Public Relations
Dedication to Service in Community Award Winner: Bill Chaloux
Bill has volunteered cheerfully with “About Care” since it’s inception in 2004.
After retiring and losing his wife to cancer he decided to dedicate his time to serving the needs of others. Whether it is providing transportation at 4:30 a.m. four times a week for someone who needs dialysis, ensuring that there is food to eat and prescriptions filled or taking a stroke victim to physical therapy three times a week for two consecutive years, Bill provides dignity, independence and respect to many of Chandler’s homebound residents.
Join Bill and many others by volunteering of your time today. Call About Care's Beth Summers at (480) 802-2331. Congratulations, Bill!
2009 Healthcare Stars Award Recipient for NonProfit Achievement
November 7, 2009, Phoenix, Arizona
About Care, serving homebound elderly and the disabled in the East Valley since 2005, received the 2009 Healthcare Stars Award for Nonprofit Achievement at the 2009 Sage Foundation for Health’s annual Red Ball, held November 7th at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. About Care is being honored for recruiting, training and supporting its volunteers who provide transportation, shopping and errands, reassurance phone calls, friendly visits, minor home repairs, business help, and respite for caregivers to the elderly.
About Care was joined at the event by three other award winners: Debbie Gaby from Sleep America for her continuing philanthropic commitment to the community; Dr. Suzanne Zentner for creating a fitness wellness program in the impoverished Isaac School District; and Sr. Adele O’Sullivan, M.D., for creating a house of respite for homeless individuals who are seen in valley emergency rooms then released back to the street.
As a result of diminishing health and eyesight, many elderly lose their driving privileges and become homebound. These forgotten Arizonans are more likely to miss medical appointments, are unable to get to the grocery store, and cannot run necessary errands. Many become depressed due to lack of contact with others on a regular basis; however, they are not ready for long term care options. About Care was created to meet the need to provide transportation and contact, with dignity, for those facing these challenges in Chandler and Gilbert, Arizona.
About Care serves the homebound elderly and disabled by recruiting, training and supporting its volunteers who provide transportation and support services. In July of this year, About Care had 237 volunteers who provided 631 unduplicated services, driving over 3,096 miles, and donating 309 hours for elderly and disabled residents.
About Care services some of the oldest neighborhoods of Chandler and Gilbert, with 82% of their clients being elderly women who are economically disadvantaged. Many of About Care’s clients live in older mobile homes, have only their social security and small pensions, and 60-68% have incomes of less than $20,000 per year.
About Care is an extraordinary example of a community of volunteers in action who make a profound difference by providing dignity, care, and services to the vulnerable and underserved elderly population.
The mission of the Sage Foundation for Health is to provide quality, natural, compassionate healthcare along with conventional medicine to uninsured and underserved children and adults of Arizona. Established in 2002, through the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (SCNM), the Foundation currently provides no-cost medical treatment and medications to over 20,000 Arizonans each year through eight community collaboration clinics. The Foundation funds these operations through an ongoing appeal to the community at large, as well as at the annual “Red Ball” which generates revenues to support ongoing operations. New fund development initiatives are being considered to increase funding to meet the ever growing need as a result of the economic downturn.
Check out the September issue of Go Gilbert Magazine (pages 46-47)!
We would like to thank Karen Elizabeth Photography for the pictures featured in the Go Gilbert Magazine article as well as Dorothy Wehrle and the volunteers who contributed their time and effort into making this article a reality.
About Care Receives Grant from the Piper Trust
September 14, 2009, About Care Receives Grant from the Piper Trust
About Care, a non-profit organization serving the Chandler and Gilbert areas, received a grant from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust on September 14, 2008. About Care provides free services through its volunteers to the physically challenged and frail elderly of Chandler and Gilbert. The Piper grant was provided to support community outreach to frail older adults and other homebound individuals that will enhance the delivery of volunteer services to over 170 homebound elderly and disabled adults in Chandler and Gilbert.
About Care Executive Director Ann Marie McArthur, stated: “About Care is extremely grateful and honored to have the support of the Piper Trust and become part of the Piper family of grantees. The Trust’s generosity and philosophy of giving will help those individuals in Chandler and Gilbert who are in need of our services remain in their homes, live with self-respect and dignity while encouraging independence, especially in these difficult economic times.
“Piper Trust is pleased to support services to help keep elderly and physically challenged individuals in their homes,” said Judy Jolley Mohraz, Piper Trust, President and CEO. “About Care provides invaluable assistance to frail older adults in the East Valley.”
The majority of requests to About Care for services are for transportation to medical or other important appointments. About Care also offers weekly transportation for shopping and errands, respite, reassurance phone calls, and minor home repairs. The services are provided without charge by trained and insured volunteers -- compassionate, caring individuals who want to make a difference in someone’s life by offering their time. In the past year, About Care has provided over 1400 people with 2000 services.
About Care is looking for volunteers with big hearts who really want to help others. For more information or to obtain a volunteer application, visit www.aboutcare.org. The About Care volunteers do “small things with great love that truly impact the lives of the homebound”.
September 2009, Go Gilbert Magazine features About Care
Check out the September issue of Go Gilbert Magazine (pages 46-47)! We would like to thank Karen Elizabeth Photography for the pictures featured in the Go Gilbert Magazine article as well as Dorothy Wehrle and the volunteers who contributed their time and effort into making this article a reality.
February 17, 2009, Volunteer drivers to receive gas money for helping homebound: Pilot reimbursement program that pays volunteers 55 cents a mile to drive the elderly and disabled starts in Chandler in Gilbert
November 2008, About Care Receives Grant from the Pulliam Trust
About Care, a non-profit organization serving the Chandler and Gilbert areas, received a substantial grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust on November 20, 2008. About Care provides services to the physically challenged and the elderly of Chandler and Gilbert. The Pulliam grant was provided to enhance the delivery of volunteer services to over 125 homebound elderly and disabled adults in Chandler and Gilbert.
In the first 10 years of a 50 year life, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has evolved into a strong resource for nonprofit groups and has focused on building relationships with organizations that are working to assist those in need, with an emphasis on encouraging self-sufficiency. The Trust serves individuals, including the elderly and disabled, women, children and their families," Trustee Carol P. Shilling said.
About Care Executive Director Ann Marie McArthur, stated: “About Care is extremely grateful and honored to have the support of the Pulliam Trust and become part of the Pulliam family of grantees. The Trust’s generosity and philosophy of giving will help those individuals in Chandler and Gilbert who are in need of our services remain in their homes, live with self-respect and dignity while encouraging independence, especially in these difficult economic times. About Care would also like to congratulate the Pulliam Trust on their 10th anniversary of community grantmaking having provided more than $77 million to 350 Arizona nonprofit organizations since 1998,” McArthur added.
“During her lifetime, Nina Mason Pulliam dedicated her assets and business expertise to organizations helping people in need, protecting animals and nature and enriching community life in her hometown of Phoenix,” said Frank E. Russell, Trustee chairman.
The majority of requests to About Care for services are for transportation to medical or other important appointments. About Care also offers weekly transportation for shopping and errands, respite, reassurance phone calls, and minor home repairs. The services are provided without charge by trained and insured volunteers -- compassionate, caring individuals who want to make a difference in someone’s life by offering their time.
About Care is looking for volunteers with big hearts who really want to help others. For more information or to obtain a volunteer application, visit www.aboutcare.org. The About Care volunteers do “small things with great love that truly impact the lives of the homebound”.
October, 2007 About Care was a sub-awardee of the federally funded AZ Compassion Initiative grant that is managed locally through United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. This grant money will be used to develop a donor based fundraising program for the organization.
December 2007, Gilbert Lifestyles Magazine. About Dignity. About Compassion. About Care. - Read how Sara Martin, 29, a Gilbert-based volunteer, and her 2 1/2 year old daughter, Maddie Grace, spend their time making a big difference in the lives of the homebound elderly. . .