30 DECEMBER 2022 By Mallory Gleich The Tutu Project, a breast cancer-focused nonprofit that offers financial and emotional support to patients receiving care, didn’t actually start as a nonprofit. In 2003, Arizona photographer Bob Carey began a “self” project where he would don a pink tutu and take self-portraits worldwide – in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, even as far as Colombia and Greece. According to his wife, Linda, it was his way to express himself after learning of Linda’s breast cancer diagnosis. She beat it, only for it to return in 2006. “He started photographing himself in a pink tutu to bring levity into our life when I was diagnosed. We had just moved from Phoenix to Brooklyn, were self-employed and had a small support system,” Linda said. “It was an enormous challenge. My diagnosis was only eight months after our move, and to say that this was overwhelming is an understatement.” It was then that the Tutu Project became so much more than fun pictures. The couple took Bob’s photos and put them on social media platforms. They were an instant hit, and the nonprofit started in 2012 as an offshoot of The Carey Foundation, which “raises funds for women, men and their families to ease the financial burdens that come with breast cancer diagnoses.” “This work now gives hope to others fighting breast cancer, as his photos have become an art and philanthropic phenomenon,” Linda said. #Dare2Tutu is a fundraising campaign that uses Bob’s tutu to “cheer up people living with breast cancer.” Individuals or groups can purchase a tutu and share their tutu photos with the nonprofit’s Instagram page. This is where the Herberger Pickleballers come in. Phoenix-based artist and former art director Dino Paul worked with Bob back when Dino owned a graphic design firm. He’s donated to the organization since it started, but when the #Dare2Tutu project happened, Dino decided to wear his tutu when he played pickleball. The trend grew, and this fall, over 30 people from the Herberger Pickleballer group showed up to play a few games and raise money for the organization. “Our group has a logo and t-shirts. I don’t think half the people know each other’s last names. It’s just a group who love to play pickleball at Herberger Park,” Dino said. The group grew over the past two years. At the event, each of the pickleballers donned tutus to play – and despite the rainy weather that day, the enthusiasm never wavered. “We had people who have been personally affected by breast cancer out there. I was expecting maybe a dozen, so it was awesome when 30-plus people showed up. We had so much fun supporting a great cause and a wonderful small nonprofit organization,” Dino said. “I really think people mostly got a kick out of adults playing around in pink tutus.” The Tutu Project has helped a global community of nearly 250,000 people with financial assistance, emotional healing, education and resources. thetutuproject.com A sea of pink at Herberger Park By Mark Hays Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has a segment during early November where parents tell their kids they ate the rest of the Halloween candy and film the reactions. While this is one way to get rid of the leftover Snickers and Kit-Kats, a few of our area schools had a better idea. In November, Hopi Elementary, St. Thomas and Christ Lutheran School held drives to donate their Halloween candy to active-duty soldiers, veterans and first responders. Hopi sent their collection to Packages from Home, a charity that supports soldiers and veterans by providing them with food, hygiene and entertainment items to boost morale and quality of life. These drives are a long-running tradition at the school, which PTA member Kyle Christensen has run since 2013. This year, though, PTA President Anna Zollman took the reins. “It started before I arrived in 2013, so I’d think it’s safe to say the drive has been going on for at least ten years,” Christensen said. Hopi collected twelve landscaping-sized bags of candy, and the fourth graders decorated mailers with messages of support. The altruism of the drive is an important feeling for participants. “I’ve delivered candy before. It is a wonderful feeling to arrive at the facility so weighed down with offerings. I am constantly in awe of – and so proud of – the generosity of the Hopi community,” Zollman said. At St. Thomas, the theme of giving was also in full swing, with students collecting candy throughout the first week of November. The school offers various collections throughout the year, all geared toward helping students give back. “In the case of the candy collection, we do not want parents to go out and buy it. We ask the students to practice generosity and share the candy they have collected with others in need,” Coordinator Pam Hudgins said. The students responded generously to this call. Sixth- grader Michael said, “If it helps other people, it makes me happy. I like the feeling you get when you know that you have done something good.” In total, 742 pounds of candy were collected by St. Thomas and sent to AZ Helping Hands, Ronald McDonald House, Valleywise Health Medical Center, Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix Fire Department, St. Vincent de Paul, several military units and local nursing homes. Christ Lutheran holds a candy drive run by sixth-grader Brooke Walker and her mom. They’ve hosted the drive for the last five years. After Brooke felt a calling to help out veterans in her own family, she expanded it to include the school and veterans around the world. “We thought growing the drive would be exciting and fun,” Brooke said. “The more candy for our troops, the better.” And the recipients’ appreciative reactions have shown the drive’s positive impact: “Veterans have told us that they thought it was very cool that we are sending candy to troops and that they wish they had received candy when they were overseas. When we drop the candy off at Packages from Home, everyone appreciates it,” Brooke said. Veterans with a sweet tooth will enjoy these deliveries (back) Karen Greenwood, Kim Krogh, Saville Levy, Dino Paul, Matt Benson and Craig Mikkelson. (front) Terri Malenfant and Rosanne Collins. PHOTO COURTESY OF DINO PAUL Christ Lutheran students Ashlyn Hackett, Carina Compagno, Brooke Walker, Camille Read, Hollyn Gardner and Abby Bergeson. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL

31 DECEMBER 2022 H ow do you react when you’re behind at work? So often, when this happens, it feels like the answer is to do more. Roll up your sleeves, work harder, push through it, stay up late and get up early. This can be effective if you’re doing something mindless, like unpacking boxes after a move. But if you’re doing work that requires thought and concentration, doing more may not actually work. In fact, it could have the opposite effect. Overworking will wear you out. It will zap your creativity and mental energy. Your work will take longer, and it is more likely that you’ll make mistakes. Pushing yourself too much is one of the behaviors that can ultimately lead to burnout, which takes time and energy to recover from. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that we all begin checking out. It’s also not an effective strategy to do nothing. But when you’re tight on time with a to-do list that seems too long, take a minute to reprioritize. Rather than try to accomplish everything, decide which of your things is most important. One exercise is to try cutting your to-do list in half. If you could only accomplish half of the things on the list, which tasks would you begin with? Which tasks must be completed now versus later? Which tasks are quick, and which are long? Focusing on fewer things allows us to do those things better. It allows us to clear our minds of the worry of having to complete too many tasks. For the items you do complete, you’ll have the time to do the best possible job on each task. Of the tasks you focus on, you’ll actually complete them. You’ll do a better job. If you’re squeezed at work, you’ll probably find this advice is the opposite of how many leaders think of getting things done. So often, prioritizing what is important seems like an impossible task. Everything is important. How can we possibly pick specific tasks over others? But again, trying to accomplish too much is not a good long-term strategy. It can work once in a while, but not normally. There’s a saying that if everything is important, nothing is important. When you try to do too much, you may find yourself completing very little of your list. Both at work and home, make your goal to do fewer things better. You’ll find that this strategy will improve your mood. And your quality of work will improve overall. You will ultimately accomplish more. At work, this strategy will force you to have tough conversations about which projects take priority. But over time, the process of reprioritizing your work will become easier. Do less, not more Career Corner Career expert and founder of Copeland Coaching. copelandcoaching.com BY ANGELA COPELAND Arizona Cantilena Chorale and Orchestra December 10 @ 3PM Dessert Reception Following Prepare to be inspired by Handel’s masterpiece performed by a premier chorale and orchestra in the beautiful Dayspring UMC Arcadia - Come for the glorious music, stay for dessert! No Ticket Required - Donations Appreciated Dr. Dave Thye - Artistic Director & Principal Conductor www.ArizonaCantilenaChorale.org 3530 N 32nd St Phoenix, AZ 85018