SanTan Sun News,11-21-15: opinion

Opinion

www.SanTanSun.com

Nov. 21 - Dec. 4, 2015

35

Community Commentary

City a great place for ‘Wallet Wellness’ Invest in Chandler by shopping local (www.chandleraz.gov/connect) launched Chandler was recently named the in 2012. This three-pronged approach fourth best city in America for “Wallet to overall wellness includes my passion Wellness” by Wallet for exercise and Hub, a national personal play, combined with finance social website. reducing health care The rankings used costs for the uninsured data that provided a while maintaining correlation between good mental stability physical, emotional and through a social financial well-being. media campaign.

These metrics include Each spring, I host my things like income, Health Connect Expo, affordability, debt, health drawing dozens of and well-being. Below vendors and hundreds are a few reasons why I of participants. A believe we made the list: similar event in the Chandler holds a fall, the Mayor’s Day of AAA bond rating from Play, draws even more all three national rating people out to explore agencies for a number new horizons in health Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. Submitted photo and playful activity. of strong fiscal policies that go back more than Chandler’s parks two decades. Adhering to and recreation system those principles helped us maintain those is among the best in the country with ratings through the Great Recession. It is dozens of parks and other recreational this “Lead by Example” attitude that has and fitness amenities including the created such a strong financial climate No. 1 ranked USTA tennis facility in the throughout the community. country. We also provide hundreds of Chandler is also very aggressive in programs on health and wellness, as terms of job recruitment. Anchored by well as entrepreneurism and business companies like Intel, Infusionsoft, Bank development throughout the year. of America, Wells Fargo, Microchip Finally, Chandler has a dynamic and and others, we have maintained a growing medical community anchored very sustainable and well-balanced

by Dignity Health and its affiliates, as employment market here in the well as Banner Health. Other health and community. medical companies in Chandler include Chandler is a well-educated Healthways (SilverSneakers program), CVS community, with nearly 40 percent of and DaVita. the population having some college For these and many other reasons, we education or associate’s degree, creating are more than deserving of this top-five a tremendous labor pool of talent. ranking. To learn more about how you Chandler has some of the best school can become healthier through personal districts in the state as well as a first-class finance and well-being, visit wallethub. community college in Chandler-Gilbert com, and follow me on Twitter @ Community College. ASU and the U of A jaytibshraeny. Stay healthy, Chandler! also have a strong presence in Chandler.

I continue to be a strong advocate for Mayor Jay Tibshraeny can be reached financial, physical and mental wellness at jay.tibshraeny@chandleraz.gov. His through my Health Connect Initiative term expires January 2019.

BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY

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is a nonprofit that provides business The holiday shopping season is in full directories and other tools to assist in swing. During this time of year, I like to making consumer decisions. According remind residents of the importance of to Local First Arizona, economic studies shopping local. There are many great show for every $100 spent at locally retailers that call Chandler home, and owned businesses, approximately $73 these businesses rely remains in the local on your support. economy, where $57 By shopping local, remains when spent we’re investing in at non-locally owned the community on a businesses. The number of levels. decision of how and Locally owned where to shop relies businesses have on you and me. And, vested interests in shoppers who visit the region. They look a “mom-and-pop” for opportunities to establishment often conduct business with receive a unique and other companies within personal experience. the City or state that The City of Chandler benefit Chandler and also encourages other neighboring businesses and Arizona communities. residents to become Studies show they involved with the Rick Heumann. Submitted photo also are more likely “Invest Wisely, Shop to give back to the community through Chandler” campaign. By joining the Shop corporate giving, aiding area food Chandler Club, local businesses can banks and other social service agencies, post promotions, and residents receive and supporting cultural events. These notifications about current offers. To nonprofits rely tremendously on learn more about the campaign, go to donations received from the private www.chandleraz.gov. sector to operate.

By supporting a local business you Sales tax revenue generated from can be proud knowing your dollars are transactions within the city limits put back into the community, making support our local economy. Core it stronger and more vibrant. As you municipal services, such as police and prepare for your next shopping journey, fire protection, parks and recreation think about where and how you want to programs, library services, and road spend your money. Shop Chandler!—no construction and maintenance, would matter how large or small the purchase not be possible without these funds. may be.

These services provide the essential To learn more about why it is necessities that make Chandler a beneficial to shop local, visit www. desirable location to live, work, play and localfirstaz.com. shop.

As a councilman, it is a priority of Councilman Rick Heumann can be mine to shop local when possible. reached at rick.heumann@chandleraz.

We all know it’s convenient to shop gov. His term expires January 2017. at big-box retail stores or online; however, less or no money remains in the local economy. Local First Arizona

BY RICK HEUMANN

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36

Opinion

Nov. 21 - Dec. 4, 2015

www.SanTanSun.com

Community Commentary

Not everyone will celebrate Thanksgiving how they’d like helped thousands of families in need Many individuals and families in our of healthy food. Every day, the St. community struggle every day to put Mary’s Food Bank Kids Cafe® provides food on the table. Thanksgiving for more than 3,000 free, healthy meals them is just another day trying to figure in afterschool and summer programs. out where the food is coming from or if For some children, it may be their only there is any at all. meal of the day.

In fact, a shocking United Food Bank 1 in 7 Americans— provides more than more than 48 million 51,000 meals a day to people (including 15 community partners million children)— in Eastern Maricopa, rely on food banks Gila, Pima, Southern to put food on the Navajo and Southern table, a basic need Apache counties. that directly impacts But, there is the ability to be hope. Recognizing productive at work or that food insecurity at school. Nearly 1 in does not exist in 5 Arizonans and 1 in 7 isolation, food banks seniors live in poverty are moving beyond and with daily hunger. food service and The first step building partnerships toward alleviating with job training Benito Almanza. Submitted photo hunger is organizations, understanding the health care workers, seriousness of the issue: Hunger affects financial firms and others to help the people from all walks of life across people they serve access resources that the United States. Many hard-working enable them to meet vital needs.

Americans who have experienced loss Those who want to help can donate of income face a tough choice between to Give a Meal campaign with Bank of providing food for their families and America, which stretches donations paying for their utilities. with a two-for-one match. Partnerships Over the past year, St. Mary’s Food like this have a collective impact, Bank and United Food Bank have providing food insecure families with

BY BENITO ALMANZA

basic nutrition needs which is a critical so they can focus on other goals, like getting back on their feet financially.

To donate to Give a Meal, visit www.bankofamerica.com/give. Once there, enter your ZIP code and select “Your Local Food Bank” to have your donation go toward St. Mary’s Food Bank or United Food Bank in Mesa. Even if you can’t donate, posting the Give a Meal link via Twitter or Facebook helps

raise awareness about the more than 4 million families struggling with hunger in Arizona.

Using all of our connections, let’s fight hunger and help our friends and neighbors build a stronger community.

Benito Almanza is Arizona market president for Bank of America.

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