Promise Me, Dad
BY JOE BIDEN
SYNOPSIS In November 2014, thirteen members of the Biden family gathered on Nantucket for Thanksgiving, a tradition they had been celebrating for the past forty years; it was the one constant in what had become a hectic, scrutinized, and overscheduled life. The Thanksgiving holiday was a much-needed respite, a time to connect, a time to reflect on what the year had brought, and what the future
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might hold. But this year felt different from all those that had come before. Joe and Jill Biden's eldest son, Beau, had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor fifteen months earlier, and his survival was uncertain. "Promise me, Dad," Beau had told his father. "Give me your word that no matter what happens, you’re going to be all right." Joe Biden gave him his word.
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A 2ND ACT {stories of perseverance}
Face in the Mirror Judy Pearson | CONTRIBUTING WRITER It’s said that Southern women never leave home without their makeup bags. Barbara MacLean was no exception. And that was a good thing on the day her sister, Charlotte, fighting metastatic breast cancer, asked Barbara to put some lipstick on her. Barbara asked why. “Because,” Charlotte said, “no one cares what you look like when you’re sick.” Barbara pulled out her makeup bag and announced, “Let’s play.” Within the space of 30 minutes, blush and eyebrows had been added to Charlotte’s pale face. Barbara fluffed her wig and gave her a hand massage. When they looked in the mirror together, Charlotte made Barbara promise she would do the same for others in the hospital. Now, 16 years later, Face in the Mirror, the organization Charlotte inspired, has given the same tender and loving treatment to more than 45,000 Arizona faces. “Hands-on personal care gave my sister energy and hope,” Barbara says. “When Charlotte died, three months after my promise, I called my interior design studio, and told them I was closing up shop. My 38 |
new mission was more important than money. And I’ve never looked back.” When she started, Barbara’s dream needed products. She was able to procure $90,000 worth of supplies from personal care company Arbonne. “Rita Davenport was president then,” Barbara remembers. “I took her with us to visit a patient at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Amazingly, it was a woman Rita had gone to high school with. That woman’s joy from of our services was overwhelming. And it really lit a fire under Rita. “Next thing I knew, I had another $180,000 in product, with a promise to supply us every year afterward. And Rita has kept her promise. After Arbonne closed, she brought Shaklee on board.” It’s a scenario we don’t often think about. Patients may receive cutting edge medical care in the hospital, but the staff simply doesn’t have the time to do more than the basic personal hygiene. Face in the Mirror goes those extra steps. Volunteers moisturizes faces, gives women the sprucing up as Barbara did for Charlotte. And men aren’t forgotten either. They, too, receive shaves, hair combing, and hand and foot massages. JANUARY 2018
A 2ND ACT CONTINUED
Before a Face in the Mirror visit, a patient at St. Joseph had refused to let the hospital staff turn on any lights in her room. She kept the blinds drawn tightly shut. Her illness, she said, had made her hideous. When Barbara and her volunteers arrived, they were warned of the woman’s feelings. “We’ll just put a little moisturizer on your face,” Barbara told her. “And then a little lipstick.” Next came the ooh’s and ahh’s of the volunteers, making the woman curious. A little light came on so she could see herself in the mirror. She became more enthusiastic. Some blush, a fluffy wig, and a little more light were added. “Oh my goodness!” the woman exclaimed. JANUARY 2018
“Turn on lights, open the shades! Let me see!” Followed by, “Please take me down to the coffee shop. I look pretty!” Even children have experienced the gentle touch from Face in the Mirror. Those who are of make up wearing age get the full treatment. The others are treated to their famous hair styling, braiding and hand and foot massages. But as a mother, Barbara’s heart broke when, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, she watched mothers sleeping at their children’s bedside. “Those women needed pampering, too,” she announced. And the organization expanded a little more.
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A 2ND ACT CONTINUED
Hospital, these events allow service recipients to mix and mingle, volunteers to reconnect with those they’ve met, and everyone to celebrate the driven dynamo founder. When asked where she sees Face in the Mirror in the future, Barbara answers without hesitation. “This organization has always been guided by God. The good times are easy to accept. But even the difficult ones arrive with lessons we need to learn to grow. A terrific honor came in 2006 when Barbara was the recipient of a Volunteer Service Award. It was presented by President George W. Bush on Air Force One. Politics aside, recognition of that magnitude is a once in a lifetime event. And of course, surviving any health challenge deserves a little celebration. Face in the Mirror does that in style with their famous teas. Held at St. Joseph’s
“I’d like to see Face in the Mirror guided by someone younger” – she laughs here – “and with as much energy as I had 16 years ago. And I would hope to remain on the board for as long as I’m able.” It would be difficult to imagine Barbara MacLean anywhere else.
Judy Pearson is a journalist, published author, and the founder of A2ndAct.org. Her organization supports and celebrates women survivors of all cancers as they give back to the greater good in their 2nd Acts. Her passion is finding those who have have healed themselves by helping others. 40 |
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OPEN DOORS {publisher’s page}
A new year,
NEW HORIZONS,
NEW HOPES
AND DREAMS As I reflect on 2017, I am thankful for the incredible opportunities and stories that becoming the publisher of Frontdoors Magazine has brought to myself, my colleagues and my family. But globally it was a year of tumultuous stories – national disasters, #metoo and political discourse — and personally I have been saddened by the loss of two friends. One left me the mantra to “leave things better that you find them” and the other told me “everything will be OK” as he withered away from cancer.
needed to make sure every child at a Title I school in Maricopa County has breakfast at their desk before starting a day of learning. A little girl with a lemonade stand raising funds for cancer research in honor of her grandmother. When I read, see and experience these stories, I do my best to be present, absorb this good and remind myself that these stories are the ones that can help show others that there is a way to surround yourself with positive news, and ways you can be involved right in your own backyard.
Despite all of this, I can’t help but look at the good and hope that fills my inbox each and every day. Teenagers coming together to donate sports equipment for their peers in Houston. Bid paddles being raised across a ballroom to fund the tools
In 2018, you can expect the Frontdoors team to continue to share stories about giving and generosity and the positive impact they make across all of our platforms – the magazine, The Knock newsletter, FrontdoorsTV with Carey Pena,
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social media and our new special edition publications. Yes, this is a business, but it is also our honor. I hope you will be a part of these stories and help us share your favorite way to read Frontdoors with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. This year has also led me to a better understanding of the massive amount of help that St. Vincent de Paul provides to the homeless and working poor in our community. At their recent community breakfast and fundraiser that raised more than $1 million for their programs and services, I had the opportunity to meet Bishop Thomas Olmsted. When we spoke about the good being done that morning, I was struck with an idea and asked him if he would be interested in sharing a new year’s message for Frontdoors readers. He agreed — and so I close my 2017, my first year as a publisher, with these words of kindness and hope from a community leader. Whether you consider yourself religious or not, I hope everyone can find some inspiration in these words:
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“None of us are here by accident. God made each one and brought us here for a purpose. As we look with hope to the year ahead, I invite you to entrust yourself to the love and mercy of Jesus who works all things for our good. With prayers for a happy and blessed New Year.” -T homas J. Olmsted, Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix
Andrea Andrea Tyler Evans PUBLISHER
@AndreaTEvans | 43
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