L-R:  Peggy Dittberner (LWF Lecture Series Coordinator), Sandra Lackore (LWF Development Officer) Peggy Dittberner completed her last day of coordinating the LWF Lecture Series on Wednesday March 17. She has served in this position for five years. Her successor will be Ruth Pechmann. LWF Director of Development Sandra Lackore presented Peggy with a bouquet in

L-R:  Chris Ram (LWF Grants Coordinator), Mark DiStasi (House of Refuge), Donna Bailey (LWF President), Bill Duff (Mathew 25 Prison Ministry), Sue Gifford (Child Crisis Arizona), Marilyn Reed (Bag and Boob Babes), Jamie Podratz (Save the Family), Chris Reinhold (LWF Grants Coordinator Understudy). Hanna Miller (Lutheran Services) was not available.   House of Refuge -

$5,000 Grant: Supports a reading program to bring children up to grade-level reading ability with a math component. Sunshine Acres’ mission is “to provide a loving, wholesome, Christian home for children who are separated from their parents and help them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures, preparing them for success in adult life.” It

$10,000 Grant: Benefits STEM Family Activity Nights. This program provides exposure and learning opportunities to families with children 5-years-old and younger living 100 – 200% below the federal poverty level in Mesa in science, technology, engineering and math in the state STEM network. The grant provides funding to support staff training and development, and once-a-month

$11,000 Grant: Nonprofit transforms the lives of families by providing transitional housing and support. They provide safe, stable housing to families who are experiencing homelessness. Their professional staff work with families on regaining dignity, finding employment and ultimately, obtaining permanent housing. “Since 1986, we have served over 7,000 individuals to overcome homelessness, become self-sufficient, and

$4,000 Grant: Provides incarcerated women with post-secondary class costs. Rio Salado College is less than 20 miles from Leisure World, but it is unattainable if you are incarcerated. However, the Leisure World Foundation gave women in prison access to it by awarding $4,000 to Matthew 25 Prison Ministry to pursue their education. The funds helped

$11,000 Grant: Assists 50 homeless veterans and their families with housing and basic needs. The lack of affordable housing in the Valley has always been a problem. But as a result of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic downturn, this is an even bigger problem for homeless people, especially veterans.  Save the Family wants to change