notMYkid to hand out drug-test kits in anticipation of 420 (National Get High Day)

A Scottsdale-based national organization is mounting a pre-emptive strike against what is known as 420, or National Get High Day. notMykid  will hand out free drug-test kits to parents on the day before April 20, also known as “National Pot-Smoking Day.”

notMYkid co-founder Debbie Moak says the organization has found that kids who know there is a drug test in their home are empowered to avoid peer-pressure situations because they have a valid excuse: “I can’t, my parents might drug test me.”

Many kids have told her that they don’t want to do drugs, but they “feel so much pressure, like no one in the world is not using,” Moak says. “It makes me angry that parents can take so much of that pressure off their kids and don’t. When it comes to drugs, we [as parents] need to do more than just talk.”

After watching her son go through drug addiction and recovery, Moak, her husband Steve and Mark Rohde, Ph.D., started notMykid in 2000. The organization strives to educate the community, both parents and kids, about the consequences of drug use and other negative behaviors. Although originally only focused on substance abuse, notMYkids now sends young adults to talk to middle and high school students about substance and alcohol abuse as well as eating disorders, depression, self-injury, safe dating, bullying and Internet safety. According to Moak,  speakers reach 100,000 or more Arizona students a year through these school visits.

Parents shouldn’t wait until a crisis to intervene in their child’s life, Moak advises. “Stand up and be pro-active.”

First Check home drug tests will be provided free to parents on Thursday, April 19.

Nine locations nationwide will give out drug tests as part of notMYkid
on 420. The organization expects to hand out 6,000 free drug tests — 1,000 in Arizona alone. All are being donated by First Check.

Kits will be available at notMYkid’s national headquarters, 5230 E. Shea Blvd. #100 in Scottsdale, from 9am to 5 pm. Partner organization Rural/Metro will hand out kits at the Southwest Ambulence Headquarters, 708 W. Baseline Rd. in Mesa, from 7am to 5pm. — Amy Vogelsang

Running against cancer, with Grace

Grace Kostyk.

In many ways, Grace Kostyk is a typical 6-year-old girl. She goes to kindergarten at Lookout Mountain Elementary and plays tennis.  She has an energetic and friendly personality.

But Grace’s life is anything but typical. In September 2011, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one of the most common types of cancer in children, according to the National Cancer Institute. ALL inhibits healthy cell growth in the blood and bone marrow because of an excess of underdeveloped white blood cells. So hospital visits, spinal taps and daily medications are also part of Grace’s routine.

“She’s not the kind of kid to let this get her down,” says her mom, Sue Kostyk.

Grace is the honorary starter for Saturday’s Run to Fight Children’s Cancer. The event, which takes place at Grand Canyon University, benefits the nonprofit organization Children’s Cancer Network.

“Cancer can be a devastating health issue for the kids and a devastating financial issue for the parents,” says Sue. Treatment for ALL can last two-and-a-half years for girls and three years for boys. “[The Cancer Network] is a great organization,” she says. “Many families can’t even put food on the table and this run helps provide gas cards and mattresses and things families struggle to afford.”

Saturday’s event includes family activities, games, crafts, facepainting, mascots and more on GCU’s campus at 33rd Avenue and Camelback in Phoenix. 5k and 10k runs will be held, as well as a Cancer Surviviors’ Walk. Registration begins at 6:30am. Proceeds will support families at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Cardon Children’s Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. A similar run last fall raised $30,000.

Sue says it’s hard “watching [Grace] go through things normal kids don’t have to go through. It breaks my heart that she can’t be normal.” But cancer hasn’t hindered her daughter. Grace is looking forward to starting off the big run and is proof that life doesn’t end with a cancer diagnosis; it simply changes.

To join the run, visit runtofightcancer.com.

— Amy Vogelsang

Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational raises $135,000 for youth development

Group shot at the Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ legend Mark Grace brought together more than 200 golf enthusiasts and celebrities at his annual Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational Feb 9-10.

The tournament raised money to provide youth development programs to children and teens served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and other charities.

The two-day event raised nearly $135,000 and included an upscale cigar dinner hosted by Scottsdale Plaza Resort as well as a tournament at The Phoenician Golf Club, one of Scottsdale’s premier golf courses. Participating celebrities and sports figures included Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen, Justin Upton, Chris Yong, Jay Feely, Joe Proski, Kevin Towers and many more.

Since 1954, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale has provided more than 100,000 Northeast Valley youth with a positive, supervised environment to explore the power of their potential. Today 16,000 children and teens are served  through the organization’s nine branches and 12 outreach sites located in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Hualapai Indian Community and other Northeast Valley neighborhoods.

The club offers more than 100 youth development programs emphasizing five core areas: the arts; character & leadership development; education & career development; health & life skills; and sports, fitness & recreation. For more information visit bgcs.org.

Buster welcomes members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Great Scottsdale.

Join the Baby Diaper Drive challenge

Eighth graders at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran School in Scottsdale collected 11,732 diapers during last year's drive.

The 13th Annual Baby Diaper Drive kicked off last week with the goal of providing 100,000 diapers and $75,000 in emergency baby funds for Homeward Bound families across the Valley.

Students at one Valley school sold lemonade to raise emergency funds for the families at Homeward Bound.

The Diaper Drive supplies baby essentials such as diapers, wipes, and baby formula — which are not covered by food stamps — to moms and children who are victims of homelessness or domestic violence.

Homeward Bound’s mission is to help these moms achieve “economic independence; secure long-term, safe, decent, affordable housing and break multi-generational cycles of homelessness and domestic violence,” according to the nonprofit organization’s website.

Find out how to host a diaper drive.

Donate emergency funds here. Do it by Dec. 31 and Bank of Arizona will double your pledge.

Photos courtesy of the Baby Diaper Drive

Cocopah Middle School in Scottsdale collected 4,104 diapers and 6,171 wipes for the families at Homeward Bound.

25 years of Christmas Angels

A Christmas Angel tree. Photo courtesy of 3TV.

Twenty-five years after it first began, the need for Arizona’s Family Christmas Angel Program is greater than ever.

About 50,000 local children qualify for the program because their families have incomes below the federal poverty level. Many have special hardships.

These children look forward to opening presents on Christmas morning, just like other children. But for many, that will only happen with our help.

Participating is rewarding and fun. Just visit one of the Salvation Army Christmas Angel trees at a participating mall.

Select an angel of your choice, register with one of the volunteers and then go shopping. Return your gifts by the date listed on the tag so they can be delivered to the child on time. You’ll receive a receipt when you return the gifts.

Leave gifts unwrapped so the child’s family has the pleasure of wrapping gifts for the children. (Donations of wrapping paper are also welcome!)

The program continues through Dec. 23. Your package may be the only new item your angel receives this Christmas!

Participating malls:

Arizona Mills, Food Court
Arrowhead Towne Center, Sears Court, Lower Level
Camelback Colonnade, Near Last Chance, Upper Level
Chandler Fashion Center, Sears Court, Lower Level
Desert Sky Mall, Center Court
Fiesta Mall, Macy’s Court, Lower Level
Metrocenter, Macy’s Court, Upper Level
Paradise Valley Mall, Center Court
Prescott Gateway Mall, Barnes & Noble
Promenade at Casa Grande, Village near Harkins Theater
SanTan Village, Santa’s Lane, next to Harkins Theatres
Scottsdale Fashion Square, Macy’s, Lower Level
Superstition Springs, Macy’s Court, Lower Level
Desert Ridge Marketplace, Dave & Buster’s
Tempe Marketplace, Dave & Buster’s

For more information on the Christmas Angel program, or other ways you can help the Salvation Army, call 602-267-4100 or visit salvationarmycares.org.

Coffee buzz for a cause

Independently owned and operated coffee drive-thru Dutch Bros. Arizona is holding its annual Bucks For Kids event on Friday, Dec. 9. Each location will donate 50 cents from each drink sold to the Tempe Boys & Girls Club.

The Tempe Boys & Girls Club keeps kids off the streets and out of trouble while giving them a safe place to go after school where they can participate in character-building activities. The organization relies on public donations to support its programs.

Customers can sip drinks while helping kids at any of the following locations from 5:30am to 11pm Friday:

Rural and Guadalupe
6461 S Rural Rd, Tempe

McQueen & Guadalupe
722 N McQueen Rd, Gilbert

Gilbert & McKellips
1960 E McKellips Rd, Mesa
5:30am-11pm

Camelback & Central
4 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix

Bell & 29th St
2961 E Bell Rd, Phoenix

Scottsdale & McDowell
1422 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale

Mill & Southern
3213 S Mill Ave, Tempe (this location is open until midnight)

Rural & Lemon
1037 S Rural Rd, Tempe

Make a wish come true in the spirit of the season

Robbie's wish was to fly an airplane. Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona keeps the magic of the holiday season alive for kids with life-threatening medical conditions through its annual “Season of Wishes” campaign. More than 300 children remain on the waiting list and, without support from the community, it is likely many of those wishes will not be granted in time.

Through Jan. 2, Valley residents can help to ensure that every child’s fondest wish comes true by donating in one of several ways:

• For every monetary donation made, GoDaddy.com will match the amount, dollar for dollar, up to a total corporate donation of $50,000.

• Frequent-flier miles or hotel reward points can be donated for travel wishes at wishaz.org.

• Shop for special holiday-themed products and promotions that benefit the Foundation at Macys, Avis, Black Bear Diners, Blizzard Entertainment, Things Remembered and the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

“More than 300 children are waiting to have their wishes granted,” says Karen Mankoski, chief development officer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona. “It’s easy for anyone to help make a child’s wish come true during Season of Wishes, and we can only do this with support from our community.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona is the founding chapter of the world’s largest wish-granting organization. It grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Founded in 1980 in Phoenix, when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation now has 62 chapters in the United States and its territories. The Arizona chapter grants almost 300 wishes annually at an average cost of $7,500. For more information, visit wishaz.org or call 602-395-9474.

An evening with Dick Hoyt

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona presents “An Evening of Motivation and Inspiration with Dick Hoyt” from 5:30 to 8pm Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Doubletree Resort & Spa.

Dick Hoyt pushes his son Rick in their first Boston Marathan (1981). Photo courtesy of Team Hoyt.

Hoyt and his son, Rick, who has cerebral palsy, compete together in marathons and triathlons across the country. Team Hoyt strives to help those who are physically disabled become active members of the community. (See a video story about the Hoyts and a gallery of photos on the Team Hoyt website.)

The Doubletree Resort & Spa is located at 5401 N. Scottsdale Rd. in Scottsdale. General admission to the event is $50; VIP admission, which includes an opportunity to meet with with Dick Hoyt, is $100. Register online.

If you’ve never heard the Dick Hoyt story, here’s a quick introduction to a story Mary Carillo did last November on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumble:

Volunteers needed to assemble bikes for needy kids

A happy recipient at last year's bike giveaway. Photo by Daniel Friedman.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, The Pedal Power Foundation will be conducting its 2011 bicycle assembly event. The nonprofit organization is  seeking volunteers to help assemble approximately 200 bicycles that will be distributed to underprivileged children through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix and Holdeman Elementary in Tempe.

The event will be held from 9am  to 2pm and “makes a great community service opportunity for families, churches, schools and civic organizations,” according to Mike McIlroy, President of The Pedal Power Foundation. “No previous assembly skills are required; there are plenty of other ways to help if you’re not handy with tools.”

The warehouse is located at 2010 E. University #22 in Tempe. It’s on the northeast corner of University and Smith, about half a mile east of McClintock on University.

Items to bring:

• Something to sit on (lawn chair, blanket, old towel)
• Tools (a limited supply is available for those who don’t have any)

“Dress appropriately,” says McIlroy. “It’s a dirty job! If you can make it for an hour or for the full time, we appreciate the support.”

If you can attend, or have additional questions, call 602-909-2645 or email McIlroy at mike@pedalpowerfoundation.org.

Read about last year’s bike giveaway.

Do you know a teen leader?

High school sophomores or juniors who are interested in taking leading roles in their community are invited to apply for the 2012 Valley Teen Leadership program.

Applications are being accepted through Nov. 4.

Valley Teen Leadership is a highly interactive, four-month program that instills leadership skills and an awareness of community needs in emerging youth leaders from around the Valley. It is presented by Valley Leadership, a 30-year-old nonprofit organization that works to foster a strong pipeline of leadership in the Valley through year-round programming and activities designed to cultivate a thriving community and empower individuals to take action.

Interested students must complete an online application and reference form. The program will accept 50 teens and takes place from on eight Saturdays beginning January 28 and ending April 28. A graduation ceremony will be held from 6 to 8pm Wednesday, May 2. Tuition is $100; financial assistance is available.

For more information, contact Craig Plenn at 602-952-6760 ext. 4 or craig@valleyleadership.org.