Moments - Corporate Partnership Issue 2024

C R E AT I N G B R IG H T E R F U T U R E S , TO G E T H E R | 2 0 24

C O R P O R AT E P A R T N E R S H I P I S S U E

Digging Deeper

How Arizona’s construction industry banded together to build a bigger impact.

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H O P E S & D R E A M S SPRIN G 20 20

D E PA R T M E N T S Insider 4 The Whether partners are new or old, near or far, Phoenix Children’s celebrates milestones and achievements in giving.

Questions 6 5With the help of 1 Darn Cool School, one family won’t let a brain tumor and blindness keep their daughter from learning.

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Caregivers A nurse serving some of Arizona’s most vulnerable patients keeps countless kids from slipping through the cracks as part of the Homeless Youth Outreach program.

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Cause 18 Common Arizona restaurants have been supporting Phoenix Children’s one meal at a time for decades.

F E AT U R E S

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Digging Deeper Arizona’s construction companies band together to build a better future for Phoenix Children’s families.

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Fundraising, Reimagined Showing support for Phoenix Children’s comes in all shapes and sizes for these businesses.

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A Latte Love Valley Dutch Bros demonstrate how a corporate culture can fuel generosity.

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Competing for a Cause Two Costco employees engage in some friendly competition to show their support.

DEAR FRIENDS,

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F

or the past 40 years, Phoenix Children’s has been there to help families

and change lives, contributing to a thriving community. At the heart of thriving communities are businesses of all sizes that make those communities better for everyone.

Corporate philanthropy never takes a break and can be seen hard at work every day throughout Phoenix Children’s. Our corporate partners illustrate the true meaning of harnessing the collective power of many. Their generous support is critical to the mission of Phoenix Children’s and allows us to continue to build, grow, innovate and, most importantly, transform lives.

In our first-ever corporate edition of Moments magazine, I am thrilled to share incredible stories of visionary leaders, companies that care, employees who go above and beyond, and customers who choose to make a difference—often one dollar or even one cent at a time—for children and families in our community. We are immensely grateful to our corporate partners for continuing to show up for Phoenix Children’s and for being there when we need them.

I am proud to call Arizona home, but I am even more proud to partner with so many incredible companies and the inspiring people who have made a commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy at those companies. For some people, it’s a job or a business, but for myself and those who choose

C R E AT I N G B R IG H T E R F U T U R E S , TO G E T H E R | 2 0 24

Phoenix Children’s, it’s deeply personal.

C O R P O R AT E P A R T N E R S H I P I S S U E

Digging Deeper

How Arizona’s construction industry banded together to build a bigger impact.

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On the Cover: Patients and families experience once-in-a-lifetime fun at the annual Big Dig for Kids event, sponsored by Arizona’s construction industry.

Moments is published by the Phoenix Children’s Foundation.

Editorial and design consultation by Casual Astronaut.

With sincere gratitude,

TIM HARRISON Vice President, Corporate Partnerships and Special Events Phoenix Children’s Foundation

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THE INSIDER

Celebrating 4 Decades of Giving

Funding from afar Support for Phoenix Children’s knows no limits, with these organizations sharing hope from miles away.

Haunted Group

Whether partners are new or old, near or far, Phoenix Children’s celebrates milestones and achievements in giving.

HEADQUARTERS: JEROME, ARIZONA Proceeds from an exclusive menu at restaurants

Every partnership has a story. Whether it’s a landmark pledge or a dollar

in Jerome and

from a distance, companies pull together to help Phoenix Children’s provide

Cottonwood benefit

world-class health care for Arizona children.

Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores HEADQUARTERS: OKLAHOMA CITY Arizona Love’s locations support Phoenix Children’s

Partners for the long haul Phoenix Children’s has been caring for Arizona children since 1983.

We’re grateful for the steadfast commitment of those partners who have been with us since the beginning.

through initiatives like year-round fundraising at the register and National Coffee Day, where $1 from promotional coffee purchases is donated to the hospital.

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Cultures of generosity Employee giving options keep philanthropy personal, as staff donate time and money directly. Staff at these partner organizations contribute in their own ways, fostering a corporate culture of giving back.

RSM RSM’s Power of Love program encourages employees to volunteer and fundraise for charities in their communities by matching a percentage of funds raised. The company’s Phoenix branch hosts an office-wide auction and supports the Phoenix Children’s 5K and Kids Dash.

Marriott Bonvoy Hotels Marriott Bonvoy Hotels host an annual walk called Torch Relay, where each hotel sets up a fundraising page for employees, friends, family and vendors to make donations. In 2023, Torch Relay was hosted at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and raised over $220,000.

Southwest Gas Southwest Gas employees support Phoenix Children’s through the company’s FUEL FOR LIFE program, which allows employees to contribute to nonprofit organizations via payroll deduction.

Milestones of giving

Every dollar counts, but some Phoenix Children’s partners have gone above and beyond over the years.

$100k $300k $1m

$1m

$14.8m

Verco Decking Inc.

MITER Foundation

Angry Crab Shack

Panda Express

In part due to their

Camelback Volkswagen Subaru

In addition to

Since 2018, Angry

the Panda Cares

sponsorship of events

Since partnering with

their $1 million

Crab Shack has

Foundation have

like Give-A-Thon,

Phoenix Children’s

commitment to

raised over $1 million

been raising funds for

Power Play and Big Dig

over eight years ago,

Camp Rainbow and

to support a number

Phoenix Children’s

for Kids, Verco Decking

Camelback Volkswagen

the naming of the

of special events and

since 2007, but in

has generously

Subaru has sponsored

Center for Cancer

hospital programs.

2023, the company

donated over $100,000

and fundraised to show

and Blood Disorders

Year-round, $1 from

became the largest

to Phoenix Children’s

their support for the

Corridor, MITER

every root beer

corporate partner

over the past five years.

patients and families at

employees volunteer

float and Phoenix

ever—pledging $14.8

the Center for Cancer

at the hospital in

Children’s fries

million over 10 years.

and Blood Disorders.

many ways.

is donated.

Panda Express and

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5 QUESTIONS

Writing a New Story What type of kid is Katelynn?

With the help of 1 Darn Cool School, one family won’t let a brain tumor and blindness keep their daughter from learning.

B

She has two younger sisters, loves arts and crafts, loves pink, and loves helping others. She’s very

efore Katelynn, 8, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma—the

positive when the therapist

most common type of cancerous brain tumor in children—

and the schoolteacher

she loved to read. So when the location of the tumor and the

come. She looks forward to

side effects of treatment left her with vision and hearing loss in 2023,

both of those.

Katelynn’s family knew they had to bring stories back into her life, says her dad, Cory.

How has the process of treatment and learning been going?

That’s where the 1 Darn Cool School program comes in. Funded

by Desert Financial Credit Union and Desert Financial Foundation, this fully accredited school at Phoenix Children’s helps patients keep

She was doing really, really, really well with

up with their schoolwork during hospital stays. While Katelynn

inpatient therapy at Phoenix Children’s. They worked with

was undergoing treatment, a certified teacher provided one-on-one

her religiously every day. And then she did radiation at the

instruction, helping her experience the stories she loves in a new

same time. Now she has outpatient therapy and braille

way. Cory shares what the experience has been like for them.

lessons at home.

What has it been like working with 1 Darn Cool School?

The hospital teachers have been amazing. They’ve jumped through so many hoops for us and they’ve been very supportive throughout this whole process.

Even when we’re not there, they call us and go, “Hey, what do you need?

How do we make processes go faster? What can we do for you?”

What does life look like for Katelynn now that she’s home?

She has physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy sessions, a schoolteacher comes to teach her braille, and a visual impairment teacher comes once a week. It’s a lot of appointments, but it’s all done at home, which is nice.

PMS

PMS

In 2023, Desert Financial

How is Katelynn continuing to embrace her love of stories?

Credit Union and Desert Financial Foundation

We have a child’s Alexa that will play music and read stories.

raised a record-breaking CMYK

$1.15 million for 1 Darn Cool School.

Netflix has audio descriptions that explain what’s happening CMYK

on screen. And as far as the reading goes, she is working her way toward being able to read in braille.

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Knockout White

CAREGIVERS

Caring for Homeless Youth Nurse Julia Wise keeps countless kids from falling through the cracks as part of the Homeless Youth Outreach program.

U

Nurse Julia Wise travels to shelters, group homes, drop-in centers, schools and foster homes on one of the Homeless Youth Outreach program’s Crews’n Healthmobiles.

naccompanied youths and families with children

Sorensen, senior community and government relations

made up approximately 35% of Arizona’s homeless

specialist at Boeing. “We’re grateful to Phoenix Children’s

population in 2022. Housing insecurity, paired with

and the HYO team for their commitment to bringing quality

mental illness, addiction, domestic violence and poverty,

health care to all children and young adults in Arizona.”

puts these young people at an increased risk of illness and

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve been able to expand our services to keep up. ”

injury, and most don’t have access to appropriate health care.

That’s where people like Julia Wise, RN, CPN, come in.

For more than a decade, Wise has worked for the Phoenix Children’s Homeless Youth Outreach (HYO) program. Wise and other HYO staff travel to multiple shelters, group homes, drop-in centers, schools and foster homes throughout

— JULIA WISE, RN, CPN Today, HYO oversees three permanent clinics in

Maricopa County on one of the program’s Crews’n

addition to mobile services. Clinics operate at UMOM

Healthmobiles. These 35-foot mobile medical units allow

New Day Centers, the largest shelter for homeless families

Wise and her colleagues to bring care directly to children

in Phoenix; Children First Leadership Academy, a K–8

and young adults in need regardless of their ability to pay.

charter school where the vast majority of youth are living

Wise says her role is unique in that she has to manage

at or below the federal poverty level and are at risk of

cases more closely than may be typical in a hospital, from

homelessness; and Phoenix Dream Center, an organization

tracking down medical records to helping patients navigate

dedicated to providing shelter and services.

the health care system. “We’re only a small part of their

“In this line of work, you always hope that at some

journey, but we aim to always be a source of support for

point, your services won’t be needed anymore,” Wise says.

them during really difficult times,” she says.

“Unfortunately, the homeless community has only grown

It’s a role that is continually growing in scope, Wise

over the past 12 years, but thanks to the generosity of our

says, thanks in part to the generosity of Boeing, which has

donors, we’ve been able to expand our services to keep up.”

donated $425,000 to support the philanthropically funded program over the past three years. The aerospace company not only directly funds HYO but also volunteers with the program to provide additional support, such as building hygiene kits for staff to distribute.

“Our partnership with Phoenix Children’s allows us to make a difference for children and families while letting

Discover how your organization can help support and grow this vital program.

Contact Debbie Stantus, director of corporate development, at 602-933-2618 or dstantus@phoenixchildrens.com to learn more.

our employees give back in a meaningful way,” says Kristin

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Digging Deeper How Arizona’s construction industry banded together to build a bigger impact.

O

n the first Saturday of each November, Arizona children can be found running around a construction site. But it’s not a fair or a public event. It’s Big Dig for Kids, a day when Phoenix Children’s patients and their siblings get to climb

on bulldozers, operate excavators and ride scissor lifts to their hearts’ content.

“Last year, a little boy’s parents came over and said, ‘We have never seen him as happy in his life as he has been today. He can’t stop smiling!’” says Dave Crawford, former Sundt Construction CEO and one of the founding board members of Big Dig. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s what we’re doing it for.’”

The event provides a welcome distraction from doctor appointments, medical tests and treatments for families and a real way for construction companies and operators to give back. “It’s really cool to see the volunteer operators, who are these big, burly guys, interacting with these tiny, little kids,” says Sarah Owen, Sundt business development manager. “The kids—and the operators—have just the best time.”

And yet, as impactful as event day is, it’s only half the story.

Not only do the construction companies that participate show the families a fun, carefree time, but they also sponsor the event, with nearly 100% of sponsorship dollars going directly to Phoenix Children’s.

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Patients and their families get to experience a jungle gym of construction equipment thanks to a collective of Arizona’s biggest builders.

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“As builders, we like to create things. Being able to physically see the impact that our fundraising has was really important.” — SARAH OWEN, founding board member Sundt Construction’s Dave Crawford and Sarah Owen brought Arizona’s construction industry together in support of Phoenix Children’s.

Dream to reality

research. In 2020, the board decided to keep

Owen, who is also a founding board member,

the proceeds closer to home. Crawford says

was the one to pitch the idea of Big Dig to

the transition was a no-brainer—not only does

Crawford in 2016.

Phoenix Children’s do remarkable work in the

“I thought maybe we could get some

community, but they also treat Big Dig board

equipment at a site and the kids can climb in

members as true partners and offer support and

it and take pictures, which is always exciting

resources for the event.

because kids—and adults for that matter—

“They had done such a good job in the

love to be around construction equipment,”

community as the premier children’s hospital,”

Crawford says. “And then the idea just kind of

he says. “They had an excellent reputation, and

expanded from there.”

many of our families had been touched by the

But Crawford knew Sundt couldn’t do it alone. He reached out to colleagues in the

hospital at one point or another.”

Fundraising for Phoenix Children’s also

Valley—other contractors, equipment suppliers,

meant being able to see exactly where the money

rental companies and more—to help provide the

was going. “As builders, we like to create things,”

greatest construction-site-turned-jungle-gym

Owen says. “And so being able to physically

they could imagine.

see the impact that our fundraising has and be

“I called about 15 people,” Crawford says.

“And this speaks to the heart of the construction industry, every single one of them said yes. Not

able to see the kids that it impacts was really important to us.”

Crawford says the truly amazing thing

only that, all 15 of those companies that made up

about Big Dig is how it highlights the

the founding board are still involved today.”

construction industry’s innate ability to work together as a team. That teamwork has allowed

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Making a local impact

the Big Dig event board to operate with very

Big Dig wasn’t always a Phoenix Children’s

little overhead.

event. Between 2016 and 2019, proceeds went to

“We’re an all-volunteer group, and I know

a national nonprofit to fund childhood cancer

a lot of groups say that, but we also get nearly

everything donated, allowing us to write a check to Elilai, age 9, underwent treatment for Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. She was asked to share her story with Big Dig board members at the 2023 event.

Proceeds at Work More than a fun day for patients and their families, Big Dig helps deliver a specialized treatment for children with cancer.

Phoenix Children’s for 99.3% of the money we raise each year,” Crawford says.

Even the 40 or so equipment operators, some of whom come from out of state for the event, are volunteers. “Three-quarters of our operators have been with us every year,” Crawford says. “Some of them get off shift in Texas and California and drive all night to be here.”

Building better each year Although the pandemic forced the team to cancel the event in 2020, the board still managed to raise $18,420 for the hospital that year. The 2021 event welcomed over 1,600 patients and family members and raised $416,875. The most recent Big Dig, in November 2023, was attended by more than 1,700

For the past two years, the funds raised by Big Dig have

and raised $859,977.

But while Crawford and Owen say they hope to

gone to support Phoenix

grow the amount raised in future years, the event is

Children’s MIBG Targeted

still designed for families first. “It’s not open to the

Therapy Program. MIBG

public, and that’s by design,” Owen says. “We want

therapy (meta-iodobenzyl

the quality of the event to stay high and remain

guanidine therapy) is a highly

focused on Phoenix Children’s families. We don’t

specialized form of radiotherapy

want people to come and be waiting for hours to

for treatment-resistant

get on equipment and not enjoy themselves.”

neuroblastoma, a cancer that

While Crawford is no longer CEO of Sundt,

most commonly affects the

he still serves on the Big Dig board. Construction

adrenal glands in children under

leaders in the Valley remain eager to support

5 years old.

Phoenix Children’s and the patient families. “It’s a

MIBG is now the standard

beautiful thing to see our industry come together

of care for children with

and give these kids a day where they get to forget

neuroblastoma, and yet there

about everything and just be kids,” Owen says.

More than 1,700 patients and families attended the 2023 Big Dig event, which raised $859,977 for Phoenix Children’s.

are only 35 children’s hospitals in the country that offer the treatment, none of which are in Arizona. Once fully established,

Big Dig board members include representation from all 15 original companies that came together for the inaugural event.

Phoenix Children’s MIBG Targeted Therapy Program will also allow pediatric oncologists to participate in clinical trials testing MIBG for the treatment of other childhood cancers, such as Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and lymphomas.

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Fundraising, Reimagined From rubber duck races to custom-built homes, corporate donors are discovering that there’s more than one way to give back. Here’s how nine businesses are getting creative when it comes to supporting Phoenix Children’s.

ACE HARDWARE

Buckets of Hope Every year, Ace Hardware locations across the country hold Bucket Days to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Shoppers who donate $5

GILA RIVER RESORTS & CASINOS

receive 20% off

Spare Change, Big Results

5-gallon bucket.

Gila River Resorts

locally owned and

& Casinos recently

operated Ace stores

debuted a new way

raise over $500,000

to raise funds one

annually for

cent at a time. EVERI kiosks on the casino floor give guests the opportunity

almost anything that fits into a Many stores also invite customers to round up at the register. In Arizona,

PARAMOUNT LUXURY DEVELOPMENT

Home Is Where the Heart Is

to donate change

When brothers Nick and Anthony Ghiz launched Paramount

from their winning

Luxury Development as third-generation home developers,

gaming tickets to

they knew they wanted to give back. Today, the luxury

local nonprofits. Since

homebuilders are planning to donate a portion of the

its launch in May

proceeds from every home sale—including their latest build,

2023, the kiosk giving

a collaboration with Sapanaro Development listed for $10

program has already

million—to support Phoenix Children’s patient families and

raised over $28,000.

mental health initiatives.

AUTONATION

Team-building for a Cause AutoNation has supported Phoenix Children’s since 2019, but the partnership became personal in 2021 when a beloved customer’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Each local dealership fundraises in their own unique way. By hosting car shows, food truck Fridays, team barbecues, dunk tanks and other events, the company has raised over $150,00 for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in just four years.

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Phoenix Children’s.

AUSTIN COMMERCIAL

Hairy Encouragement The Big Dig for Kids event brings joy to patients and their families. But one sponsor went above and beyond, shaving for the cause. As a first-year sponsor, Austin Commercial donated $20,000 and set out to fundraise an additional $10,000. To encourage giving, team member Jim White offered to shave his iconic mustache when they reached their goal. The result? Almost $65,000 raised.

HARKINS THEATRES

AMERICAN TEXTILE RECYCLING SERVICE

Feel-Good Films

Reduce, Reuse, Raise Money

In addition to triple-matching donations during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month each September, Harkins

As the nation’s

Theatres brings a little

fastest-growing

cinematic magic

textile recycler, ATRS

to kids battling

provides donation

cancer with private

bins in neighborhoods

screenings, popcorn deliveries and movierelated memorabilia.

Harkins also donates

around the country.

TOLL BROTHERS

ATRS donates a

Duck, Duck, Give

portion of proceeds from items donated to

movie passes during

Move over, Kentucky Derby—there’s a new race in town at Toll

any of their Phoenix

Nurses Week and helps

Brothers’ Sterling Grove golf community featuring everyone’s

Children’s–branded

build awareness about

favorite bath toys: rubber duckies. This fun event pits duck against

bins across Arizona.

Phoenix Children’s

duck as the fire department propels the toys down the waterway

Shoes and clothes

through on-screen

and across the finish line with hoses. In three years, the event has

have generated more

advertising in theaters

raised over $250,000 for Phoenix Children’s.

than $564,000 in

throughout the state.

AMAZON

Making Holiday Magic

donations since 2016.

During Phoenix Children’s annual Toyland, families are able to select brand-new holiday gifts for patients and their siblings. Any surplus toys from Toyland are donated to the year-round Phoenix Children’s Toy Program. As the official sponsor of Toyland, Amazon has contributed more than $100,000 over the last two years to ensure that parents are able to focus solely on their child’s recovery while still providing a good dose of holiday cheer.

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Josh Hayes helps spearhead the partnership between Dutch Bros and Phoenix Children’s.

A Latte Love Valley Dutch Bros demonstrate how a corporate culture can fuel generosity.

J

osh Hayes started working for Dutch Bros back in 2008. Just out of the military at the time, Hayes was trying to figure out what he wanted to do next when he answered a Craigslist ad posted by the coffee shop.

“I’m pretty sure all it said was, ‘Flexible hours, cash tips, play your own music,’” Hayes laughs. “I had no idea what Dutch Bros even was when I applied.”

What he thought would be merely a temporary job during a transitional time in his life quickly turned into more.

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“We don’t just write a check. We go down and volunteer—get as involved as we can. Money’s great, but giving your time and energy is important too.”

— JOSH HAYES, Dutch Bros district manager

“I had no business working at a coffee shop;

order your regular drink, and we’re going to

I didn’t even drink coffee,” Hayes says. “But

donate $1 to Phoenix Children’s,’” Hayes says.

once I got into the company, I realized it’s much

“Most people thank us. Many of them share

more than a coffee business. It’s about being

stories about how they’ve been impacted by

really kind to people, being really kind to your

the hospital.”

coworkers, really enjoying what you’re doing.”

Dutch Bros customers are often inspired

Hayes put his plans to move to California

to give out of their own pockets too. “People

on the back burner and took on more hours

get really excited,” Hayes says. “Some will even

at Dutch Bros. Since 2008, he has gone from

order a second drink to drive up donations

barista to store manager to district manager.

or offer to buy a drink for the person behind

Today, Hayes oversees all 29 of the Dutch Bros

them.”

franchise stores east of the I-17, which are owned by Jim Thompson.

Partners in success Hayes says the key to a successful event

A culture of caring

is communication—both internally and

What got Hayes hooked on Dutch Bros is

externally. “There’s quite a bit of work that

exactly what makes the company an ideal

goes into organizing a fundraiser like this,”

partner for Phoenix Children’s too. The coffee

he says. “It seems simple, it being just one day

collective takes its mission to give back, one

and $1 per drink, but it does take a fair amount

cup at a time, seriously. Baristas have helped

of planning.”

raise funds for individual college students and

Participating locations promote the day

national nonprofit organizations. But Phoenix

on social media and with a text blast to their

Children’s fits naturally into the company’s

customers. The Dutch Bros corporate office

DNA. Two of the coffee franchise’s four pillars,

promotes the event through the company’s app.

after all, are “youth” and “health.”

Phoenix Children’s helps spread the

“When you think about youth and health together, the amount of impact that Phoenix

word too.

The partnership between Valley Dutch

Children’s makes—you just can’t beat it,”

Bros and Phoenix Children’s runs deeper than

Hayes says.

money. Phoenix Children’s Foundation staff

About 10 years ago, Dutch Bros began

come to manager meetings and share how

fundraising for Phoenix Children’s with an

baristas are making a difference. Baristas and

annual Day of Giving. On that day, 42 of the

other Dutch Bros staff volunteer at the hospital

company’s Valley locations, including all 29

throughout the year.

overseen by Hayes and 13 owned by Caleb Berkey

“We treat this as a true partnership,” says

in the West Valley, donate $1 per drink sold.

Hayes, who is also a member of the Phoenix

Customers don’t have to buy anything special or

Children’s Foundation Corporate Executive

contribute for the company to donate. In 2023,

Board. “We don’t just write a check. We go down

the Day of Giving raised $79,074.

and we volunteer—get as involved as we can.

“They just show up and we get to tell

Money’s great, but giving your time and energy

them, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on today. You

is important too. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun.”

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A Latte Love Valley Dutch Bros donate thousands of dollars to Phoenix Children’s each year, but there’s more to their partnership than money.

Billy Loss and Jeff Tilghman turn Costco’s annual register campaign into a friendly competition for a cause.

Competing for a Cause Costco employees Billy Loss and Jeff Tilghman engage in some friendly competition to show their support.

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B

illy Loss started working for Costco

“Each day, I write ‘$1,000’ at the top of a piece

in May 2019. He was hired as a forklift

of paper that I keep at my register,” Tilghman says.

driver, but that first week in the

When a member comes through, I hold it up and

warehouse, his attention was drawn to

say, ‘I’m trying to raise $1,000 for Phoenix Children’s

the registers.

Hospital today. Would you like to help me?’”

“All of a sudden, I would hear the ringing of

When a member donates, he writes the

cowbells and people shouting and cheering,” Loss

amount on the sheet and deducts it from the total.

says. “I didn’t know what was going on, but right

Tilghman realized that one donation often would

away I wanted to be a part of it.”

spark another from the next member in line.

What was going on was Costco’s annual

That’s when he started making a big deal of it when

fundraiser during the Miracle Month of May.

someone donated, ringing a bell and “just being

Throughout the month, Costco warehouses across

loud and obnoxious,” he says.

the country raise money for Children’s Miracle

“It really gets people excited. I’ll get little

Network Hospitals by asking members to donate

kids with their purses pulling out $2 and change

at the register, with some warehouses ringing a

because they want to be a part of it, because it feels

bell to celebrate each donation. Costco matches a

good to donate,” Tilghman says. “Every May—it’s

percentage of the donations, which also include

really a lot of fun.”

contributions from employees and vendors. As a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Phoenix Children’s receives the funds raised at warehouses in the Valley and in Prescott.

For Loss, the Miracle Month of May hit close to home, making him even more intent on participating.

“My son was born at 26 weeks and spent about four months in an incubator at a hospital in California,”

“I didn’t realize it until much later, but environment is critical to recovery as a child. So, Phoenix Children’s definitely holds a special place in my heart.”

— JEFF TILGHMAN, Costco team member

he says. “We didn’t have the money to cover the cost of his care and so we had to rely on donations from

Friendly competition

people like me. This is my opportunity to give back.”

When Tilghman and Loss were on shift together at

At the center of the commotion Loss heard that

the North Phoenix warehouse, they turned their

first day was fellow forklift driver Jeff Tilghman.

fundraising into a friendly rivalry. “We would

Every May for the past seven or eight years,

request to be positioned at cash registers that faced

Tilghman has jockeyed for coveted cashier shifts

each other,” Tilghman says. “That way we could play

so he can participate in the fundraiser. Like Loss,

off each other. ‘Oh, your member donated $10? Well,

Tilghman is also inspired by personal experience.

mine just donated $20!’”

“I spent a lot of time at Phoenix Children’s as a

The rivalry has worked well for them. Over the

child for some major health conditions,” he says.

years, Tilghman and Loss estimate they’ve raised

“I remember them bringing me orange juice and

more than $100,000 apiece for Phoenix Children’s,

video games, books, puzzles and coloring supplies. I

highlighting the power of incremental asks.

didn’t realize it until much later, but environment is

“Some people can only afford to give $1, and

critical to recovery as a child. So, Phoenix Children’s

that’s just fine,” Tilghman says. “We celebrate

definitely holds a special place in my heart.”

them all the same. It’s the fact that it adds up that makes a difference. And it’s cool to see the

A perfect technique

community rally around such a great cause.” In

Right away, Loss went to Tilghman and asked about

May 2023, Costco members and employees raised

his technique for getting members to donate.

nearly $1 million for Phoenix Children’s.

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17

COMMON CAUSE

Dining With a Purpose For decades, Arizona restaurants have been supporting Phoenix Children’s—one delicious order at a time.

Jamba Partner since 2019 HOW THEY GIVE On Jamba’s annual Day of Giving, 20% of all proceeds benefit Phoenix Children’s.

TOTAL GIVING More than

$23,000

in 2023

Oregano’s Partner since 2022 HOW THEY GIVE $1 from any dish ordered from a special limitedtime menu goes to Phoenix Children’s.

TOTAL GIVING Over

$50,000

in two years

Jersey Mike’s Partner since 2013 HOW THEY GIVE During March’s Day of Giving, 100% of all sales from Valley and northern Arizona locations are donated.

TOTAL GIVING Over More than

18

M OM ENTS 20 24

$513,000 $1.6 million

in 2023 since 2013

Culver’s Partner since 2021 HOW THEY GIVE $1 from every Concrete Mixer sold at participating Phoenix and northern Arizona franchises is donated to Phoenix Children’s during the Concretes for a Cause event.

TOTAL GIVING Over

$60,000

in three years

Papa Johns Partner since 2014 HOW THEY GIVE Customers can use promo code PCH year-round to get a 20% discount on online orders, with 10% of each order donated to Phoenix Children’s.

TOTAL GIVING Over

$450,000

since 2014

Carl’s Jr. Partner since 2004 HOW THEY GIVE Customers have the opportunity to round up at the register and make small donations of $1 to $5.

TOTAL GIVING Over

PMS

in 2023

PMS

Partner With Us CMYK

$32,000

Learn how your organization can get involved and discover upcoming events and campaigns at GiveToPCH.org/partnerships.

CMYK

2 0 24 M O MENT S

19

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION 2929 E. Camelback Road, Suite 122 Phoenix, AZ 85016

PHOENIX AZ PERMIT NO. 961