Non-Profit Corner

Liberty Casarez and her Little Sister Dulce, 16, have been matched through Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters for more than five years. They are cheeseburger connoisseurs and enjoy finding amazing ones to try. They venture to museums like Sharlot Hall as well.

“I was familiar with the program, but thought I might not have enough time to be able to take part,” Liberty said. “I recognized the impact mentorship can have on a young person’s life; there is power in connection and guidance, especially at a young age.”

Since 2001, the Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation has worked to meet the unmet needs and enrich the lives of children in foster care and those who have aged out of the system in Yavapai County. With more than 300 foster youth, whether they are wards of the state or the Yavapai Tribe, the foundation works to fill critical gaps and offer the kind of support state assistance and other programs often cannot provide.

The foundation operates entirely through donor contributions and is the only Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization under the Arizona Tax Credit in Yavapai County. With these funds, the foundation ensures no child in foster care is left without the essentials they need or the opportunities they deserve.

he NOAH Foundation—a thrift store benefitting Neglected, Orphaned, Abused, Homeless animals—is celebrating 25 years.

Although Billie Herrick and her daughter Lauren originally opened NOAH on Montezuma Street in 1993, it closed and reopened in 1999 in its current location on the corner of Walker Road and Granite Street.

During the move, female volunteers including Julie Awen could be seen moving items from the original store to the current facility, where today it remains after 25 years. In early spring of 2009 when the building next to NOAH became available for rent, NOAH TOO was born.

Both stores offer slightly used second-hand items from donations … and feature a mature, mostly retired, all-female volunteer group of smiling faces as cashiers. Their primary goal: to raise money to donate to local animal organizations. How they love to tell tales of where some of the items came from or what they would do with them if they bought them.

As a staple in our community, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central AZ continue to provide adventures every day after school. They have removed day care from their vocabulary and focus on how kids in Prescott and Prescott Valley can make the most of their after-school time.

With the launch of the Clubs’ adventure programming, staff members have seen a rise in confidence and self-determination among the youth they serve. Adventure-based programs help kids gain the self-esteem needed to succeed in academics and extra-curricular activities. The Clubs are always here to serve as a safe space for all kids to attend, and they feel it’s their duty to not sit idly as they take care of the youth of today.

The term “philanthropist” often conjures images of wealthy individuals donating money to important causes. Billionaires are frequently highlighted in the media for their headline-making contributions to universities, nonprofits, disaster relief efforts, and more. Although these donations are generous and critically important, philanthropy extends well beyond the elite and encompasses so much more.

Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others; it is the expression of generosity in ways great and small. Our friends, family and neighbors undertake acts of generosity every day. Their altruism sustains our communities, whether it’s a monthly ten-dollar contribution to a beloved cause or a significant bequest made by a family. What if you wanted to continue supporting your favorite charities after your lifetime? Or you wanted guidance on where your philanthropic contributions could make the most impact? This is where the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) can be the most beneficial.

The Wrapped in Love Diaper Bank (WiL) is a simple idea with a big impact. Created to address a growing need in Yavapai County, WiL supports community members’ health and wellbeing by collecting diapers, feminine hygiene products, and incontinence supplies and distributing them to those in need through partners such as school-based family resource centers, community agencies, and family programs.

United Way of Yavapai County (UWYC) is not an ordinary charity … it has been the go-to charity for residents and businesses across Yavapai County since 1987. With your help, UWYC can be the most impactful non-profit organization in our community.

By identifying community challenges, developing a plan to address those needs, and then empowering other non-profit organizations to solve those problems, UWYC helps strengthen the community and lift people out of poverty while also helping local businesses create a culture of giving.

UWYC raises money locally through payroll deduction, provides volunteer opportunities and hosts drives for schools, food banks, shelters, and more. Currently the organization grants funds to more than 30 different charitable programs countywide.

Are you and your pets prepared for a possible fire, flood, or other emergency requiring you to evacuate? Animal Disaster Services, Inc. (ADS) provides a free, 24-hour temporary shelter for household pets and small domesticated animals during a disaster. ADS is entirely mobile, has predetermined shelter locations, and is under the direction of the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management. Established in 1999, it is the only household pet emergency shelter organization in Arizona, covering all of Yavapai County.

Whole person care at Polara Health represents a fundamental shift in our approach to healthcare, emphasizing the importance of addressing not only physical health but also an individual’s emotional, social, and mental well-being. It is an approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of all these aspects in shaping an individual’s overall health and quality of life.

Whole person care improves health outcomes and creates a more patient-centered and empathetic experience where patients feel heard, valued, and understood; something we all desire and need in our lives.