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March 2023 Newsletter

To our community,

There is no one making a more important difference in our shared community than people like you. With thousands of families facing homelessness as a result of unaffordable housing and inflation, we must come together as a community and solve this pressing challenge. 

To show you how your support is changing lives, I would like you to meet Carlos. In his sixties, he was diagnosed with several serious medical conditions that left him unable to work. He ended up homeless and hopeless for months before finding A New Leaf.

Thanks to you, Carlos is leading an entirely new life. He has stability, happiness, and a sense of belonging for the first time in a long time. Without people like you, Carlos may not have survived his encounter with homelessness. You truly changed Carlos’ life forever.

With every donation, volunteer hour, and other gesture of support, your community gets one step closer to ending homelessness. Your support is actively providing stability and security for families in need. These programs are only made possible through the contributions of generous donors and volunteers like you. 

Please know that your support of A New Leaf makes a meaningful difference in the lives of so many families, and we are incredibly grateful for your unwavering commitment to our shared community.

Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

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Joe Dulin

Joe Dulin

Chief Philanthropy Officer

A New Leaf

Click Below to See Exciting News!

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HOW YOU GAVE CARLOS HIS LIFE BACK

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EVENT NEWS: CAMARADERIE 2023 IS NEXT MONTH

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VOLUNTEER UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES

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DONATION CENTER UPDATES AND URGENT NEEDS

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SEE HOW YOU CAN GIVE THROUGH YOUR IRA

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COMMUNITY PARTNER NEWS: APS

March 2023 Impact News: How You Gave Carlos His Life Back

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Carlos was in his 60’s when he became disabled due to a heart condition. After spending all his savings on medical care, he ended up homeless. Thanks to generous people like you, Carlos found a home at the East Valley Men’s Center, and has started over!

Carlos is over 60 years old, and he’s spent a lifetime doing hard work in construction and landscaping for very little money. Now he’s facing serious health challenges that have drained what savings he had, and left him without a home.

“I’ve had five serious surgeries in the past year. It’s a miracle I’m alive to be honest. I can easily lose consciousness if it gets too hot or I get overwhelmed. It’s definitely made life hard for me, and I can’t work like I used to.” 

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Carlos has had operations on his heart, his liver, and his gall bladder that have left him disabled. Unable to afford his medical care or work a job due to his condition, Carlos found himself homeless through no fault of his own. 

Tragically, Carlos would often be released from the hospital onto the streets, with little time to recover. One day Carlos collapsed while waiting at a bus stop. It was the middle of the summer in full heat, he hadn’t eaten for days, and hadn’t been able to pay for the medication he needed. If Carlos had been left on the streets for much longer he may not have survived.

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“Before I got here, I didn’t know what my future held. I honestly didn’t think I had a future, everyone seemed fine with me just fading away. But here I’ve found a family, I found a home, and now I have a future that I look forward to.”

When Carlos first arrived at A New Leaf’s men’s homeless shelter, he had been released from medical care and needed consistent rest. His caseworker helped him get on a schedule, take his medications regularly, and apply for disability. Carlos had not even known he was eligible for disability due to his health conditions. 

“I felt like someone cared about me for the first time in a long time. Thanks to my caseworker, I was able to get on disability and find an affordable apartment. That was life changing, I finally have an income to support myself. To know that I’ll never be homeless again, that’s just… life-changing.”

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With only a few more weeks at A New Leaf’s men’s homeless shelter, Carlos is eager to give back while he still can. He regularly assists with cleaning the shelter, preparing meals, and helping other men find jobs.

“I may not be able to do much because of my heart, but I want to help out before I leave here. This place changed my life forever, and that doesn’t happen often. I am so thankful and plan to pay it forward for the rest of my life.”

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Tanner Swanson

Communications Manager

A New Leaf

March 2023 A New Leaf Event News: Camaraderie 2023 is Around the Corner!

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It is our pleasure to invite you to A New Leaf’s 2023 Camaraderie Gala, benefitting survivors of domestic violence and families experiencing homelessness. All proceeds from this event will go to support A New Leaf’s life-saving shelter programs, support programs, and more. Every attendee will be directly changing the life of someone in need, right in our local community.

You can view event details and register for this event below:

Camaraderie 2023

 

Date and time: April 1, 2023  |  5:30 PM – 11:00 PM

 

Location: Chateau Luxe Event Venue – 1175 E Lone Cactus Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85024

 

Attire and style: Tropical, Cocktail

 

Registration: https://turnanewleaf.org/Camaraderie

Contact Kellie Snyder at ksynder@turnanewleaf.org or 480-464-4648 if you would like to get more involved, sponsor the event, or if you have any questions.

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Kellie Snyder

Special Events Manager

A New Leaf

March 2023 Volunteer News: Volunteers and Interns Gather for Annual Mixer

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A New Leaf’s Volunteer and Intern Program hosted a spring intern mixer at Spinato’s Pizzeria on February 23rd! We believe that volunteers and interns are the foundation of good community work, helping make important programs thrive.

There was a diverse showing of interns from Philanthropy, Health and Wellness programs, Domestic Violence Programs, Foster Care programs, as well as Housing and Shelter programs. Interns got to discuss their internship experiences, learn about other internships, and network with members of Leadership, the Board, and Staff.
 
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A New Leaf appreciates the remarkable impact that volunteers and interns make on the community. Through this work, interns and volunteers get an amazing educational experience, while also lending their support and talent to a great cause.

2022 Volunteer Program Results

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 If you are interested in participating in other volunteer opportunities, we are currently recruiting for the following ongoing roles:

•  WorkForce Ambassadors
•  Facilities Volunteers
•  Administrative Volunteers
•  Courier Volunteers

A New Leaf welcomes anyone interested in serving their community to join us at one of our many program locations across the Valley. As a volunteer you will be making a direct impact in the lives of families and individuals in crisis. Please submit an application through our website or email us at Volunteer@turnanewleaf.org.

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Raven Jordan Yosick

Volunteer Program Supervisor

A New Leaf

March 2023 Donation Center News: Change Lives Directly By Donating Items!

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These incredible boys from the Gilbert Arizona Stake, Val Vista Ward, 8 to 11 year-old young men activity group of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put together hundreds of snack bags for youth facing crisis!

You can provide life-changing support to those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence by donating urgently needed items! You can make a direct impact in the life of someone in need by donating one of these items to A New Leaf! Examples of the most needed items include:

  • Men’s size medium boxer shorts
  • Composition notebooks
  • Toothpaste
  • Construction paper
  • Toilet paper
  • Men’s white undershirts size M & L
  • Men’s deodorant
  • Paper towels
  • Paper plates and bowls (no Styrofoam)

Our homeless shelters are full, and we are serving more families than ever. Generous supporters like you are often the only reason these households get the safety, food, clothing, and basic needs they require. Donating items is the most direct way to help those experiencing a crisis!

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Sharma Glenn

Donation Center & Contributions Supervisor

A New Leaf

March 2023 Donor News: Save on Taxes by Giving From Your IRA

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Janet Enjoys Tax Savings By Giving To A New Leaf From Her IRA

Janet is one of A New Leaf’s many supporters who are truly passionate about helping people experiencing homelessness. For more than 15 years, she has sent a donation check for A New Leaf to give individuals and families a place to call home. 

Last year Janet’s tax advisor suggested she make her gift directly from one of her IRA accounts instead of writing a check. She didn’t need all of the income from the required minimum distribution, which would be taxed. Giving from her IRA allowed Janet to reduce her taxes, increase the size of her gift, and make a greater impact on the lives of people in need.

And because retirement funds are taxed more heavily when left to heirs compared to other assets, Janet also selected A New Leaf as a partial beneficiary of her IRA, choosing other assets from her estate to leave to her children and grandchildren, helping them save on taxes in the future.

If you’re age 70½ or older, making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA is a very smart way to give to charities like A New Leaf. Donors can give up to $100,000 as a QCD each year. And, if you’re age 73 or older, giving a QCD can help satisfy your annual required minimum distribution. By not taking all or a portion of a distribution and having it sent directly to charity instead, you avoid taxes on the distribution.

We’re here to help with charitable planning strategies that can benefit you, your loved ones, and A New Leaf. Visit the link below for more information about giving from your IRA or other assets.

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Brad Harris

Senior Director of Estate and Gift Planning

A New Leaf

March 2023 Community Partner News: APS Steps Up to Help the Community

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APS is Arizona’s largest energy company, providing power to more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. But APS does more than light homes. They light hearts through their community giving. They stand behind their promise, “to do the right thing for the people and prosperity of our state.”

APS partners with A New Leaf to provide basic needs for Arizona’s most vulnerable populations. This includes food security, emergency shelter, homeless prevention and related support services that improve community resilience and promote social cohesion.

Over the past 19 years, APS has made contributions totaling nearly $560,000 in support of A New Leaf’s services. Most recently, APS made a $55,000 contribution through their West Valley Fund in support of the development A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Center, bringing critically needed homeless intervention services to the city of Surprise and surrounding communities. 

APS Grants $55,000 To A New Leaf’s New Homeless Shelter in the West Valley

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The West Valley Housing Assistance Center is also the beneficiary of APS’ Community Tree Program with a $10,000 grant to add trees and plants to the facility grounds. The goal of the Community Tree Program is to create cooler spaces by providing shade and through a process called evapotranspiration (water lost through plant transpiration and soil and plant evaporation). These cooler spaces have the potential to limit overall heat gain and help lower overall temperatures.

In addition to these targeted contributions for the West Valley Housing Assistance Center, APS makes grants each year to support shelter, housing, and financial empowerment services provided by A New Leaf to community members at large.

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A driving force behind A New Leaf’s partnership with APS is long-time Board member and APS employee, Phil McLaughlin (center). Phil has served as a Board member, and on various Executive Committees since 2014.In addition to Phil’s volunteer service, many APS employees have volunteered their time and talent with A New Leaf to enhance services provided for those in need. 

APS demonstrates their commitment to empowering Arizona communities through more than 120,000 employee volunteer service hours and $10 million in contributions to charitable causes annually. Whether it’s helping those in need, supporting those who aid others, or protecting the environment, APS sees each day as an opportunity to make Arizona a better place to call home.

A New Leaf is grateful for APS’ partnership to support community members struggling to meet their families’ basic needs. For more information about partnering with A New Leaf, please contact Laura Bode, Director of Community Engagement, at lbode@turnanewleaf.org.   

Contributed by:

Joe Dulin

Laura Bode

Director of Community Engagement

A New Leaf

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