Runway of Hope Update
We’ve gotten a couple questions about Runway of Hope 2020, we hope this update helps answer them!
Runway of Hope 2019
Whether you have noticed or not, the foundation has not posted or talked about one of our signature events, Runway of Hope. After hosting the show for the last 5 years we have decided to end it after last year's event. I am so thankful to everyone who has modeled, sponsored, DJed, attendeed, volunteered, and co hosted this amazing event. Every year the show surprised me with how many people wanted to be involved, which is why it is bittersweet to not do the event again.
Runway of Hope 2018
From our first two years at my father’s old Coors warehouse to all the other venues we made an impact in the Phoenix fashion world. I am going to miss working with the stylists and local designers who loved showcasing their looks down our runway. Last year was the perfect year to officially close the curtain, with an element theme.
Runway of Hope 2017
Runway of Hope 2016
The foundation is on to bigger events and we promise there will not be a lack of ways you can support and get involved. I am truly humbled to know that so many of you enjoyed being a part of our event and hope we will see you at our next one. Thank you for believing in our fashion show and for supporting families at the home!
Xo
Meghan
Runway of Hope 2015
5 Years Down...
Since then, we have hosted over 50 events and we have created three programs under the Pearce Family Foundation umbrella.
5 years down…
Imagine being 29, you just left a job you thought you would be at forever, two weeks before you moved into a new apartment, and now you have no source of income. YEP, that was me. I was beyond stressed and embarrassed that I was jobless with no plans on what to do next.
Thank god my now husband put the idea into my head that I should start my own nonprofit and use my families name who brought us success for many years to back the nonprofit. Being beyond scared to ask my family to believe in me and let me run with it was the first hurdle to get over. Then I hired a life coach who reminded me I had the confidence I would need to start a nonprofit.
After numerous meetings one must go through to start an organization, I eventually did it and it took just 6 months.
Since then, we have hosted over 50 events (remember it has just been me with a few interns and now two part time employees) and we have created three programs under the Pearce Family Foundation umbrella.
I always get asked why I decided to create a nonprofit, and it was because I saw a need that was not being fulfilled. I believe a child gets better faster when they are recovering in their home versus in a shelter or a hospital.
Creating the nonprofit has allowed me to continue my family’s legacy by connecting with businesses and people in a new way. The nonprofit has also reconnected me to friends I went to school with who we may have not crossed paths with again unless I was in this position.
PFF has been a blessing to me I have been able to help as many families as I can have a safe and stable living environment. I pray we continue to grow and receive the generous donations we have to keep us around. I am excited to see where the next 5 years will take us. But we have already found our forever home off 90th and Bell and have three amazing events we host every year.
If you want to build something on your own- do it. It will be scary as F**k but why not…if you don’t you will always wonder what if.
Kourtnie Martin
Get to know PFF’s Event Coordinator, Kourtnie Martin!
Name: Kourtnie Martin
Instagram handle: @kourtnie.renee
Profession/Title: Event Operations Manager
City you live in: Phoenix, AZ
How do you know of PFF: I started as an intern for Meghan about 2 years ago and have been working as the Event Operations Manager for about 9 months now!
What makes PFF special: The impact that it makes on the community. Hearing some of the stories of the families breaks my heart but being able to see the immediate impact the foundation makes is amazing!
If you have been to PFF events, tell us your favorite and why:I LOVE Runway of Hope! Everything about it is so fun and it has this incredible, high energy vibe the whole night.
What is your favorite thing about AZ? Definitely the food!
What is something on your bucket list? I have always loved traveling so my dream is to go to Australia and Greece.
What was your first job? I’ve been around volleyball for most of my life, so naturally my first job was as a youth volleyball referee.
Sunrise or sunset? There's nothing like an Arizona sunset!
Coffee or tea? Iced coffee.... even in the winter!
What/who inspires you? My parents inspire me with how hard working and supportive they are.
What is a motto you live by? Keep moving forward – it’s a reminder to not look back or dwell on the past.
What does a normal day look like for you? Everyday is so different but I can always count of staying busy!
What is one thing you can not live without? Music!... Or chocolate lol
One thing you think every one needs to try? Try to stay open minded and see situations from other people’s perspectives.
It Could Be Anyone, Even You
Take a moment to think about a time you had difficulties paying for something that was either a necessity or maybe something you just really liked.
Take a moment to think about a time you had difficulties paying for something that was either a necessity or maybe something you just really liked. Can you remember how you felt when you knew you could not afford it but still needed it? The fear of the credit card not going through or being declined. The embarrassment of being told your card was not approved. OH my gosh it is the worst feeling ever.
I can admit I have felt that way and it is humbling. I have lived paycheck to paycheck and remember hoping to not have my account be in the red. Thankfully I did not have any one else I was responsible for and could live off of soup for a few days.
But imagine having a child. Now imagine that child being sick. Not only sick but with a life threatening illness. Your child is so sick you have to stay at a hospital a few times a month.
Now what do you do?
Life throws us curves balls all the time and a lot of the families we help were not ready or prepared to have to dedicate their paycheck to a hospital or doctor visit. It was not in their budget to pay for their child to have surgery.
I was determined to be able to eliminate that fear and stress a family has when they cannot pay for their rent or utility bill.
Recently we had a mom (Ruth) apply for our grant who was 4 months late on her rent. Her bill was over $5,000! I spoke to her landlord and she confirmed to me that Ruth had never been late in the past and that her and her daughter have been living in her apartment for a few years now. I was able to work out a deal with the landlord and the foundation sent her a $2700 check to help. I know that was not the total amount but that is the most we have EVER helped one family.
Every family leaves an imprint on my heart but for some reason this one hit me differently. I spoke to her on the phone and she was walking me down the path her and her daughter have been on the last few years. She first told me that her daughter was not properly diagnosed and her doctors thought she had a urinary tract infection. They sent her home, and a few days later she went into a seizure. Her daughter has chronic kidney disease. She has been on the verge of death a few times and is fighting for her life. If it wasn’t for the persistence of her mother to fight for her she might not be alive.
So do you leave your child who is in the hospital to go to work? I wouldn’t think so.
I am not a mother yet but I am a “bonus mom” and I believe that when your child is this sick it is a moment of fight or flight. You fight for your family and continue until there is no fight left.
The impression I received from Ruth is that she will do anything for her daughter and will continue to fight for her and her health until she cannot anymore.
I wanted to write this post because it is important to focus on why The Pearce Family Foundation exists. Sure, we love throwing events and fun parties but at the end of the day it is for the families who have nowhere else to turn. We are trying to keep them from living in a shelter or on the streets.
With the money we bring in from events and individual supporters we can make these exceptions sometimes.
Do you think you could spare $5 or $10 a month to be a part of our Angel Club? It is one or two cups of coffee a month, that you won’t miss as much knowing you are helping a mom like Ruth.
If you are ever in this situation or know someone who is, wouldn’t you want to know that there is a place like PFF who can help them?
Think about it, be an angel.
Terry Morrison
Get to know AZ Hustler, Terry Morrison.
Name: Terry Morrison
Instagram handle: @wtmorrison - Personal, @crescentcrownaz - Company
Profession/Title: Vice President - National Accounts, Crescent Crown Distributing
City you live in: Scottsdale, AZ
How do you know of PFF: From my good friend Art Pearce, invited me to Clays for a Cause event and have participated every year since!
What makes PFF special: When families have children who are in need of special attention and assistance, PFF allows them to concentrate on what’s most important by assisting with the necessities of living such as paying bills, providing support service dogs, etc.
If you have been to PFF events, tell us your favorite and why: Clays for a Cause is a departure from the standard charity golf tournament. It allows participants to fellowship, perhaps try something they have never done before, and have a lot of fun outdoors doing some shooting.
What is your favorite thing about AZ? The history and the outdoors. The history is fascinating from days of outlaws, mining, agriculture, and politics. It is a true illustration of what the old West was like. When enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping, golfing, fishing, etc. you truly understand the diversity of our beautiful State. From the desert of the valley to the pine forests in the mountains, there are many wonderful aspects for anyone to discover.
What is something on your bucket list? I have been so fortunate to experience so many special things that I have wanted to, nothing jumps out at me. I would like to go to Africa and see all of the wild animals. I love animals.
What was your first job? Working on a cattle ranch in Northeastern New Mexico. We pastured cattle that were eventually shipped to feed yards in Texas. We roped, branded, vaccinated, and managed several thousand head of cattle. My primary mode of transportation was a horse and looking back I was the luckiest kid in the world.
Sunrise or sunset? Tough to call in Arizona because both are exceptional but I would say sunset, I see more of them than sunrises, ha. And a cold beer goes better with a sunset for me personally, although I’m not judging.
Coffee or tea? Coffee, black.
What/who inspires you? Those who are dedicated and committed to a goal and are not easily dissuaded or discouraged. That could be a professional athlete, a first responder, or just someone simply committed to doing the best with what they have been given.
What is a motto you live by? I try to never forget or take for granted how lucky I have been in my life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that have not been as fortunate as me and I try not to lose sight of that in everything that I do. I have my father to thank for that.
What does a normal day look like for you? We don’t have normal days in the beer business. We are customer and service orientated with over 5,000 customers and there are always opportunities to improve. It’s a fun, competitive, challenging environment every day and I can’t imagine doing anything else. The people I work with are the best part of my work day and I love my team, each and every one of them.
What is one thing you can not live without? My wife Christine first of all, and of course our dogs. Her and I have made a pretty good team for 20 years and we get so much joy from our dogs.
One thing you think every one needs to try? Chicharones, most people are surprised at how good they are after tasting them, particularly with your favorite hot sauce on them accompanied by a cold cerveza.
Let's Get Real
A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever.
This might come off harsh but I am so sick of companies or people who don’t keep their word. Whether that be; locations promising you a great venue, working with others as a collaboration, to even a business not paying you as a sponsor. I have been blown away by the lack of professionalism PFF has had to experience.
You would think that being a small nonprofit in our community would protect us from the riff raff of bad business deals, but that is not the case.
I am of course not going to name names of those who have burned PFF but I will say it is very upsetting. My husband says, “you have to get everything in writing” and I see why. Over the past almost five years, the bullets we have had to dodge or things we have backed out of because they were a joke is appalling.
People say you always learn from every experience. What I can take away from those experiences that have left a bad taste in our mouth, is that not everyone is like that. When we do have an amazing company that keeps their word, goes above and beyond for us, we need to show them some love.
With the “bad” ones there are more good ones of course. A few local companies who have done nothing but support us are the ones who will stand out in our hearts forever. They are also successful in their own right and will last-unlike the faux companies/people.
So let’s show a little love to our rockstar companies:
I could probably go on and name a few more, but those are a hand full of the ones that have been a part of the PFF family for years or who have done more than we have asked of them. They are the ones who believed in us when we were a small barely existing nonprofit hoping to make a name for ourselves.
Thank you for your endless love and belief in our cause. If you do not know who these companies are I hope you will check them out!I don’t think any company intentionally was out to get us or cause the foundation unnecessary work, I just sometimes think people don’t know how to work with other businesses. The foundation exists solely from donations and company grants- we are still in business because of the companies listed above. We are a PUBLIC foundation, meaning we have to raise a certain amount and giveaway a certain amount. There are salaries, expenses, and bills to pay just like any other business.
Whether you are a for-profit or not for profit doing business with someone else - big or small, you must work just as hard as they are on the job. The foundation has had to put new rules and steps in place to protect us from phonys.
So lesson is and point of this post is to be respectful of all companies and people you want to collaborate with. Be upfront and honest on what you expect - and remember it is not personal it is business.
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”
– Richard Branson
Community Angels - Our Newest Initiative!
Community Angels, is a program that provides the family with physical needs to ensure a safe living environment in both the community and the home.
A peak into the Foundation's newest initiative!
Community Angels, is a program that provides the family with physical needs to ensure a safe living environment in both the community and the home.
When I first started the foundation I had NO idea how many different avenues we would be creating. People said that I shouldn’t call it “Pearce Family Foundation” because it was too broad- or that people would think we are a private nonprofit. I wanted to create something that wasn’t cause specific so that it would be the hub of all the different programs we assist with. And like they say, “trust your gut” and don’t let people talk you out of your dream.
Well, since that summer in 2013 we have created now 3 programs; Angels Around Us, Angel Pups and now (drumroll please) COMMUNITY ANGELS.
I am so excited to announce our brand new program, that helps families we have currently helped from our two grant programs with needs to make their home life better.
Home life meaning; new furniture or fixing a broken back porch, or even donating a new CAR to a family. The plan is to connect our donors with the families we have already helped who have additional needs. The foundation receives messages all the time about how people want to give back items they no longer need but do not know how. We have also been hearing how they want to help but they might not be able to afford to write a check to the foundation. So instead, now they can give their old bed frame or donate a car that is no longer being used to make a difference in a family’s life who has a child suffering from a chronic illness.
I have been blown away (well not really because we have amazing supporters) with the kindness our donors have shown our families again who still are having a tough time. Believe me, it is hard for me to not just go out and buy a new couch or new mattress for a family, which is why I believe our new initiative will help people connect even more to our family’s they have allowed us to pay a bill for.
I want the foundation to not just be a one stop shop for a family and for the families a part of our Angels Around Us or Angel Pups program, I want them to know that we truly care about them. Since the first family we have helped they are not just receiving a water bill payment or their rent paid for, they are becoming part of the family here at PFF.
Some things might need to change as we see what works and what doesn’t, but one thing I know for certain is that we won’t stop trying for these families.
We have already sent a survey out to our families and the most needs are; landscaping, car repair needs, cleaning services, and groceries. If you are a company that would be willing to help our families with a need like this with either the actual item or a donation to help us pay for a cleaning service please click here.
Thank you for always believing in us and for allowing us to make a difference in the Valley of the Sun!
David Shapiro
Get to know PFF AZ Hustler, David Shapiro.
Name: David Shapiro
Instagram handle: @d_shap001 – Company - @dialdavidshapiro
Profession/Title: Personal injury attorney – Owner of David Shapiro Law, PLLC
City you live in: Scottsdale, AZ
How do you know of PFF: Meghan Pearce Alfonso and I have been good friends since U of A!
What makes PFF special: PFF is an amazing organization. It works collaboratively with individuals, businesses and other charitable entities to make a huge difference in people’s lives. Unlike most charities, recipients of the PFF charity get to witness firsthand the generosity of the PFF donors/sponsors.
If you have been to PFF events, tell us your favorite and why: By far, the fashion show! It raises an amazing amount of money and features local designers with local models. It embodies the local spirit of PFF.
What is your favorite thing about AZ? Aside from the sunshine and golf, I love the tightness of this community. My wife Elizabeth and I are constantly amazed by how fast our community has glued together to take care of those who are less fortunate. PFF is a shining example of this!
What is something on your bucket list? I definitely want to go on an African safari and learn about innovative ways to protect all of the endangered species who live there!
What was your first job? Fry’s Food and Drug as a clerk.
Sunrise or sunset? AZ Sunset for sure!
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What/who inspires you? My wife inspires me with her work ethic and my sister with her refusal to let any physical disability stop her success. And of course, my clients who unfortunately have been badly hurt in a collision or wreck but refuse to give up on their life – these folks give me inspiration every single day to go fight for them.
What is a motto you live by? Be grateful for what you have.
What does a normal day look like for you? I wake up at 5:30 a.m., train from 6-7 a.m., get into my office, meet with clients, draft and edit motions, disclosure statements, perhaps take a deposition, grab a late lunch, go over the cases with my staff, update clients, take a late client or vendor meeting and get home around 7:30 p.m. to have dinner with my incredible wife Elizabeth and two pups, Moe and Harper.
What is one thing you can not live without? My family.
One thing you think every one needs to try? Try listening more and talking less.
Runway of Hope 2018
On May 11th 2018 we hosted our 4th Annual Runway of Hope fashion show.
On May 11th 2018 we hosted our 4th Annual Runway of Hope fashion show.
Prior to the show, we have hosted 3 incredibly successful fashion shows… so we had our bar set pretty high for our 4th! With that being said, we started by sitting down as a team and began to gather everything, brainstorm ideas, and set up all that we need in line to create an amazing show. Our Founder, Meghan, ran into Ashley from Ashley Paige Collective who then kindly offered to co-host the show with us; we knew with each new year, the show gets bigger and we could use all the additional help!
As we started locking in each detail to make the event come to life, we teamed up with some amazing people and companies to be involved! To start, we secured the venue with FABRIC in Tempe, beats by DJ Psycho Pat and locked in our amazing designers and stylists: B James LA styled by Weezy’s Playhouse, Frockify, Theo Doro, Wet Haute Couture styled by Braden Conwell, Chaos in Denm styled by Neyda Melina, Qmulative styled by #thesmartblondes, NYDJ styled by The Foxy Kat Stylist, and Rockin Street Wear styled by Beth Yohanny. We couldn’t believe how amazing the line up of designers were and the fashion couldn’t have gotten bigger and better from past years! Each model was glammed by The Sparkle Bar makeup and S&L Trends hair. All of which were introduced during the show by our gorgeous Emcee’s Katie White and former E! News reporter Kristina Guerrero (they were both pretty entertaining too ;) ).
Making the night as yummy as possible was True Food Kitchen with snacks, Crescent Crown Distributing on kindly donating alcohol as well as Postino Wine Café with wine and rosé. We were also thrilled to have Bumble as our Bubbles & Bites Sponsor giving each guest a little take away. To top of the event, each guest had a little something on their seat! Whether they were a GA seat, a VIP seat, or sat up in our Sky Box as a media influencer tasting moonshine tequila from Roger Clyne, a goody bag and Purely Sedona water awaited for each guest. Our goody bags were filled with incredible gifts ranging from Kendra Scott, Postino Wine Café, Nordstrom perfume, Barre3 tickets, and plenty of gift certificates to use around the valley!
As you can see, we had a lot of people involved in this years’ show and we are truly grateful for all the help we were gifted with! We learned a lot from this year’s show and created memories that our Foundation will carry for a life time. We were able to beat previous years with an outrageous earning of over $26,000 being directed partially into our Angel Pups program! Without the help of our supporters, families, friends, and partnering companies around the valley, we couldn’t even imagine a day where we get to write all that we just did and share the successful, fun, proud moments like our 4th Annual Runway of Hope! Now we are able to say “YES” to even more families and continue on with our mission to ‘being the bridge between the hospital and the home’. Cheers to another Runway of Hope in the books and Runway of Hope 2019… we’re ready for you!
Sincerely,
The Pearce Family Foundation
CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR PHOTOS CAPTURED HERE
Skye Lucking
Get to know PFF AZ Hustler, Skye Lucking.
Name: Skye Lucking
Instagram handle: (I have a few!) @youarecourageous - For my YouTube Channel, Courageous Creatives@skyelucking - For my art and mural work@joyfulgeometry - My modern art products company@prismagicbooks - My coloring book company (about to close up shop on this)
Profession/Title: Host of Courageous Creatives https://www.youtube.com/c/CourageousCreatives
Artist for Skye Lucking Art & Design www.skyelucking.com
Lead Designer - Joyful Geometry www.joyfulgeometry.com
How do you know of PFF: I do a Fashion Friday segment on my YouTube channel which does a LOT of features around what is happening at FABRIC. I saw your Instagram video about your 4th Annual Runway of Hope and have been following PFF after that!
What makes PFF special: I've followed PFF along and this is an easy question! I am a mother of an almost 4-year-old and could not imagine having to deal with a life threatening illness for him as well as worry about how to keep a household afloat. What an amazing organization you have!
What is something on your bucket list? 2 Things: 1) Attend a Ted Talk. 2) GIVE a Ted Talk! (It'd be about fear and love.)
Sunrise of sunset? Happy to see both. It means I'm alive!
Coffee or tea? Tea. (Trying hard...)
What/who inspires you? Creative people because it takes courage. Courageous people because it takes creativity."Promote what you love, rather than bashing what you hate/" - This is the guiding principal for my YouTube channel. You can see it in what I produce.
Oh The Places You Will Go
As another school year comes to an end, that means the Pearce Family Foundations’ interns are moving on.
“Oh the Places You Will Go”
-Dr. Seuss
As another school year comes to an end, that means the Pearce Family Foundations’ interns are moving on. Hard to believe that only being four years old we have said “hello and goodbye” to four amazing women. I feel beyond blessed to have worked with each one of them and watch them mature into strong, confident women ready to take on their next phase of life.
Over the past year and a half, the foundation has had Kourtnie Martin as our “Event Liaison” and Lindsay Cardoza as our “Family & Community Specialist”. -We felt fun titles would be better than “intern”…because as we all know they do a lot more than just intern.
Before the girls moved on either with the foundation or to new adventures, I wanted them to answer a few questions so that you could get to know them before they take over as Girl Bosses themselves.
Here is a little bio and interview from our event enthusiast, Kourtnie:
Name:
Kourtnie Martin
Instagram:
@kourtnie.renee
Where were you born:
Iowa City, IA
How old are you:
22
Where did you go to college?
Grand Canyon University
What was one of the best life lessons you learned in college?
I definitely learned how to handle tough situations better. I have had some hardships over the last four years and had to learn how to push through them and keep moving forward. This has made me so much stronger and shown me I can handle way more that I thought.
Do you have any regrets?
I don't regret anything. I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason and each mistake I have made has taught me something and made me a better person.
How did you find out about the Pearce Family Foundation?
Facebook! I was looking for an internship and a family friend sent me Meghan's post!
What was one of your favorite moments at PFF?
I just love seeing the impact the foundation has on the families they help. The toy drive was really rewarding seeing the kids react to the donations.
My favorite event PFF held was…
Runway! I just love the fashion and the overall vibe of the night.
Name three of your favorite foods to eat:
Donuts, chocolate, and pasta
My favorite store to shop at is?
Anything online! I am not ashamed to say I have an online shopping addiction! Lol
Name one of your role models (can be alive or dead):
My grandfather. He was the smartest person I knew but was so humble and caring and always put others before himself. I always admired how calm he could stay in any situation and how strong he was even if he was hurting.
All time classic movie you love:
The Lion King. I have loved this movie since I was a kid and had definitely played a role in my Disney obsession!
Favorite Quote:
Be still. Short and sweet but holds a lot of meaning for me. It keeps me calm in stressful situations and reminds me to live in the moment. Time goes by really fast and I want to enjoy each moment, even the little things. I guess you could say it's my life motto!
I hope to be this in 5 years:
As cliche as it sounds I just hope to be in a happy place with a job I love, great friends, and my family.
Kourtnie will be staying on at the foundation as our Office Administrative Assistant. She will not only be with PFF on a daily basis but also helping with my father and his daily office needs. We are excited to see where the future will take us and glad she found her calling.
Here is a little bio and interview from our Northern Cali girl, Lindsay:
Name:
Lindsay Cardoza
Instagram:
@lindsaycardoza
Where were you born:
Walnut Creek, CA
How old are you:
22
Where did you go to college?
ASU
What made you choose that college?
I liked the big college atmosphere and the town of Tempe. My sister went to ASU as well so that was a bonus. I also liked the idea of going to college out of state and not really knowing anyone. It was a fresh start in a way.
What was one of the best life lessons you learned in college?
I really found my best friends in college, they genuinely care about me which was something I didn’t have in high school. I also have grown and matured in many areas of my life. At this point in my life I know what I want and what I deserve. I also have gained more confidence and self-awareness.
What was one of your favorite moments at PFF?
I loved working with the whole PFF team. It felt like we were a little family. It’s really amazing working with strong women who are passionate about what they do. Working with the girls, I was inspired daily. They always made me feel welcomed and cared for.
My favorite event PFF held was…
I loved all the fundraisers, but I really enjoyed the toy drive. The holiday season is my favorite time of the year and I loved being able to make our kids wishes come true. Moments like that put everything into perspective and help you focus on what is important in life.
Name three of your favorite foods to eat:
carne asada tacos, cheeseburgers and ice cream
If you were stuck in a room for a week and could only watch one TV SHOW it would be:
probably Friends or New Girl
My favorite store to shop at is?
Urban Outfitters (when I can afford it 😉)
Name one of your role models (can be alive or dead)
My dad, it is really inspiring seeing how much he has accomplished in his life despite having a rough childhood. Hardest working person I know!
Favorite Quote:
“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them”
Lindsay will be graduating soon and is deciding her next steps in the future. I wish her nothing but the best and that she knows she will always have a family here at PFF.
Cheers and congrats to both you girls, you helped when I needed you the most and you stayed when I had no one else. Sending you lots of good vibes and love
Xo
Meghan
Drop & Gimme 20 - Autism Awareness Month
Join us in celebration for Autism Awareness Month 2018 and please donate and support the thousands facing an autism diagnosis!
Of all the families apart of our PFF programs, several face the spectrum of Autism. Our first Angel Pups recipient has severe autism and we were thrilled to be able to financially assist a service dog for him so he can exercise, control his emotions, provide responsibility, give care, give comfort, and give him opportunity for his highest quality of life. This diagnosis and the families that have come to us who face this are so near and dear to PFF’s heart. There are so many families that ask for our help and apply for our grants and we need YOUR help to be able to tell them yes.
Nearly a century ago, April was dedicated nationwide to promote autism awareness, inclusion, and self determination for all. In these efforts, assurance was made for each and every person with autism to be provided with opportunities to achieve their highest quality of life. This year we want to go above and beyond simply promoting autism awareness but actively promote a PFF campaign in support of a close friend’s movement of Drop & Gimme 20.
Drop & Gimme 20 is a movement created by Jay Dallstream. Jay’s son is on the spectrum for autism and has collected the knowledge of around 1,000 children in Arizona are born daily on the spectrum. Jay committed last year to doing 1,000 push ups everyday in the month of April in support of those children and their families, and that is how Drop & Gimme 20 was born! This year we will be pushing this movement the extra to mile to really make an impact this month and collect donations for our families apart of our Angel Pups program. Each day we challenge YOU and the rest of our supporters to do 20 pushups and post at least once on social media and tag/challenge 5 others to join us!
Join us in celebration for Autism Awareness Month 2018 and please text GIMME20 to 50155 to donate and support the thousands facing an autism diagnosis!
This Looks Like the Start of a New Chapter!
In just a blink of an eye, there are so many new changes, additions, and updates that PFF has start to gone through and we couldn’t be more excited!
Can you believe it’s already April?
Yes, sounds so cliché but it is so appropriate for how we are feeling here at PFF. In just a blink of an eye, there are so many new changes, additions, and updates that PFF has start to gone through and we couldn’t be more excited!
To start things off...
this month PFF turns FOUR years old! Okay, wait. It’s seems like just yesterday we were starting things off and meeting our very first Angels Around Us family. Since then we have hosted over 20 huge events, expanded our board, took on a team, started Angel Pups and created long lasting memories. Going in PFF’s 4th year, so many things are changing around the office! We are MOVING. In the next couple of months, we will be taking the old office and moving somewhere new; this will be exciting and refreshing to start on a clean slate and continue to grow. Speaking of growing, we expanded two positions in the PFF team. Meet Hannah our Digital Marketing Specialist and Kourtnie our new Administrative Assistant! You will definitely be seeing Hannah around now and Kourtnie even more as she spent the last year with us as Event Liaison. We are excited to be expanding the PFF team and even reaching into our board. So many great things happening.
It’s always a little scary growing so fast but we are so excited and over joyed with all the success and growth that PFF is going through. We have made incredible new connections, partnered with amazing brands for upcoming events, and scored relationships that will help us give more back into the community.
So, it’s safe to say,
that many changes are amongst the horizon and we couldn’t be happier! We will also be featuring guest influencers on our blog here every month… so message us if you would be interested in a feature! We can’t wait for this 5th year of PFF and connecting with more of you.