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Arizona Pioneers work with the Save the Family Foundation
Number of Qwest Pioneers in Arizona:
ARIZONA'S TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: 8,717
ACTIVE EMPLOYEES: 2,667
RETIRED LIFE MEMBERS: 6,050
1998-99 VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS: 129,905
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In addition to a focus on education, the volunteer efforts of the Qwest
Pioneers are quick to meet the other needs of individual communities. In Mesa,
Arizona, the "Save the Family Foundation" knows first-hand how the support of
the Pioneers can mean the difference between survival and success.
Be it skilled volunteer labor that saves thousands of dollars or simply
providing much-needed financial or material support, the Qwest
Pioneers have supported this non-profit organization for six years. Save the
Family Executive Director Janice Parker says, "The Pioneers are there anytime
we need anything, offering organization and the willingness to help in whatever
way possible."
Save the Family provides transitional housing, case management and support
services to homeless families with children. The majority of which are single,
female heads of households who have been victims of domestic violence. The
goal: self-sufficiency and a stable family unit for a healthier and brighter
future for the children.
Arizona Chapter President and Project Coordinator Dave Lascher says every
Pioneer involved with the project finds it very rewarding, mostly because of a
"fantastic kids program." He says, "What makes this project so worthwhile is
that they actually reeducate every member of the family so that the cycle of
abuse and dependency isn't repeated." So far, the reeducation has produced an
85-95 percent success rate serving 109 families with 240 children.
Parker says her foundation's relationship with the Pioneers began with small
projects, like the donation of canned goods and clothes. It then grew to
include filling more than 200 stocking with toys and necessities during the
holidays as well as networking all the foundation's computers. Each project
grew in size to even include the helping the foundation to refurbish eight
donated apartments to make them livable for families in need. Parker estimates
the Pioneers support in that project alone was worth $80,000.
Most recently, the Qwest Pioneers acted as the largest sponsor
in a major fund-raising event for the foundation after they lost support from the
government. From their fund-raising dollars, Pioneers donated $10,000 to "The
Art of Saving the Family," a showcase of compelling artwork by the children and
adults being helped by the foundation. Other local businesses also sponsored
the event, including a $2,500 donation from the Qwest Foundation.
Local celebrities participated in the event, too.
Parker says the event was a huge success, which rings sweet with it being the
foundation's first large fund-raising event. The positive feedback from the
community was rewarding and the children's art was the highlight of the show.
More than 200 people attended and the event raised approximately $30,000 to
support Save the Family's Homeless Children's Intervention Program.
This project is unique to Arizona, but Pioneers in each of Qwest's
14 states are involved with so many unique volunteer projects that meet the needs of
their community. If you'd like to find out more about current Pioneer projects in
your area, contact your local Pioneer Chapter.
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