Believing in the intrinsic value of all children, Arizona Helping Hands, Inc. (AHH) works to empower Arizona families in order to help them make their children's dreams come true. Through volunteer-based services, we assist underprivileged and struggling families by means of financial assistance, mentoring, healthcare, educational, nutritional, holiday and emergency programs. We strive to improve the quality of life in Arizona by making a difference one child, one dream, and one family at a time.

Our Organization and People

AHH has historically operated with very low overhead. Less than 5% of our total budget has gone to operating and administrative expenses. We raise funds in a variety of ways: Grants from businesses and trusts, annual fundraising luncheon and auction, monetary donations from individuals, and of course, much of our funds are in the form of donated goods from local and national businesses. Whether it is food, clothing, or large quantities of new toys, furniture, supplies or storage facilities, we try to barter rather than use our limited cash. We rarely fall short of what we need to help those we are called upon to help, such as the Mesa family whose daughter needed a prosthetic device but could not afford one, AHH contacted a manufacturer and had it donated; or the family of five who lacked mattresses and had two children who were sleeping on the floor. AHH had bunk beds delivered and put together for the family in this crisis situation.

Co-Founded February 19, 1999 by Judge (ret.) Paul and Kathleen Donaldson who are supported by a loyal and dedicated workforce, including our volunteer board of 11 and 250+ caring volunteers from our local communities. Paul and Kathy saw a need to support Kids At Hope™. They became Dream Catchers for Kids and began Arizona Helping Hands, Inc. Wherever there is a need we help, one child, and one family at a time. Please team up with us by financially supporting our worthwhile programs. We are an Arizona non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation and our Federal TAX ID number is 86-0935988. If you have any questions, please contact us.

ARIZONA HELPING HANDS, INC. PROGRAMS

Annual Holiday Toy Distribution

What started as a simple desire to make sure approximately 500 needy children had at least one gift to open on Christmas morning, has grown to the distribution of 123,000 toys/gifts in a 6-week time period. Distribution begins with consulting with social workers, nurses, churches, schools, child protective services, homeless shelters, Native American groups and other helping organizations. They, in turn, work directly with the families and children in need. This allows us to reach many more children and families than if we had to consult individually with each family, which we did the first several years. Besides providing the toys & batteries for these helping organizations, we partner with other groups who can provide food and clothing from their own funding, and obtain the toys from AHH. Our organization is currently the largest holiday toy distributor in AZ and serves many areas of our state, both rural and urban.

Holidays for the Homeless and Christmas for the Working Poor

AHH has teamed up with The Rock Bottom Foundation, Rawhide, APS, Shoebox Ministry and Rural Metro to sponsor "Holiday for the Homeless". On Christmas day, various restaurants open their establishments to homeless families in Maricopa County. Buses pick up the families. Each child is invited to select 2 toys provided by AHH, which also provides volunteers needed for serving the food and distributing the gifts. The food is served using regular restaurant service and is a very special meal. It is a real joy for volunteers to share their Christmas with the children and their families.

AHH also delivers dinner to approximately 200-250 homeless, various shelters or battered women each Thanksgiving. 

English as a Learned Language

In 2001, funding for English classes for Spanish-speaking families was cut by many school districts including the Paradise Valley and Cave Creek School Districts. AHH stepped in and established the ELL adult program. Our objective is to provide free English classes to Spanish-speaking disadvantaged parents/families of elementary school-age children in the Paradise Valley and/or Cave Creek School Districts. The only requirement for entry into ELL is that the adult student must have child(ren) attending elementary school. The problems presented for these low-income, Spanish-speaking families are numerous: it is very difficult for them to secure good paying jobs to support their families; it is nearly impossible for them to communicate with their children's teachers and counselors; it presents a barrier in their own home when their children are being taught English during the day and the parents converse with them in Spanish at night; and it makes it difficult for them to interact freely in their communities and improve their quality of life. ELL classes are an answer to those very real problems and provide freedom to these families. Each class is geared to handle 27-30 adult participants, who are provided with the necessary study supplies to make successful in ELL class. In addition, AHH/ELL provides much needed childcare services for the eager participants. Without such childcare, many, if not all, of the families would not be able to attend classes. AZ certified instructors teach the ELL classes. Upon their successful completion of ELL, these parents can have an ordinary conversation with their child's teacher, counselor or doctor without an interpreter, or secure a better paying job to provide for their children. ELL helps these families to integrate into our communities and become contributing members of society.

Feed the Children Programs

During the regular school year there are federally funded programs that provide Title 1 schools with breakfast and lunch for disadvantaged children. For many of these children these are the only nutritional meals they receive. During the summer months this program does not operate in many schools, and children attending summer school often don't have food to eat during the day. A child who is hungry has difficulty learning. Since its inception, AHH helped feed over 4,000 underprivileged children in this program. We also provide funds for enrichment activities to broaden the children's pleasure for learning and extending their exploration base. We also provide healthy snacks to Title 1 schools for AIMS testing days so the children get energy to do their very best on the exams.

Healthcare

AHH presently provides eye exams and eyeglasses to underprivileged children in the state with partnerships with various national optical companies. Through this joint venture, mobile units move to schools and towns in urban and rural Arizona, and have conducted eye exams and prescribed and delivered glasses, at no charge, to hundreds of children who otherwise would never have received eye care. In 2007, we provided free eye exams and glasses to 704 school children. AHH has recently begun providing dental care to children, especially in outlying areas, and, with funding opportunities this program should expand.

Mentoring Program

AHH works with first time non-violent, non-sex offenders who have committed a criminal violation in the Maricopa County court system, in hopes of keeping them in our "First Offender Program" or commonly called Diversion Program. We mentor the offenders and work with them and their families to guide them with legal alternatives in meeting their many challenges in life. The offenders are required to complete community work service hours with AHH or any other non-profit agency of their choosing to better serve the community. AHH helps to direct offenders in completing court ordered activities.

Summer Youth Camp 

Since 2003 AHH teamed up with the local Arizona Knights of Columbus and helped send disadvantaged Kids At Hope™, who could not find the money to attend, a weeklong camp at Mormon Lake, in Pine Forest in the outskirts of Flagstaff, Arizona. The exciting week includes fishing, horseback riding, crafts and kayaking activities with some new friends & nature hikes, environment activities & games. The campers learn outdoor living skills with overnight camping along with campfire cooking. In the summer of 2007, AHH assisted in sending fifteen (22) children to this wonderful discovery and adventure camp. Many times the Kids At Hope™ need the supplies required for camp be provided to them. AHH provides such items as: shoes, necessary camp clothing, sleeping bags, jackets, towels, underclothes, flashlight, toiletries, rainwear, camera and film, backpack and water gear.

Building Community

AHH works with numerous community and non-profit organizations with similar missions and goals. By working together, all organizations functioning within the same community can deliver a broader range of assistance to those persons in need or "at hope." At AHH we help one child, one family at a time and we do this by working with such groups as: Arizona Knights of Columbus, City of Phoenix, Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Phoenix, St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity, Shoebox Ministry, local firefighters and police officers, hospitals, Chrysalis Shelters, Child Protective Services, homeless shelters, schools and school districts, churches, food banks and local businesses.

Arizona Helping Hands, Inc.

7890 E. McClain Drive, Ste. 5 • Scottsdale • AZ • 85260

ahh86@cox.net

Tel: (480) 889-0604

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