April 2025 Newsletter
Hello friends!
With April in full bloom, I’m thrilled to share my first newsletter with you as Chief Philanthropy Officer! This month’s issue is filled with stories and opportunities that remind us just how powerful our community can be.
You’ll read about Victoria, a mother of three who turned to A New Leaf after facing eviction and months of uncertainty. With your support, she found more than shelter, stability, a new career, and a fresh start for her family. Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together.
You’ll also find helpful tax season tips, exciting ways to get involved, and highlights from some amazing community partners.
Thank you for welcoming me into this position and for standing with A New Leaf. I look forward to all that we’ll accomplish together in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
Laura Bode
Chief Philanthropy Officer
A New Leaf
Click Below to See Exciting News!
VICTORIA FINDS A HOME
VOLUNTEER UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES
DONATION CENTER UPDATES AND URGENT NEEDS
TAX SMART GIVING OPTIONS
COMMUNITY PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
HOST A FUNDRAISER FOR A NEW LEAF
April 2025 Impact News: Victoria has a safe home thanks to you!
“I was homeless with three kids in Downtown Phoenix for nearly 3 months in the middle of summer. It was chaos. We moved from place to place, sometimes sleeping in a friend’s living room, our car, a cheap motel room when we could get one. It was incredibly stressful for me, and I could see the impact on my kids. “
Victoria and her three children, Jackson, Noah, and Sedonia, had been evicted from their home. As the sole source of income for her family, when Victoria lost her job she had no safety net and found herself with nowhere to go.
“All I was worried about was giving a stable home to my kids. It tore me up seeing them struggle, they had to switch schools several times and weren’t doing well because we were constantly moving. At that point I knew we needed some real help, so I called the Family Housing Hub to get shelter for us and we got connected to A New Leaf.”
Within 24 hours, Victoria was placed into a unit at A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Center. At this cutting-edge shelter, Victoria’s family would have their own private shelter unit, three cooked meals a day, and a dedicated case manager. They would have four months to get back on their feet and overcome homelessness.
“When we got to the shelter, it was like a breath of fresh air,” Victoria recalled. “They provided food, necessities, and a stable place for us to stay. The staff were incredibly kind, and it felt like a family. My caseworker was so helpful, guiding me through the process of finding a new home and connecting me with resources.”
After several months of hard work, Victoria had achieved remarkable progress for her family. She landed a well-paying job at Burlington Coat Factory and moved into an affordable three bedroom home. Her family is now thriving and living in a safe, stable home.
“Being homeless taught me not to judge others. You never know what someone is going through. It’s important to show kindness and compassion because you never know when you might need it yourself. I am grateful for the support we received, and I hope to pay it forward in any way I can.”
Contributed by:
Tanner Swanson
Communications Manager
A New Leaf
April 2025 Volunteer Update: Home run moments at the West Valley Housing Assistance Center!
West Valley Housing Assistance Center welcomes Texas Ranger Jake Burger!
A huge thank you to Jake Burger, third baseman for the MLB Texas Rangers, for bringing joy and excitement to the families at A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Program!
Jake joined us for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration filled with laughter, creativity, and community. He decorated cookies, made festive magnets with the kids, and made sure everyone went home with a signed baseball. To top it all off, families enjoyed classic ballpark favorites—hot dogs and french fries—making it a night to remember!
Beyond the fun, Jake also took the time to tour the West Valley Housing Assistance Center, learning more about the work being done to help families find stability. His kindness and generosity made a lasting impact on the parents and kids in attendance, showing what it means to give back.
Jake, thank you for your time, your heart, and your commitment to supporting families in need. You knocked this one out of the park!
Help Serve a Meal at East Valley Men’s Center
We’re looking for volunteers to help provide and serve dinner at our East Valley Men’s Center! This is a wonderful opportunity to make a direct impact by offering a warm, nourishing meal to the men we support.
Upcoming open dates:
April 5th
April 11th
April 20th
If you’re interested in signing up or would like more details, please email Abigail Boislard at aboislard@turnanewleaf.org. Thank you for helping us bring comfort and kindness to those in need!
Contributed by:
Leneya Perschka
Director of Community Engagement
A New Leaf
April 2025 Donation Center Updates: We need your donations
A New Leaf invites you to make a direct impact in your local community by making a donation of new, unused items. Your gifts will help those facing homelessness, domestic violence, and other crisis situations.
Located at A New Leaf’s La Mesita campus, our Donation Center plays a crucial role in supporting the individuals and families we serve. Generous donations of new, unused items from community members like you are essential in meeting the everyday needs of those who rely on our services.
Our most pressing needs right now are:
Paper Towels
Body Wash
Bath Towels
Bed Sheets (Twin and Queen size)
Pillows
Canned chicken
Rice
Jelly
Instant soups
Cereal
Mac n’ Cheese
These everyday items play an important role in helping the individuals and families we serve feel clean, comfortable, and cared for. If you’re able to contribute, your generosity will make an immediate and meaningful impact.
Donate your new, unused items to our drop-off donation center located at 2245 W. Ella Street, Building A, Mesa, AZ 85201. Our hours of operation are Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM, and Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. To facilitate a smooth drop-off, kindly call ahead to schedule your delivery at 480-464-4648.
Contributed by:
Sondos Musa
Community Engagement Coordinator
A New Leaf
April 2025 Major Gifts Update: How to make a gift with non-cash assests
Tax season is still here!
Are you curious about how gifts of non-cash assets can impact your 2025 tax returns while making also a powerful impact on A New Leaf’’s work?
Giving one of the gift-options below can make an impact on our mission, while also offering tax benefits for future returns. Here’s a brief introduction to each:
Grants from a Donor-Advised Fund
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is like your own charitable savings account. You contribute to the fund as frequently as you like and then recommend grants to nonprofits like ours, all while potentially earning immediate tax benefits.
Donating from an IRA
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a nonprofit, counted towards your required minimum distributions for the year, without treating the distribution as taxable income.
Contributing Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency donations are a new, tax-efficient way to give. By donating cryptocurrency, you potentially avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and can deduct the fair market value of the asset on your tax return.
Giving Appreciated Stocks
Donating appreciated stocks can provide substantial support to our cause and potentially help you avoid capital gains taxes and claim a tax deduction based on the full market value of your stocks.
Contributed by:
Suzanne Percy
Charitable Giving Advisor
A New Leaf
April 2025 Community Partner Highlight: Arizona Tribal Community Partners
Through Proposition 202’s 12% Gaming Grants, Arizona tribal communities directly invest in vital services offered by local nonprofit organizations.
Prop 202, also known as the Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act, was approved by Arizona voters in 2002. The legislation resulted in agreements between the tribes and the State establishing that tribal gaming facilities will share 12% of their revenue to support education, healthcare, public safety, and nonprofit organizations.
A New Leaf has been a proud recipient of 12% Gaming Grants from multiple Arizona tribes, including the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. A New Leaf has also received charitable funding from Desert Diamond Casinos operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation and Gila River Casinos.
Their generous support has strengthened A New Leaf’s ability to expand life-saving services in domestic violence shelters, housing and shelter services, financial empowerment programs, and other services for youth and families.
The support of these Arizona tribes is invaluable and we are so thankful for their continued investment in supporting those in need!
For more information about partnering with A New Leaf, please contact Paula Kipp, Senior Grants Manager, at pkipp@turnanewleaf.org.
Contributed by:
Paula Kipp
Senior Grants Manager
A New Leaf
April 2025 Event News: Host a fundraiser for A New Leaf
Every year, our friends at Merrill-Lynch/Bank of America host a golf fundraiser benefitting A New Leaf! It’s a fun way to give back to their neighbors in need, all while competing and having a great day in the sunshine!
Do you want to host a fundraiser for A New Leaf?
You can make a difference today. Gather your friends and family or your co-workers at your office to host a third party fundraising event to benefit A New Leaf. Funds raised by these events help the individuals and families in A New Leaf’s programs start their journey to independence.
For more information on putting together a fundraiser to benefit A New Leaf, contact McCall Schnepf at mschnepf@turnanewleaf.org.
Contributed by:
McCall Schnepf
Events Manager
A New Leaf