On June 24th
PIA participated
in the West Valley Gives Event
The University of Phoenix Stadium presented the first annual West Valley Gives Event on June 24, 2017 in Glendale, AZ to support the Treasure House – an independent living community for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that will open in the Spring of 2018. Guest speakers at the event were former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda who founded the Treasure House. Local non-profits were invited to attend and PIA jumped at the opportunity to showcase the Glendale Youth Center!
The story behind the Glendale Youth Center
Tiffany Torres, who currently works at the Center, has fond memories of visiting her local youth center as a child. “As a little girl, I would always want to be at the youth center,” she recalls. “There were so many programs, from sports to Girl Scouts and even cooking classes. It was the only place to go if you didn’t want to be out on the streets getting into trouble.”
Torres was right to be apprehensive of the neighborhood. Her beloved youth center was in an area of Glendale, Arizona, known as the Heart of Glendale. It’s a community that’s seen more than its fair share of problems: drug dealing, gang violence, underperforming schools, and a host of other issues. About 95% of the neighborhood’s community members are minorities, and the vast majority live below the poverty level.
While the city-owned center played a vital role in the community, it eventually fell into disuse. That’s when Partners In Action stepped in to help return the center to its former glory.
In 2016, PIA contracted with the City of Glendale to revitalize the center and begin offering programs for youth and their families. As CEO Jerry Bowman explains, “A $100,000 grant from the Fiesta Bowl Charities allowed us to revitalize the center so kids in the area could come for after-school programs and a chance to get off the streets.”
Today the Glendale Youth Center offers a safe, happy, compassionate and fun environment. The Center offers a much needed After School Program which the children get homework help and experience crafts, sports, computer center, dance, etc. The children also receive meals and snacks while attending the programs.
Partners in Action also sponsors the Holiday Events and Summer Program for the Center.
Air Hockey Table for the Kids!
Games such as the air hockey table become a magnet for the kids to come to the center and off the streets after school. Help us purchase this Air Hockey Table for the kids at the Glendale Youth Center!
A recent study identifies eggs as the cheapest and best source of protein to feed undernourished populations. Center Fresh, a major U.S. chicken and egg producer, has been working to combat poverty and malnutrition by establishing a business venture to produce eggs for the people of Mozambique. The profits are then reinvested back into creating community assets including a K-8 Christian school.
On June 27th Jerry Bowman, CEO of Partners in Action, and Gwen Martinez, PIA board member, traveled to Milwaukee to meet Kim and Bruce Dooyema, brothers and co-founders of Center Fresh, to learn more about this social venture. Discussed during the meeting was collaboration opportunities between the two organizations. It was determined that replicating this type of project in Zambia would be a major social investment opportunity that would build on a presence that new Partners in Action partner, Baobridge, has already established in the Namwala District of Zambia.
Then additional opportunities emerged:
Namwala Veterinary Laboratory upgrade in Zambia – The Kafue National Park in the Namwala district has identified health issues due to disease transmission across wildlife, humans, and domesticated animals. Collaboration between the Iowa State University’s Veterinarian School Labs (Bruce Dooyema is a board member) and the Namwala Laboratory could bring much needed expertise and equipment to solve this major social issue.
Dooyema’s Ebenezer Water Project in Mozambique – More clean water reserves are always needed in Africa and the Mozambique is no exception. Partners in Action’s friends Pipeline Worldwide, who are expert in providing drilling expertise to deliver clean water projects in Africa, and the Ebenezer Project, who have the water drilling equipment to provide clean water can work together to build a valuable solution.
Upcoming Ministry Events:
The National Orange Popsicle Week (NOPW) exists to raise awareness of stroke in young people. The NOPW 2017 Auto Show will be held on July 22nd from 10 am to 4 pm at the Bass Pro Shop in Olanthe, KS. Join us to see some amazing autos, raffles, Dyno Test, and awesome vendor booths. More information can be found at http://nopw.org
Please keep in your prayers the urgent need for house parents at partner ministry, Jireh Christian Children’s Home in the Philippines. This is a home for children who have no home of their own: orphans, runaways, street children, victims of neglect, poverty, and exploitation.
Prayers also requested for Pastor Jose and his wife who recently relocated their family to Guadalajara, México. They are currently living on campus at partner ministry, Foundation Emmanuel while looking for a home. Please pray that God will direct their steps in finding a new home, as well as helping them to adapt to their new culture.
Did you know you could support Partners In Action by registering on Amazon Smile – Amazon.com?
When you make a purchase on Amazon Smile, a portion of their profit supports Partners In Action.
Just follow these easy one-time set-up steps:
Sign in using your normal Amazon username and password.
Amazon will prompt you to select an organization-type.
Select Partners In Action and then make sure that at top left of page, in orange letters you will see the word “Supporting”: it should say Partners In Action in white letters next to supporting.
On June 24th
Tiffany Torres, who currently works at the Center, has fond memories of visiting her local youth center as a child. “As a little girl, I would always want to be at the youth center,” she recalls. “There were so many programs, from sports to Girl Scouts and even cooking classes. It was the only place to go if you didn’t want to be out on the streets getting into trouble.”
A recent study identifies eggs as the cheapest and best source of protein to feed undernourished populations. Center Fresh, a major U.S. chicken and egg producer, has been working to combat poverty and malnutrition by establishing a business venture to produce eggs for the people of Mozambique. The profits are then reinvested back into creating community assets including a K-8 Christian school.
On June 27th Jerry Bowman, CEO of Partners in Action, and Gwen Martinez, PIA board member, traveled to Milwaukee to meet Kim and Bruce Dooyema, brothers and co-founders of Center Fresh, to learn more about this social venture. Discussed during the meeting was collaboration opportunities between the two organizations. It was determined that replicating this type of project in Zambia would be a major social investment opportunity that would build on a presence that new Partners in Action partner, Baobridge, has already established in the Namwala District of Zambia.
