The deadline to register for our event is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

As we get ready for the kickoff, I wanted to share some of the stories from our partners that truly inspired us and remind us why we do what we do.

Please register today and join us for our Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast on Friday, September 13. You’ll be playing an important role in Leading the Way for continued positive changes in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

From the desk of: Liz Archuleta President & CEO

The reports from our partners are part of our due diligence to ensure that your donations to UWNA are going where they are needed most in our collective effort to step up for our youth and ensuring that the basic needs of northern Arizonans are being met.

But they also inspire us, as we hear stories from people whose lives have been changed because of your support.

Stories like the progress being made by the young father of three who had been experiencing homelessness after losing his business during the pandemic.

Responding to the stressors of no home, no income, and the threat of being separated from his children, he was struggling to avoid substance use when he walked into the Catholic Charities Community Services’ Transitional Housing program in Page. With the help of a case manager, he was able to start the process of applying for permanent supportive housing and was able to move into a two bedroom unit with his children.

Fast forward two years, and this family is now stable – and thriving. Dad was able to work on his sobriety and rebuild his business while his children were able to consistently go to school and have a place to go home to. In April 2024, the family successfully exited the program and moved into their own home.

Your support also helps lead the way for our youth as they find their way to a better future.

One program, STEAMing Towards Success at Tynkertopia, is opening up vistas for our young children. Tynkertopia shared a story about a young girl who, prior to learning about STEM, aspired to work at the fast food restaurant near her home. Now she talks about becoming a dental hygienist or a dentist.

Her mom says that she has seen a lot of growth in both her daughter and son since they’ve been participating in the program.

One of the best ways we can step up for our youth is by making sure they do not fall behind in their schooling. That’s the purpose of programs like Raising Readers, a program powered by Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County.

This intervention is designed to help children falling below their reading benchmarks by providing one-on-one intensive reading practice.

Raising Readers focuses on historically underrepresented populations. It currently serves more than 150 children in five local elementary schools, and is working to expand to other Title I schools.

One of the challenges can be students who have difficulty focusing. In the case of one boy, Raising Readers carefully paired him with a high-energy volunteer who had something in common with the youth – an abiding love of Star Wars. This volunteer was able to make a connection and the student subsequently became a much better reader. To which we say, may the force be with them!

It is through this one-on-one connection that many students find success and what makes Raising Readers unique, particularly in school where resources are limited and individual instruction is hard to provide.

These are just three examples of how your donations are Leading the Way in improving the lives of our youth and meeting basic needs when families need help in northern Arizona.

We hope to see you on September 13 as we kick off this year’s campaign and continue the work to step up for our communities in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.