Brad Schneeflock knows first-hand the impact faith can have on students, so it comes as no surprise that he has dedicated himself to helping others make that same discovery. So when he got a calling to move 1,500 miles to the Seattle-Tacoma area, he and family – including his wife Rainy and the four of their seven kids still living at home – said yes. He accepted a mission with Northwest Collegiate Ministries in a location that had been dormant for 13 years. The organization provides a safe community for students to find friends, have fun, and explore faith. They welcome students – Christian and non-Christians alike – to experience Christ’s love and forgiveness during a season when they are making decisions that will set the path for their lives. The ministry partners with local churches who love, serve, and involve college students in the life of the church. Not unlike a farmer preparing the ground for a crop, Brad has personally prayer walked 18 college campuses. He is now tilling field for the harvest of changing lives. Click here to learn more about Northwest Collegiate Ministries: https://www.ncmlife.org/ Original air date: September 5, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin McCabe has been a sports broadcaster for 44 years. In decades of covering high school events throughout the state, he has gotten to know thousands of young athletes. But that’s only the beginning. Kevin doesn’t just report the scores. He gets to know the people behind the numbers. The kids. Their families. Their coaches. He has touched each of those lives and developed meaningful relationships that become treasured memories. Learn how a broadcaster takes his role and builds on it to earn the moniker of The Dean of Arizona high school sports! To hear Kevin's show on Arizona sports, click here: https://arizonasports.com/category/podcast_results/?i=1836&n=The+Kevin+McCabe+Show  Original air date: August 29, 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a simple concept. Neighbors helping neighbors. Individuals, businesses, nonprofits, government, and faith communities, all working together to help older adults  in our community. Ann Wheat first served on the Duet board in 1999 when she was still working for the City of Phoenix. When she retired as Acting Deputy Director, she joined the Duet team and in 2019 was named executive director. Ann has been in the position of being a caretaker for a loved one. She has a special passion for Duet, which offers compassionate services to family caregivers and aging adults, free of charge. They work with four groups: Family caregiversGrandparents raising grandchildrenHomebound adultsFaith community nurses Ann’s philanthropic career began as a volunteer where she founded one of the first summer camps in the nation for children with cancer, Arizona Camp Sunrise, and more recently, Arizona Lost Boys Center, a nonprofit helping Phoenix’s 500 Sudanese refugee war orphans successfully acculturate to life in a modern society. She received Arizona’s top volunteer award, the Hon Kachina, in 2012, and the Martin Luther King Junior Living the Dream Award in 2002. Now, she is dedicating her time and talents to helping families know they are not alone. Click here to learn more about Duet: https://duetaz.org/ Original air date: August 22, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jody Boyd’s journey began with a deeply personal loss – the passing of her dear friend Michelle Singleton to cancer in 2005. She took that pain and created a remarkable nonprofit devoted to supporting single-parent families facing cancer. The Singletons offers critical monthly programs including Singletons Monthly Care Days, Bare Necessities, Beyond Books, and Healing Harvest. She collaborates with oncology nutritionists and local chefs to ensure the meals provided in the Monthly Care Days are both nutritious and tailored to the needs of the families they serve. In 2020, Jody's vision expanded with the acquisition of a building she transformed into the H.U.B. (Help Us Build: Strength, Hope, and Community). This dedicated space provides essential supplies for the home and meal preparation, while also hosting events such as Singletons Santa’s celebrations and educational Wellness Beyond Cancer workshops to foster a sense of camaraderie among the families. Click here to learn more about The Singletons: https://thesingletonsaz.org/ Original air date: August 15, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The seeds of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children were planted when a social worker told Darcy Olsen that city shelters were overflowing with newborns due to the opioid epidemic. Darcy felt a calling. In just a few years, she took in 10 boys and girls … and witnessed firsthand the system’s repeated failures, including sibling separations, prolonged cycles of entry and re-entry, and premature deaths.  She founded the Center, with a unique Children’s Law Clinic offering free legal help to children. Beyond direct support, it also influences state and federal policies to improve the lives of children in foster care. Thanks to the Center, new laws ensure thorough searches for relatives, more stable placements, better education, less aging out, and more essential legal protections, including the right to an attorney in important proceedings. So far, the Center has given 650,000 children across America a better tomorrow, fulfilling its mission to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence.​ Click here to learn more about The Center for the Rights of Abused Children: https://www.thecenterforchildren.org/ Original air date: August 8, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona has served families with disabilities across the Valley for more than 70 years.  The organization provides comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities and their families, through providing physical and developmental support as well as educational growth which is the foundation for independent living. Gail Stelling brings more than 35 years of experience in the nonprofit arena to her role as Vice-President of Adult Operations. She’s eager to share about their newest project – ArizonAbility Adult Day Program – which is set for a ribbon cutting Sept. 16. The facility will double the number of both members and staff in the adult treatment program. Click here to learn more about United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona: https://ucpofcentralaz.org/ Original air date: August 1, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes a job is a job. Sometimes it’s a calling. Russ Funk already had a 22-year career in the airline industry. But his passion has always been child welfare and social justice. He and his wife Pam are adoptive parents and former foster parents, so his current role as Director of Community Engagement and HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) for Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is a perfect match. Over the past 18 years Russ has led the effort to recruit new foster parents, adoptive families and volunteer youth mentors for AASK. The organization provides adoptive families with ongoing support from the time of inquiry until the child is settled in their forever home, supporting parents so they’re never left to navigate questions and challenges alone. AASK foster care programs provide help for a range of circumstances, including families caring for a relative’s child, children with complex medical needs, those with developmental disabilities, children with Hispanic heritage, and the culturally-specific needs of children placed in the care of American Indian tribal authorities. Click here to learn more about AASK: https://www.aask-az.org/ Original air date: July 25, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brent Downs has dedicated his life to working with nonprofits, and he’s made a commitment to only choosing causes with which he shares a personal connection with their missions. That’s what brought him to the Foothills Caring Corps, an organization whose staff and volunteers serve homebound seniors and people with disabling conditions scattered over  256 square miles covering north Phoenix, Cave Creek, Carefree, and north Scottsdale. This army of committed individuals help with socialization, health, wellness and mobility. They provide mobile meals and a variety of free services, ranging from grocery shopping assistance, to home repairs, social activities, caregiver support, transportation to medical appointments, and more. Click here to learn more about Foothills Caring Corps: www.foothillscaringcorps.com Original air date: July 18, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hal and Cheryl Sacks had a vision more than 40 years ago to ignite, fuel, and sustain the next Great Awakening by sounding the alarm to God’s people. What does this look like? Initiatives pursued through their organization BridgeBuilders International Leadership Network have mobilized intense targeted prayer on issues such as sex, drugs, and weapons trafficking on the Southwest border, suicides, and academic performance in schools. The BridgeBuilders’ team has empowered more than 5 million Christians—from  pastors to educators, law enforcement, and legislators—to invite God’s transforming presence into every sphere of culture. Their latest initiatives include “Fire on the Family Altar,” Cheryl’s new book that is a prayer guide for families who want to become prayer warriors for each other, their neighbors, their communities, and their nation. They’ll also be talking about Revival Prayer Clusters, a project unifying neighborhoods and reaching out to help elderly neighbors and single moms with home improvement projects, taking meals, and praying for those who are sick. Click here to learn more about BridgeBuilders: https://www.bridgebuilders.net/ Original air date: July 11, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 11, 2020, Officer Sean Stoddard pulled his patrol car over to simply move a ladder out of the roadway. A distracted driver in an SUV plowed into his vehicle before he had a chance to open the door, crumpling his unit into an unrecognizable tangle of metal. The resulting traumatic brain injury totally erased everything in his life before the accident. He had to relearn everything from colors and shapes, to how to feed himself, to walk, and to talk. He now refers to himself as Sean 1.0 and Sean 2.0. Sean was – and still is – the president and CEO of the Archangels, a nonprofit that assists the military, veterans. first responders, and their families dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress and other mental health challenges including suicide prevention, morale, welfare, and recreational programs.  A veteran of four deployments with the U.S. Army to Iraq, Afghanistan and others, he leads a team of volunteers in service projects, and helping the homeless and service personnel with financial and other assistance. He says his accident changed him, but it hasn’t changed his desire to help others. “Amor antidotum.” Love will conquer all. Sean penned this song to express his passion and vision. He encourages everyone to help others, and that in that service to find true joy. Click here to learn more about the Archangels: https://www.archangel.rocks/ Original air date: July 4, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jake Lambert is a third-generation teacher. His passion for helping kids prepare for a productive future has been a driving force from the time he was a kid himself. To pursue that end, he earned a degree in special ed, coached cross-county and track and field, has taught exceptional students, and dedicated himself to thinking outside the box to create the most opportunities for his students. That dedication earned him the opportunity to be named principal of historic Central High School at the age of 34. In his first year in that post, the school’s rating on the accountability report card has increased, and they have increased both opportunities and enrollment for post-secondary programs. Original air date: June 27, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gordon Wickert sees a promise from God in every street sign, clock, license plate, or number he sees in the world around him. And he wants to share that vision with others. Memorizing Bible verses is not a new practice - Jesus memorized many scriptures Himself. Gordon’s Hope in Numbers Ministries is designed to help get the Word back into schools, work places, in daily conversations at the supermarket, and at your homes with your families. He envisions it as a powerful way to witness to others through the power of God’s Holy Scripture using purchase receipts, birth dates, phone numbers, sports jerseys, and more. It has been a rock for Gordon, even in the loss of his young son two years ago. Click here to learn more about Hope in Numbers: https://hopeinnumbers.org/ Original air date: June 20, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mimi Hymel was 3 years old when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her home and her life as she knew it. In a cruel act of fate, it also claimed a source of comfort, her cherished teddy bear Cuddles. That led years later to her founding Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe, a nonprofit that provides a special stuffed bear along with a handwritten note of encouragement to children impacted by disasters. Most children living through a hurricane, flood, earthquake, or other disaster lose their belongings and have limited social interaction, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Evacuee children are four times more likely than the average child to show symptoms of emotional disturbance. This can stunt their ability to advance socially, emotionally, and academically. Since Comfort Bears’ founding in 2020, more than 10,000 bears have been given away, 1,530 cards made, and 31,000 children educated with Miss Prepared books about what to do in a disaster. Click here to learn more about Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe: www.comfortbearsinacatastrophe.org Original air date: June 13, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Tom Loegering began serving on the Peoria Education Foundation board in 2014, he witnessed the resilience of students struggling to overcome challenges in their pursuit of education. Their challenges were not only financial, but in developing a lifestyle that leads to academic success. As the CEO of the Sun City Country Club, Tom was inspired his two passions and began teaching golf to 5th – 9th graders in their schools, promoting not only physical health but also family unity and community cohesion. In 2014 the Golf Program in Schools was launched as a pilot project at Peoria High School. What began as a small initiative blossomed into a transformative force, introducing more than 48,500 students to the game and its valuable life lessons across eight school districts in the Phoenix area. His long-term vision is to grow the program to 950 golf courses and introduce 19 million physical education students to golf every year. Click here to learn more about the Golf Program in Schools: https://golfps.org/ Original air date: June 6, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Randy Elliott’s passion is serving his “orange church,” the incarcerated at Yavapai County Detention facilities in Camp Verde and Prescott. As chaplain, he drove more than 19,000 miles last year to lead Bible studies, distribute Bibles and devotionals, and minister. He leads a team of letter writers that sent more than 1,500 messages to incarcerated women. He offers a Bible correspondence course that 900 people completed last year. And he distributed more than 1,200 Bibles in 2023. That’s all just numbers. What will touch you about Randy is the genuine heart he and his wife Rhonda have for service. Original air date: May 30, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Ganley is a serial entrepreneur. He’s an idea guy. And he’s also obsessed with service and helping others. His title is Positive Impact Executive, and his projects have included a no-cost corporate relocation program, the first online interactive tools and calculators, programs to help the mental and physical health of seniors, and a dispatch and tracking system for Hospice of the Valley. His most recent venture is the Recharge Room – an innovative new space installed to help first responders and educators to heal from traumatic stress using proactive and preventative therapies. Click here to learn more about the Recharge Room: https://www.rechargeroom.io/ Original air date: May 23, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bruce McCracken was first interested in helping marriages and families when he was in college. Wisely, he figured it might help to have a little experience in a marriage himself, so waited a couple of decades after he and his wife Karen got married, and got his Ph.D. in Christian education before starting The Marriage Hub. The couples they seek to help are not just struggling in their marriage, but those who are at the crisis stage, maybe even actively in the process of divorce. Key to the program is the Marriage Intensive, a 20-hour in-person experience aimed at reunification. Each couple receives a marital satisfaction form prior to the intensive, after the weekend and then six months and one year after the intensive. They see an average of a 20 percent increase in marital satisfaction. Click here to learn more about The Marriage Hub: https://www.themarriagehub.com Original air date: May 16, 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cathy Droz is a community treasure. Professionally, she’s the founder of H.E.R. Certified, the industry's first comprehensive certified dealer program aimed at helping dealerships better serve female car buyers. She’s also the author of “A Woman’s Guide to Buying a Car with Confidence and Street Smarts.” But she’s so much more than that. Cathy is generously donates her time and talents as a marketer, especially to organizations that have personal meaning to her. She’s co-founder of The Women 360. She serves on boards for organizations ranging from Silent Witness to the Phoenix Automotive Press Association, the Arizona Foundation for Women, and Hughes Performance Racing Equipment. She supports causes including autism, St. Vincent DePaul, fighting prostate cancer, Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock, the Girl Scouts of America, and Care Bears for Catastrophe. She volunteered to do marketing for the retired NFL players of Arizona. The list goes on and on. And so does Cathy – giving back to the community she loves. Click here to learn more about HER Certification: https://hercertified.com/ Original air date: May 9, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Wild was born in Ethiopia, and lived in an orphanage until adopted by her American parents at age 3. She treasured memories of her siblings and friends in Africa, and as she grew older became intensely aware that some of the blessings she enjoyed in the U.S. weren’t available to them. One of the greatest of these was clean water. Eden wanted to make a difference. Now a junior in high school, she is already an experienced entrepreneur. At age 13, she and her family started a home-based business, Buna Tarik Roasters: Coffee with a story. Proceeds from coffee sales have already funded five wells serving thousands in Ethiopia. They also partner with a coffee farmer in Uganda who takes in pregnant single girls and supports them with counseling, and teaching trades, money management skills, and providing supplies. Click here to learn more about Buna Tarik Roasters: https://btroasters.com/ Original air date: May 2, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Covington by all measures had a satisfying and successful career, with 30 years in television news and a long list of awards for her reporting and community service. But a near fatal accident in the news van motivated her to make a momentous change of direction in her professional life. The change was not due to her physical wounds, frightening as they were. In her words, “After I woke up from severe injuries and a traumatic concussion, I was never more awake to what God was calling me to do.” That led her to step down from the broadcast industry to partner with the Arizona Community Foundation, where she now serves as Vice President, Community Initiatives. Kim works with diverse communities across the state, overseeing ACF projects including Latinos Unidos, the Black Philanthropy Initiative and several giving circles. Click here to learn more about the Arizona Community Foundation: https://www.azfoundation.org/ Original air date: April 25, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.