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On Tuesday, April 30, Valley of the Sun United Way hosted its annual We Are United Breakfast. This signature event brought together more than 700 philanthropists, corporate and nonprofit partners, elected officials, and other community members for a morning of celebration, collaboration, and charitable giving.
The excitement was palpable as Valley of the Sun United Way supporters and partners began filling the ballroom at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. This year’s theme: UNSTOPPABLE!
Attendees were greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from Emmy award-winning and Women United Steering Committee member, Olivia Fierro, who joined us for her fifth year as the event’s emcee.
The morning progressed with Valley of the Sun United Way President and CEO Carla Vargas Jasa sharing the organization’s continued commitment to its five-year MC2026 plan for Mighty Change and the success our community has seen thus far.
Throughout the morning guests heard heartfelt Stories of Mighty Change featuring how Valley of the Sun United Way and its partners are making real and lasting changes for children, families and individuals throughout our community.
One such story was about Yered MadRo who experienced some challenges earlier in life when working to complete her high school education. Despite the barriers she faced, Yered could see her own potential and knew she would be unstoppable in her life. Through a Valley of the Sun United Way partnership, Yered was matched with Keake Williams, who worked hand-in-hand with Yered to not only guide her through obtaining her GED, but also partnered with her to help her pursue a Certified Nursing Assistant program and was available to provide other resources and support.
With Keake’s assistance, Yered was able to overcome the obstacles in front of her to complete her education, gain financial independence, begin a promising career path, and have the means to travel to see family in Mexico and experience new places. As life has a way of doing, it has been years since Keake and Yered have seen each other...until now. Valley of the Sun United Way planned for Keake to attend the event and reconnect, all unknown to Yered. It was a beautiful moment at the breakfast when the two saw each for the first time and were able to sit side by side during the event.
Principal Frank Lomeli took the stage as one of the event’s featured speakers, sharing stories about the experiences of students at Academia del Pueblo Elementary, a public charter school predominantly helping families facing homelessness, poverty, and other varying traumas. The main topic: hunger and the programs Valley of the Sun United Way has helped bring to the community to create measurable and sustainable change.
On stage, Samantha Garcia Pennell shared her personal journey of re-entry into the community and workforce following her experiences with the justice system. She shared further on how triumph over adversity came, in part, from United Way and MC2026 community partner, the Arouet Foundation.
With an investment from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way is launching a new Fair Chance Collaborative that will address the needs of individuals who have been involved with the justice system, including job training and placement, hiring and retention, as well as resources for housing, health care, financial health and more.
The We Are United Breakfast closed out the morning’s festivities with the presentation of the inaugural Spirit of Community Award, which recognizes community members and organizations that rise above any call to service in ways that leave a brighter and more thriving community for us all.
Carla Vargas Jasa and incoming board chair, Latasha Causey, presented the honor to John Graham in recognition of his many years of dedicated leadership and service to the Valley of the Sun United Way Board of Directors and the tremendous impact he has made, and continues to make, throughout the Valley and across Arizona.
Thank you to the many sponsors who helped make this event possible and continue to make Mighty Change for the various programs and community partners Valley of the Sun United Way supports.
Together, with our partners and community by our side, we will build a stronger, healthier and more equitable future for Maricopa County.
