30 NOVEMBER 2023 By Ann Stone Teenagers Sanya Somani and Anaiya Patel were witnesses to what happened while Anaiya’s grandmother battled lymphatic cancer. The diagnosis played a prominent role in Anaiya’s life, but her family was thankful for the accessible resources for her grandmother’s treatment. “Heartbreakingly, this is not the case worldwide. Too many women face disparities in the realm of healthcare and education and, when trying to meet needs, they often don’t have enough information or know where to start,” Anaiya said. Starting HealthForHER (HFH) meant that the duo could help more women and families access what every human needs and deserves. “This includes education on their own well-being, the resources for their livelihoods, and the comfort that we walk this world together, not alone,” Anaiya said. The two high school seniors created an international nonprofit that provides health and educational resources to underserved women and their families. They host events, drives, workshops, seminars, and panel discussions. Recently, HFH partnered with AZ Helping Hands (a foster-family resource center) to put together “birthday bags” for foster care kids. The planning began this summer when Sanya took on the role of special projects intern for the Legislative District (LD) 4 Democrats internship and organized a campaign event for Representatives Judy Schwiebert and Laura Terech and Senator Christine Marsh. Sanya and Anaiya chose to work with AZ Helping Hands for this event because they had previously worked with the organization and loved their experience. “Their warehouse is very well organized, and I felt there was a lot of opportunity to foster more involvement and support children in need,” Sanya said. HealthForHER and Arizona Helping Hands invited student volunteers and community members from LD2 and LD4 to assist with creating “birthday dream bags” for foster children to experience the joy of a birthday celebration. Each gift bag included items like cake mix, frosting, candles, plates, napkins, and an age-appropriate toy or item, such as makeup or a wallet. After, the legislators held a discussion about critical issues affecting female refugees, foster children, and low-income new mothers. They also spoke about how community members can contribute and why it is important to help when possible. In addition, those in attendance learned how families in foster care receive essentials. AZ Helping Hands, for instance, often provides mattresses, clothes, diapers, and toys to support families. Sanya enjoyed seeing her plan come together: “I worked on planning all summer, and seeing our community join together to support this incredible cause was so heartwarming. I am excited for the children to receive their birthday dream bags and can’t wait to volunteer with AZ Helping Hands again soon.” HealthForHER is currently hosting a year- long menstrual product drive. Ambassadors in different states and countries also host drives in their local communities. health-for-her.org Local nonprofit combines efforts with foster resource center According to the Arizona Department of Child Safety, approximately 14,000 Arizona children are in foster care, with around 3,000 licensed foster families. Some enter the foster system at birth, but more than 80 percent of the foster care children are there because of neglect. If foster care is not an option, folks are welcome to donate items like diapers, baby clothes, books, journals, luggage and items for birthday bags. Financial donations can assist with mattresses and other large purchases. Other alternatives include offering services such as piano or martial arts lessons. FOSTER CARE IN ARIZONA • In 2022, it was reported that the Child Abuse Hotline received 21,317 calls that met the statutory criteria for a DCS report. • The majority of children in foster care are from ages 1 to 5. • On average, children with an adoption case plan spend 25 months in foster care. • Thirty percent of children leaving foster care spent over 12 months in care. • On average, it takes six months to become foster parents. • Foster parents must be 21 or older and must pass a background check. • Parents must pass a physical, home study and life safety inspection and receive a certificate from their doctor to prove they can raise a child. azhelpinghands.org ARIZONA FOSTER CARE STATS Anaiya Patel, Laura Terech, Christine Marsh, Judy Schwiebert and Sanya Somani. PHOTO: VARSHA SOMANI Too many women face disparities in the realm of healthcare and education and they often don’t have enough information or know where to start. Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! H H H H H H H H H H H H H H Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Friday, November 10 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Mandi Schnepf by November 6 mschnepf@cclphoenix.org WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged!

31 NOVEMBER 2023 SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE 6828 E. CAMELBACK RD. SCOTTSDALE AZ 85251 602-834-2700 Woodbridge Interiors, formerly Thomasville & More is Arizona’s destination for quality fine home furnishings, featuring a wide variety of trusted national brand names including Tommy Bahama Home, Stickley, Lexington, Century, Hooker Furniture, Bernhardt, Natuzzi, American Leather & many more. ask about our complimentary in-home design | Mon-Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5 | woodbridgeinteriors.com hurry in during our fall sale! By Rachael Bouley After an impaired driver caused a terrible car accident that injured her friend, PCDS senior Lanae Schroeder was propelled to join Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), a youth safety organization empowering teen and adult allies to engage in positive change. Not only is Lanae part of the organization, she was recently recognized as one of 17 students serving on the SADD National Student Leadership Council, which develops programming to support the organization’s core mission. “The council is a selected group of students from across the nation. The positions are highly sought after by student leaders,” said Michelle Klima, Arizona Coordinator. “Lanae is one of the first representatives from AZ in several years.” Initially founded in 1981 as Students Against Driving Drunk, the nonprofit strives to prevent students from making potentially destructive, life-altering decisions. This includes educating kids and parents on safety risks and rallying communities to advocate for change, with student chapters leading the charge. Lanae is part of the council’s substance abuse committee, which creates content and reviews programming to spread the word about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how to make healthy choices. She is now in her fourth year serving locally on the Arizona Student Leadership Council. “My involvement in the Arizona Student Leadership Council started after my friend was in the accident,” Lanae said. “It made me realize how much one bad decision can impact your life.” Now, she looks forward to taking her activism to the next level alongside fellow student leaders. “I’ve loved being part of the Arizona SLC, so I decided to apply for the National SLC and was gratefully chosen through a competitive process,” Lanae explained. “When I found out I was accepted, I was so excited to further my outreach and educate students about substance abuse, traffic safety, and mental health across the country.” Lanae is grateful for the opportunity to drive change through chapters and schools. She has set her sights on launching initiatives and collaborations to promote healthy decision-making while letting at-risk students know they are not alone. “I am excited to be able to help keep moving this mission forward, seeing the impact we have on our peers around the country,” Lanae said. “I hope to get my message across and help students understand that life shouldn’t be taken for granted.” sadd.org/arizona Empowered & driven to help Lanae Schroeder