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Volunteerism mixed in with mingling and networking equaled an amazingly fun night for Generation United millennials! Sitting outside on a beautiful fall night, the group recently gathered at the Ocotillo Grill in Phoenix for Books ‘n Brews.

It seems like a lot of money — $2.5 million – but it’s actually priceless when you consider the money was used to get 250 homeless people off the streets in Phoenix into their own apartment as part of Rapid Rehousing, a program that helps with rent and supportive services for a short time.

Giving back! That’s what family philanthropy is all about. Parents bringing their children to Valley of the Sun United Way volunteer events, teaching their children about the impacts of hunger and the fact that some kids go to bed hungry; explaining about homelessness and how some families and kids sleep on sidewalks, benches, couches, or wherever they can find a safe place. Family philanthropy is also about helping those in need with monetary donations.

Did you know that children living in food-insecure households are 50 percent more likely to miss days of school, twice as likely to be suspended and 50 percent more likely to have to repeat a grade? This is happening right here in OUR community. Children in 82,000 Valley households don’t know where their next meal is coming from.To put that number in context: If one refrigerator from each of these households were lined up, they would reach rim-to-rim and back again at the Grand Canyon!

Meet Frank McKinney. He’s an amazing 104-year-old with quite a sense of humor! Frank lives in Scottsdale with his long-time friend, 90-year-old Alice. Not only has Frank lead a full life, he also believes in helping others. In fact, he may be Valley of the Sun United Way’s oldest donor!

Oh, what a night it was as members and non-members of Valley of the Sun United Way’s Women Leadership Council (WLC) recently gathered at The Camby Hotel in Phoenix for a Women Unite fall event.

Life is about making choices. Unfortunately, for some families in Maricopa County, those choices are choosing between paying for groceries or child care and paying utility bills or rent. Many parents give up on the dream of going to college to provide for their family. Making these types of choices makes it tough to break free from the cycle of poverty.

Triple-digit heat didn’t stop 700 dedicated volunteers from showing up on Unite: Day of Action to paint murals, plant gardens, clean up graffiti, and stuff WeekEnd Hunger Backpacks in communities across the valley. In all, there were 16 different projects going on at the same time. Below are hi-lights from this large scale event!

Some things are easy to take for granted in life: a place to live, a job, a driver’s license or state-issued ID, and even a birth certificate. Think about what life would be like if you didn’t have any of these things. It’s hard to imagine, but men and women live this way on any given day in Maricopa County.

Jeremy was 16 when he stopped attending high school. Although he faced many obstacles, he focused on advancing his education to get ahead in life. He earned a GED, went to a local community college and transferred to Arizona State University. At ASU he earned Bachelor degrees in Finance and Accounting and later obtained a Master in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Now, he blends his passion for community service and personal finances to help local families. As Assistant Vice President for Retail Banking for Wells Fargo Arizona, his days are focused on quality service and education. He proudly serves customers at the Phoenix branch and leads financial education classes at local nonprofits, schools and community centers.