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Because of the needs of people in our community, like Lawrence, we at United Way set a high bar for ourselves, our partners and the Valley. We work hard every day to achieve our community objectives, including to End Homelessness. Although some might scoff and say it isn’t possible, we believe it is. We believe that by changing systems away from a focus on managing homelessness to one of ending homelessness, we will, as a community, make homelessness a vestige of the past.

Jerry Malone recently drove 80 plus miles at the crack of dawn from his home in Wickenburg to Mesa, not for his latest construction contract, but to volunteer to help people experiencing homelessness. He makes the long-distance drive to other sites around the Valley every month as an ambassador for United Way’s Project Connect, a role he’s proudly held for five years.

It may sound strange that when I was 12 years old, my dream job was to be an accountant. Even as a preteen, I loved crunching numbers. My mom was a tax preparer and when she reviewed her documents at the kitchen table of our Chicago home, my best friend and I always helped her match up every penny. I learned at a young age that bank statements tell a story of how people behave—both the good and the bad. I knew then accounting was the career for me.

Funded by United Way‘s Destination Graduation program, the festival was part of Arizona SciTech Festival’s statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and helps students spark interest in industries that are essential to today’s workforce. See how these students are creating a brighter future for us all through STEaM.

We all have dreams, but for some youth in our community, the road to realizing those dreams is especially challenging. Some teens have to work to support their family, while others don’t always have a roof over their heads or food on the table. For these students, the dream of graduating from high school—let alone going to college and having a successful career—often seems impossible.

This year Valley of the Sun United Way is expanding our Read Across America celebration from one day to a week from Feb. 29 – Mar. 4 with volunteers reading to children at 13 Valley elementary schools. United Way provides the books through our bonus book program with Scholastic, Inc., a partner in inspiring the lifelong love of literacy and learning that research shows is so critical to a student’s success.

Students have countless options for activities during upcoming spring breaks across the Valley, but one in particular can bring huge benefits – immediate and well into their future. See how the choice to volunteer can change a student’s life.

Across our nation today, one-in-six people struggle to get enough to eat. Perhaps you’ve seen the 2013 documentary “A Place At the Table” that examines hunger around the nation. But do you know what hunger looks like for children in our community? From your own child’s classmates, to a teammate in their youth sports league, you may be surprised who comprises the face of hunger right here in Maricopa County.

By seeking out United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), a program focused on connecting every qualified Maricopa County taxpayer to a tax credit that could lighten their financial load. Trained volunteers prepare and e-file tax returns for families to receive the maximum benefits available, saving them hundreds of dollars in preparer fees.