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GLENDALE’S FROM THE HEART PROGRAM
 DISTRIBUTE $183,915 TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

  GLENDALE, Ariz. – Eighteen non-profit agencies that provide essential services to Glendale’s most vulnerable children, families and elderly residents received $183,915 in grants on Thursday (June 9) from Glendale’s From The Heart program.  

         The money will be used in a variety of ways, including providing home-delivered meals and home medical equipment to the frail and elderly, feeding Glendale’s hungry and providing emergency programs for victims of domestic violence and abuse.

         Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and BHHS Legacy Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jerry Wissink presented the grant-award checks to agency representatives at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9 at the Foothills Branch Library.

Ed Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet Photo

  BHHS Legacy Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jerry Wissink 

         - All the money being distributed was raised through Glendale’s From The Heart program, which enables residents and businesses to add $1 to their city utility bills each month.

         - From The Heart also receives money through one-time donations.
For example, Chicago White Sox Charities donated $5,000 with money generated from the White Sox green cap auction. The auction took place while the team was in Glendale during spring training.   

 
          - Once the money is collected from utility customers, businesses and other donors, the Legacy Foundation provides a 50-cent match for every dollar donated to From The Heart.

          - Since From The Heart began in 1997, more than $2.25 million has been collected and distributed to non-profit agencies serving Glendale residents.

- As the program’s matching partner for the last nine years, the Legacy Foundation has contributed more than $527,000 to From The Heart. Although the Legacy Foundation will no longer be funding the program, Scruggs is grateful for the foundation’s involvement.

Ed Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet Photo  -Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs with BHHS Legacy Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jerry Wissink holding the award presented to him by Mayor Scruggs on behalf of the city of Glendale. The inscription on the award appears to the right.

BHHS LEGACY FOUNDATION With Sincere Appreciation and Gratitude for Enhancing and Enriching the Lives of Many of Glendale's Most Vulnerable Residents During the Years. 2002 -2010 ___ From the Heart ___ Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs Glendale, Arizona 2011   _________________________

Mayor Scruggs stated, “As a result of Legacy Foundation’s 50-percent match, each dollar donated by our utility customers and others has gone a long way in helping residents who are truly in need of human services,” she said. “I want to thank and extend my sincere appreciation to Legacy’s board of directors and Mr. Wissink for their generosity and caring so much about our community’s well-being. The city’s partnership with Legacy has benefited literally tens of thousands of citizens throughout Glendale.”

         Agencies receiving grant funds this year include the Alzheimer’s Association-Desert Southwest Chapter – $10,000, Back to School Clothing Drive Association – $10,000, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona – $4,000, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix – $10,000, Central Arizona Shelter Services – $15,000, Community Legal Services – $10,000, Duet-Partners in Health & Aging (formerly Beatitudes Center DOAR) – $5,000 and First United Methodist Church of Glendale – $10,000.

Other agencies receiving funds are Jewish Family and Children’s Services – $8,000, New Life Center – $15,000, One Step Beyond – $5,915, A New Leaf (formerly PREHAB of Arizona) – $9,000, Salvation Army Glendale Corps – $10,000, Society of St. Vincent de Paul – $15,000, Solecito Services – $12,000, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance – $15,000, Teen Lifeline – $5,000 and YWCA
of Maricopa County – $15,000.                 

Thursday’s distribution represents money donated during the 2010 calendar year.        

Ed Sharpe/ Glendale Daily Planet Photo Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and Karl Gentles from the Back to School Clothing Drive Association. Karl's group received $10,000, See the Glendale Daily Planet's coverage of last year's the Back to School Clothing Drive HERE.

Ed Sharpe/ Glendale Daily Planet Photo Retired Barrel District Councilmember Tom Eggleston  and Cholla District Councilmember Manny Martinez

Some highlights- 

MAYOR SCRUGGS SECURES NEW FUNDING PARTNER 
FOR GLENDALE’S FROM THE HEART PROGRAM 

                   
Photo by Ed Sharpe - Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV

Alia Maisonet, Public Information Officer, Gila River Indian Community
Mayor Elaine Scruggs of Glendale AZ.
Councilmember Arzie Hogg, Gila River Indian Community
Cheryl Pablo, Administrator, Office of Special Funding, Gila River Indian Community

            GLENDALE, Ariz. (COG)– Mayor Elaine Scruggs introduced the city’s new From The Heart partner to community leaders today at a reception for representatives of non-profit agencies that provide essential services to Glendale residents.

      The Gila River Indian Community will donate $75,000 annually over the next three years – totaling $225,000 – to Glendale’s From The Heart program. The program provides services to the city’s most vulnerable children, families and elderly citizens.

      “From The Heart has made such an incredibly positive impact in our city and has helped residents get back on their feet when faced with life-changing events,” Scruggs said. “I’m so delighted and thankful that the Gila River Indian Community has joined Glendale and our utility customers to provide us with the resources necessary to continue to assist residents during times of need.”

      When Scruggs was notified nearly two years ago that one of Glendale’s main contributors to its From The Heart program would no longer be able to provide funding, she took it upon herself to find a new partner.

      The mayor began reaching out to prospective funding partners. She personally met with representatives from the Gila River Indian Community to provide them an overview of Glendale’s From The Heart program

      Glendale’s community program turned out to be a perfect fit with the Community’s policies for awarding grants.

      “From The Heart shares our priorities to support the most vulnerable citizens in our community,” said Governor William Rhodes, representing the Gila River Indian Community. “We are proud to support these types of initiatives that make such a positive impact on local residents. The Gila River Indian Community is proud to be a partner with Glendale in such an important program.”

      Since starting in 1997, From The Heart -- largely funded by residents and businesses who add $1 to their city utility bills each month -- has collected and distributed more than $2.25 million to non-profit agencies in Glendale.

      In the past, local agencies receiving From The Heart funds through a grant-application process have provided a myriad of services to residents. Some of the grant-funded programs have focused on the positive development of youth, while others helped deliver nutritious, home-delivered meals to the frail and elderly and provide emergency programs for victims of domestic violence and abuse.