Page 48 July 2011 “(It just seemed like something we needed to do and it seemed like a nice fi t and I wanted to get involved in it.” On average Packages From Home delivers 1,000 to 1,500 packages a month, said Erin Krivanek, event and communications coordinator for the organization. Sponsorship from partners like the zoo helps not only with donations, but also brings awareness to the cause. Items such as protein bars, chewing gum, boxers and puzzles can be brought to the zoo’s front gates for $1 off admission to the Phoenix Zoo’s Prowl & Play event, Krivanek said. The items will be packaged up by Packages From Home volunteers and sent to servicemen who have requested or have had family or friends request that a package be sent to them. “Every monetary good helps,” Krivanek said. “Every Tabasco, every Slim Jim that we receive helps.” The zoo’s second Prowl & Play summer gives guests the opportunity to experience the zoo at night. They take night hikes, play in the zoo’s water areas, and hear stories from zoo keepers. Guests also can visit some of their favorite animals, Seibert said. Prowl & Play will be offered two more times this summer -- July 9 and Aug. 3 -- and admission is $6 for all ages. Packages From Home will have a booth at Prowl & Play where guests can learn more about the group’s efforts as well as write a letter or draw a picture to servicemen. “A lot of our donators will actually write little inspirational messages on the things that they donate,” Krivanek said. The booth also has an assembled care package, Krivanek said. “(Guests) can actually see how full the packages are packed and what is inside them.” Packages From Home brings some thank you notes it has received from servicemen so guests are able to see the impact their donations make, Krivanek said. Seibert said, “Hopefully (Packages From Home) will give parents and kids a little insight into what they can do even on their own maybe to help someone overseas.” For a list of what items can be donated, go to packagesfromhome.org. To learn more about the Prowl & Play event, go to phoenixzoo.org. Troops Continued from page 46 Moms bond, assist after reading blog By Daniel Kemp Nine moms from the Phoenix area, including Arcadia, were driven by the message in Maya Thompson’s blog. Thompson’s 3-year-old son Ronan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, less than a year ago. Thompson coped with the news by writing a blog, rockstarronan.com, fi lled with raw emotion of everything Ronan and the family was going through. These nine moms were among many followers of the blog and without knowing the Thompson family, they came together to brainstorm how they could help. Most of the mothers did not know each other. When Ronan died, the moms decided to have a silent auction to raise money for the Ronan Thompson Foundation. In just three weeks, the moms raised $50,000 to bene fi t the foundation whose goal is to fi nd a cure and raise awareness for neuroblastoma. The June 3 event was held at the Arizona Biltmore and gained traction through Facebook and Hopi Elementary School, where Thompson has two kids attending school. “We were able to get approval from Hopi to send an invite through the school to all the parents,” said Julie Blouin, one of the moms who helped run the fundraiser. “Before we knew it we had 400 people at the event and raised $50,000.” Donations such as an Annie Leibovitz personalized picture of Muhammad Ali’s fi st and tickets to a Katy Perry meet-and- greet before a concert were just two of the donations the women worked to get for the event. Emily Adams, an Arcadia resident, said it was her motherly instinct and Thompson’s message that drew her to help. “I’m a mom and I think my fi rst instinct was ‘How can we save this child,’ ” Adams said. Although Ronan lost his battle, Thompson and the nine moms plan on making the “Brightest Star in the Sky” event annual. “With a whole year to prepare it will be an even bigger success than the fi rst one,” Adams said. Adams and Blouin said others can be impacted by Thompson’s blog. “We’re trying to reach out to as many people as we can to raise awareness,” Adams said. “The message she is sending to people out there is amazing and hopefully it will help people deal with childhood cancer.” Thompson wrote in her blog: “I have so much love in my heart for all you amazing women. I cannot wait to personally thank you myself after we are back from trying to heal a little bit.” a a l Garden • Arcadia High • Peo op p p p s o o • St. Theresa • Basketball • Ki id d ds i se e eums • Softball • Shemer Art • Ch hr r ri r Vo o o ol lleyball • Neighborhood News • Spo o or N te e e er rtainment • Ingleside • Football • N N N a en n n nt ts • Squaw Peak • Recreation • Dram m m ma a d Da a an nce • Church News • Hopi • Arc ca a a n l lt t th & Fitness • Arts & Entertainme e e en n a s s • Hopi • Football • Desert Botani ic c c ca otan S a ad d d dia High • People • Phoenix Zoo • S S a High • People • Phoenix Zoo a as s sketball • Kids • Tavan • Museums s etball • Kids • Ta h he er A l w w w Peak • Recreation • Drama • Baseb ba a a hu u ur rch News • H i Botanical Garden. Zoo. Papago. Your parks if you live in Arcadia. l h h hem em emer er er er A A A A Art rt rt rt rt • • • • • Ch Ch Ch Ch Chri ri ri ri rist t st st st L L L L Lut ut uth he he her ra ran n • • V V Vol ghborhood News • Sports • Arts & Ent ngleside • Football • Neighborhood d w w Pe Peak ak • • R Re ecr t ti i orts • A l • Nei V rts & En ghborh h he A he A w Peak • Recreation • D l l hemer Art • Christ Lutheran • Vo e d d w w Pe Peak ak • • R Rec ecre reat atio ion • D D l hemer Art Ch i d d ARCADIADAILY COM i i i i i ig g g i i i i i i i i i ig g g g All Saints’ Episcopal Day School is a private, independent Pre-K through Grade Eight school commi Ʃ ed to helping students become competent, con Į dent, lifelong learners. All Saints’ Episcopal Day School 602.274.4866 • www.aseds.org 6300 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012 Educating Children—Head to Soul WHERE LEARNING COMES TO LIFE With our small class sizes and low student-teacher ratios, we foster a true love of learning, engaging students and encouraging them to explore their interests and passions within a positive and supportive environment. Now accepting applications for preschool through high school Tesseract is a non-profit, private independent school. tesseractschool.org 480.385.3673 FINANCIAL AID AND HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Lower School Campus (PS - 4th Grade) 4800 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Middle and High School Campus (5th – 12th Grade) 3939 E. Shea Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85028

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