Run (or walk) to fight children’s cancer

Olivia Baumgardner.

Grand Canyon University is hosting the inaugural Run to Fight Children’s Cancer on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Olivia Baumgardner, a 4-year-old who was diagnosed in October 2010 and is currently undergoing treatment, will start the race.

Grand Canyon University is hosting the 10K/5K run and cancer survivors’ walk to increase awareness of children’s cancer and raise funds for Tempe-based Children’s Cancer Network, which provides support for Arizona children and families dealing with childhood cancer.

The run will take place from 7 a.m. to noon at Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Rd. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Family-friendly activities will include face painting, music and appearances from local professional sports team mascots.

Take advantage of early registration discounts by signing up today. Fees for the 10K run are $30 through today, $35 tomorrow through Oct 14 and $40 the day of the event. Fees for the 5K run are $25 through today, $30 tomorrow through Oct 14 and $35 the day of the event. The Cancer Survivors’ Walk is free, and family and friends of survivors are encouraged to participate.

Participants will receive an official race T-shirt, goodie bag and refreshments, and the first 500 people to register will receive race day performance socks.

Last year, an estimated 350 Arizona children were diagnosed with cancer.

“Gas and food are two of the highest needs families in Arizona have in dealing with childhood cancer,” says Patti Luttrell, founder of the Children’s Cancer Network. “Daily trips to and from the hospital for weeks or months takes a financial toll on families.”

The organization dispersed more than $25,000 in gas cards in 2010.

Sponsors of the event include Bank of America, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns. For information on registration and volunteer opportunities, call 602-639-7286 or visit runtofightcancer.com.

About Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian University founded in 1949 and regionally accredited. It emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students and the working professional in six colleges: the Ken Blanchard College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Nursing, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Find Arts and Production, and the College of Doctoral Studies. gcu.edu.

About Children’s Cancer Network

Children’s Cancer Network provides financial, educational and psychosocial support to children and families dealing with childhood cancer and strives to increase awareness of pediatric cancer research and the need to find a cure for cancer. childrenscancernetwork.org.

Operation Backpack nets movie tickets for participants

Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Suns.

The Phoenix Suns, in partnership with Harkins Theatres and Coca-Cola, will host “Operation: Backpack” today (Aug. 6) and tomorrow (Aug. 7). The campaign, one of the Suns’ Operation Orange community outreach programs, will supply backpacks and school supplies to Communities in Schools, an organization that works to keep Valley youth in school.

Fans will receive two free Ultimate VIP admission tickets to a Harkins movie of their choice for a backpack donation filled with school supplies including crayons, spiral notebooks, pencils and glue sticks.

Suns alumni, The Gorilla and members of the Suns Dancers and APS Solar Squad will be on hand to thank and interact with fans. Locations and times:

Saturday, Aug. 6:

10am-noon
Harkins Chandler Crossroads
2980 E. Germann Rd., Chandler

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Harkins Scottsdale 101
7000 East Mayo Blvd, Phoenix

Sunday, August 7:

1-3pm
Harkins Park West
9804 W. Northern Ave., Peoria

Operation Orange is the new outreach campaign giving fans an opportunity to interact with the Phoenix Suns and the community through family-friendly events, activities, social media campaigns and charitable causes. Learn about other Operation Orange events.

Father of the Year – Jason Rowley, SVP of the Phoenix Suns

Jason Rowley was one of five outstanding Valley dads to be honored by the Phoenix chapters of the American Diabetes Association and the Father’s Day Council as 2011 Fathers of the Year at an awards dinner and celebration Thursday night.

These prominent Phoenix businessmen were chosen on the basis of their demonstration of responsible parenting, exemplary ability to balance family and work life and strong commitment to serving the community.

Jason Rowley, senior vice president of the Phoenix Suns

Jason Rowley, father of two young girls, had no personal ties to diabetes until he learned that an uncle on his wife’s side of the family was recently diagnosed and has had to make “significant lifestyle changes.”

He considers himself fortunate to have been selected as one of this year’s Fathers of the Year, but notes that he is not unique in his steadfast dedication to responsible fatherhood.

“It’s a funny thing, because I can show you 50 guys I know who are wonderful fathers, who do a tremendous job balancing their work life and their family life, who are doing all of the same things that I do to make sure their kids know that they’re loved and important and your highest priority in life,” he says.

When he’s not at work, Rowley likes to spend time with his family outdoors.

“Most of my job is spent indoors, so I have time on the weekend to be able to take them out and to show them [the outdoors]…. They live here in the city, and I like to expose them to some of the rural settings and the great outdoors so that they’ll develop an appreciation for that.”

Working for the Phoenix Suns, Rowley says he can even spend some time with his girls while he is at work. He and his wife try to bring the girls to as many home games as they can.

Although his daughters are still very young (one is 5, the other just 18 months old), Rowley is already thinking about how to foster their involvement in community service.

“As I reflect on it, it’s a nice thing to have the award early on, because it kind of reiterates or makes the point that you really need to try your best as a parent and make sure your kids are learning the things they need to learn to be responsible citizens and grow up in a manner that you’ll be proud of and that they’ll be proud of themselves,” Rowley says. “I think it’s important that they recognize that there are other families and kids out there who are not quite as fortunate, and that they need to help out as much as they can.”

The family often goes up north to Sedona to celebrate Father’s Day, but will likely stay in town this year. Rowley says his wife, a whiz with crafts, always helps the girls make him something he can hang in his office to remind him of the family throughout the day. — Sadie Smeck

Fathers of the Year – Bradley Parker, senior vice president of US Bank

The Phoenix chapters of the American Diabetes Association and the Father’s Day Council will honor five outstanding Valley dads as 2011 Fathers of the Year at an awards dinner and celebration Thursday night.

These prominent Phoenix businessmen were chosen on the basis of their demonstration of responsible parenting, exemplary ability to balance family and work life and strong commitment to serving the community.

After accepting the honor, each of the five will make a pledge to raise research funds for the American Diabetes Association by calling on friends, family and colleagues to make donations to achieve their fundraising goals.

I had a chance to speak with each of the five outstanding fathers about the honor, diabetes and their families.

Bradley Parker, senior vice president of US Bank

Bradley Parker, senior vice president of US Bank (Mark Skalny photo).

Growing up, Parker watched his grandmother suffer from diabetes. He says he didn’t realize how “big” it is until until he began researching the disease soon after learning he would be receiving the ADA award.

“It seems like everywhere you turn, you uncover new information and you also uncover people that you know that you didn’t know had it,” Parker says.

He was driven to participate when he saw the impact the disease can have on the lives of children. Parker saw connections to his own experience with a rocky entry his twin sons experienced when they were born eight weeks premature.

“Whenever I see the children connection, it definitely pulls on my heartstrings,” he says. “So that was a big impact for me and a big reason I wanted to get involved after I realized what an impact it had on children, especially.”

Parker’s three kids are all different, all interested in different things.

“My kids are incredible,” Parker says, laughing tenderly as he talks about his own three children. “They light up my life every day. It’s amazing. I love watching them grow, and every single one of them absolutely inspires me every day to get better at what I do.”

When he is with his family, he enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors and just “doing whatever.”

Parker says this honor has sparked discussions in his family about the importance of community service.

“It’s always been a little bit of a challenge trying to explain to [the children] why we do what we do [charitably], but I think that this process — with me and my wife both being so involved, and just all the work we had to do around it — gave them a better understanding of why we do what we do,” he says.

The Parkers will most likely spend Father’s Day at his wife’s parents’ house here in town, where he said they usually end up having a Father’s Day pool party.

Tomorrow: Mike Tully, CEO of AAA Arizona

Sweet incentives to reach out and help

March offers a couple of opportunities to do good deeds and treat yourself at the same time:

Think pink for frozen yogurt

A new, self-serve frozen yogurt shop in Mesa will donate 20 percent of all sales on Thursday, March 3, to The Breast Cancer Society, Inc.

SDFY: What’s the Skinny? (Seriously Delicious Frozen Yogurt) is located at 2023 W Guadalupe Rd #14, on the southwest corner of Dobson and Guadalupe. It offers eight different yogurt flavors, with more than 40 different toppings, including fresh fruit.

The event will go on all day during regular business hours of 11am to  9pm. SDFY will serve all of its pink/red-colored yogurts (pomegranate, pink cotton candy, peppermint, red velvet cake, cherry, and strawberry) that day and also will offer pink bracelets for a $1 donation to The Breast Cancer Society. Educational materials regarding breast cancer will be handed out to all the customers.

Book drive nets Cold Stone Creamery treat

The Phoenix Suns Wives organization has teamed up with Cold Stone Creamery to host their annual book drive. Fans that bring two or more new or gently used children’s or young adult books to any of the 50 Cold Stone Creamery locations Valleywide through March 10 will receive a complimentary Like It Creation™ with one mix-in.

The book drive will culminate at US Airways Center when the Suns take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday, March 13. Fans who bring a book donation to the game will receive one raffle ticket per book donated.  Winners will receive one of five raffle prizes that will be given away at the end of the game. Members of the Suns Wives will be collecting books at each entrance of the arena. The game will tip-off at 12:30 p.m., with doors opening at 11 a.m.

Each prize package will represent a Suns star and feature an autographed jersey, a chance to meet a Suns player and a Cold Stone Creamery gift card.

The Suns Wives organization is comprised of the significant others of the players, coaches, basketball operations staff and senior management. The Suns Wives strive to make a difference in the lives of families and children by volunteering time, energy and resources to various charitable organizations throughout the Valley.

Fans can donate gently used items at tomorrow’s Suns game

Phoenix Suns Charities and Swift Charities for Children will host a clothing drive tomorrow, Feb. 13, when the Suns take on the Sacramento Kings at US Airways Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., with doors scheduled to open at 5 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to donate gently worn clothing, paired shoes and linens at the Swift Charities for Children collection boxes that will be located at both the plaza and Bud Light Paseo entrances to US Airways Center. A minimum $5 donation will also be accepted in lieu of a clothing donation.

Those who donate will be entered into a halftime raffle to win one of four autographed Suns items, including a Jared Dudley jersey, Channing Frye photo and hats signed by Grant Hill and Goran Dragic. Fans will receive one raffle ticket per bag of clothes donated, or five dollar donation.

All donations from the drive will benefit Phoenix Suns Charities, Swift Charities for Children, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

In addition, Swift Charities for Children will present Phoenix Suns Charities with a $50,000 donation during a future Suns home game. Currently in the final year of a five-year partnership, Swift Charities for Children has pledged $250,000 towards the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and maintains 200 collection boxes located throughout the Valley.

Purchase tickets at suns.com or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX.

Indirect impact

It was a typical Thursday afternoon. I was sitting at my computer, entering in subscription orders and answering emails, when the phone rang.

“Raising Arizona Kids magazine. How can I help you?”

But this wasn’t a typical call. The voice on the other end was Jamie Morris, the Senior Director for Phoenix Suns Charities.

She informed me that the charity was looking to help relief efforts in Haiti through a local connection, and had chosen the Chances 4 Children organization based on our December article, “Celebrating family day” by Sue Breding, about the Juntunen family. Jamie was asking for permission from Editor/Publisher  Karen Barr to use the Raising Arizona Kids article as part of their announcement that the charity would be donating $20,000 to the Juntunen’s cause.

Though we at the magazine strive everyday to make a difference in the lives of parents and families in Arizona, it is a rare pleasure indeed to see  a feature in our magazine help impact people over 3,000 miles away. The work of the Juntunen family in aiding the orphans of Haiti that is truly miraculous and we are happy to tell their story.

If you would like to donate to aid the relief efforts in Haiti, Chances 4 Children is accepting donations on their website.