He·ro Noun
Webster: one who shows great courage or is admired for achievement and noble qualities
On December 14th, over 350 guests/gift wrapping volunteers gathered in the Arizona Ballroom at the Phoenix Marriott Airport Hotel for the Second Annual Holiday for Heroes event. The event is named in recognition of the courage exhibited by our single mom college students who are making great sacrifices to work, attend college full-time, and raise their children in order to earn a college degree. However, they weren’t the only heroes in the room that night. Others included:
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| Alan Tarr of NARPRO receives the Helping Hands Extra Mile award for 6 years of service to Helping Hands moms |
- Honored guest speaker Anthony Robles -who despite being born with only one leg became a 2011 NCAA Wrestling Champion
- Honored guest speaker and Anthony’s mother, Judy Robles – who as a single mom raised her son to be a winner in life as well as on the wrestling mat. Judy was the recipient of the inaugural Helping Hands’ “My Mom My Hero” award
- Honored guest speaker Bay Buchanan -author of “Bay and Her Boys – Unexpected Lessons I learned as a Single Mom,” who refused to feel sorry for herself as a divorced mother of three young boys, but chose to focus on giving her all to raising strong, healthy, and successful sons.
- A room full of gift donors who made the holidays special for single mom college student families by providing over $19,000 in gifts to them . The evening included a dinner buffet, an inspiring program, and a present wrapping session
And the seventy eight single mom college students. Though they arrived tired – after a long semester and a week of finals – they walked out encouraged and with smiles on their faces.
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| Markieff and Suns Team pose with a Helping Hands family |
On December 15th Markieff Morris of the Phoenix Suns delivered bags filled with gifts for the children of four Helping Hands families. The kids were delighted as they opened the bags to find I-pods, video games, talking Elmo, and dozens of other gifts. This was the second year in a row that Markieff has reached out to be a blessing to Helping Hands moms and we deeply appreciate it!
The Arizona Holiday Decorators Company adorned each mom’s house with holiday lights and provided Christmas trees – which the Suns filled with ornaments and tinsel. Of course, the evening wouldn’t have been complete without an appearance by the Gorilla and Suns cheerleaders. It was a night the moms and their children will never forget. And, the gifts kept coming — Markieff donated 104 tickets for Helping Hands families to attend a game against the LA Clippers on the following weekend. Thank you Markieff and thank you Phoenix Suns!
We are blessed.
On behalf of Helping Hands, thank you to all of our volunteers, community partners, donors, and board members. It has been another successful year. We also thank God for the grace to continue to serve single mom college students.
It is not too late to make a year end donation to Helping Hands for Single Moms.
You can donate online by clicking HERE or mail a check (postdated by December 31) to:
Helping Hands for Single Moms
P.O Box 7737 Goodyear, AZ 85338