Tempe Leadership Class 32 is a prime example of working together to achieve one common goal.
For more than three decades, aspiring community leaders have pushed for positive and lasting change through this organization, and more than 700 dedicated participants have made a difference.
This year, twenty one inspiring people joined together for two worthy causes.
The class recently completed the “Feeding Our Future” campaign, raising a significant amount in the fight against hunger.
Out of all cities in Maricopa County, Tempe has the highest poverty rate for families with children, so their efforts are greatly appreciated.
In the past nine months, the class has raised over $56,000 in cash and in-kind donations benefitting Thew Elementary School and United Food Bank.
100 percent of Thew students qualify for free breakfast and lunch, and Tempe Leadership Class 32 worked hard to expand the Blessings in a Backpack program at Thew. This program eases the burden on families by providing food on the weekends for elementary school children who may otherwise be hungry. Initially, limited resources meant the program could only help a portion of the student population, but numerous fundraisers have ensured that next year, the program will be able to serve the more than 600 students at Thew.
“This will have a positive impact on their academic growth and achievement, physical health along with their social and emotional state and future success,” says Marissa Schneckloth, Principal of Flora Thew Elementary, in a press release.
At the United Food Bank in Mesa, the class raised funds to restore the eight failing evaporative coolers on the main warehouse. This will make it possible for UFB to successfully deliver more than 26 million pounds of food across the state for years to come. For employees and volunteers at the food bank, the cooler working environment is much more comfortable.
“This project was complicated and needed a high level of coordination to pull off. They did it all,with professionalism that illustrated the leaders they have become,” says Dave Richins, Interim President of the United Food Bank, in a press release.
TL32 was able to do this with the help of DP Air Corp., United Metal Products, and Phoenix Manufacturing Inc. These companies offered to help TL32 by resolving the problems associated with the commercial coolers and restoring them to their maximum efficiency.
For more information on their awesome efforts in the community, please visit their official website.