Community members partner with local nonprofits to help Veterans live independently
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, there are over 507,000 Veterans living in Arizona and over half of them are 65 years or older. Many of these aging Veterans need some assistance to be able to stay in their homes and remain independent, but all too often they don’t have the resources or help to do so.
A local community member and dedicated Veteran’s affairs advocate, Terrie Frankel, recently established the Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity endowed fund with the Arizona Community Foundation. This fund aims to help local Veterans with their ability to stay in their homes by providing critical home repair services to Veterans in need in Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Terrie is famous for her days as a Doublemint Twin. In the 1960s she toured oversees with the United Services Organizations. She is a filmmaker, public speaker, and a Lifetime Associate Member of the Sedona Marine Corps League. Terrie received the Vietnam Veterans of America’s President’s Award for Excellence and serves on the Verde Valley Military Service Park Committee. Additionally, she is the current Honorary Commander of both the 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron and the Medical Squadron at Luke Air Force Base. She is the first to receive the 944th Fighter Wing Honorary Commander Lifetime Achievement Award.
A few years ago, Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity was notified that a local Veteran, A.J., would be forced to leave her home if she didn’t install a new ramp for her mobile home in Camp Verde. A.J. was a stenographer in the Vietnam War and now blind and confined to a wheelchair. Through the support of donors and volunteers, Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity was able to fix the ramp so that A.J. could continue to live independently in her home.
Tania Simms, Executive Director of Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity, shared this story and countless others with Terrie. Knowing that many Veterans were in need in her community, Terrie was inspired to establish the endowed fund with ACF.
“We are extremely grateful for Terrie’s leadership… thanks to this fund we will be able to help dozens of people like A.J. each year,” said Simms, “Sometimes it is small fixes such as these that can make a life changing difference in the life of an aging Veteran.”
If you know of a Veteran in the area who owns their own home and needs assistance with critical home repairs, please contact Tania Simms at 928.649.6788.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving and count our blessings, let’s take a moment to thank our Veterans for their service and sacrifice for our country. Our Veterans have varying needs ranging from financial, mental and/or physical health, education, legal, housing, and career services. In response to these needs, a group of local community members is coming together to establish a new Veterans Support Services endowed fund with the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona. This fund will work to provide critical funding for Veterans assistance in our community, to help organizations like Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity and others. If you are interested in learning more about this fund and how you can become involved, please contact ACF of Sedona’s Regional Director Jennifer Perry at 928.399.7218.
ACF of Sedona celebrates local philanthropists and nonprofit organizations
The Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona celebrated the 19th annual Spirit of Sedona event on Thursday, September 5 at Enchantment Resort. Approximately 200 community members gathered to honor the 2019 nonprofit grant recipients and philanthropic leaders in the community.
With the support of its Board of Advisors and volunteer grant review panelists, ACF of Sedona awarded over $160,000 in grants this year to 47 nonprofits serving Sedona and the Verde Valley. Funded projects address various community needs in the areas of the environment, animal welfare, arts and culture, community improvement, diversity education, social justice, and healthcare. The nonprofit organizations that received grants were honored during the event for their dedication and the impact they make in the community.
Six individuals and organizations received awards for their exemplary leadership and commitment to improving Sedona and the Verde Valley:
- Dick and Becky Kruse, Philanthropists of the Year
- Emerson Theater Collaborative, Community Collaborator of the Year
- Elizabeth McFarland, Volunteer of the Year
- SedonaKind, Nonprofit Organization of the Year
- A Day in the West, Business Benefactor of the Year
- Harvey and Dawn Bershader, Lifetime Achievement Award
“The Spirit of Sedona is a unique event that celebrates both philanthropy and community,” said Jennifer Perry, Regional Director of ACF of Sedona. “We are fortunate to have many generous and talented individuals in our community who give their time and charitable dollars to make Sedona and the Verde Valley a better place to live. The Spirit of Sedona provides an opportunity to pause and recognize all the good work that is being accomplished in our community.”
The event was made possible through the generosity of local sponsors including presenting sponsor BMO Harris Bank. Other sponsors included Eye Boutique of Sedona, Edward Jones, Kincaid Financial Advisors, Yavapai College, Accord Hospice, and Morris Trust. In-kind sponsors included the Enchantment Resort, Larry Kane Photography, Sedona Media Services, PSAV, and Red Rock Magic Trolley.