Avnet is pleased to announce the final fifteen “100 Acts of Giving” grant recipients, celebrating employees’ volunteer efforts during its 100th anniversary year. As part of the campaign, Avnet donated $1,000 (USD) to 100 eligible nonprofits globally for a total of $100,000. The 100 nonprofits, listed at the end of the 15 stories, were identified from volunteer story submissions from Avnet employees and selected via a drawing. There were 183 total volunteer story submissions from 15 different countries.
ASA Now Advocacy – Foster Care - ASA Now believes that all children deserve to feel safe, supported, and worthy of achieving their fullest potential by making a difference in the life of children impacted by the foster care system. The Avnet employee who selected this nonprofit is an active volunteer with the organization and said, “My Daughter and I have been volunteering our time starting the month of September for this nonprofit organization. We would help the workers prepare the food for the families and organize the clothes. The most fun and rewarding was the family events where we babysat the foster kids! This organization goes above and beyond for these families. You can tell how much they care and when you volunteer you almost don't want to leave and keep helping. I will continue to help them in any way that I can.”
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley- Boys and Girls of the Valley has a clear mission to empower and support young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible members of their community by providing affordable afterschool programs which include grades K-12. By attending the afterschool programs, young people are academically and emotionally supported to ensure they develop a strong character along with leadership skills that will help them create positive connections and an overall healthier lifestyle. “The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley is a long-standing well respected organization helping many children throughout the Phoenix metro area,” said the employee who nominated them.
Casa por Cristo – TX - Casa por Cristo focuses on their mission to build and serve. Avnet Employee Jon Sullivan explains his time volunteering with Casa por Cristo, “We had the honor as a family to work with a larger group in 2019 to provide for and build a safe and secure home in a four-day period for a homeless family in Juarez, Mexico. It was a humbling and wonderful experience to see this devastated area just across the U.S. border that is so desperately in need of resources and to be a part of bringing hope and homes to people who have none. Casas Por Cristo is an incredible organization that is now providing housing in multiple cities in Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. We hope to return in October of 2022 and continue to give to support this organization as they have already built over 6,000 houses for families in need.”
Cavell Nurses Trust – UK – From simple, essential support like money to repair a broken cooker or boiler, to vital life-changing aid like helping a family flee their home due to domestic abuse, Cavell Nurses’ Trust is here to help by supporting UK nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants both active and retired, when they are suffering a personal or financial crisis due to an illness, disability, domestic violence or due to the pandemic. Simon Meadmore for Farnell explains his connection to Cavell Nurses Trust, “My Mum suddenly passed away in 2019. She spent over 30 years working as a nurse for the National Health Service and all donations from her passing went to this trust. It seems appropriate that during a pandemic that we support nurses who do not earn huge salaries but provide an invaluable and dedicated service.”
Chicanos por la Causa – Chicanos por la Causa works to help individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency by providing accessible healthcare, housing, and a quality education. Individuals are also supported by having access to meaningful work and have impacted almost 620,000 lives annually in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. The Avent employee who submitted the organization explains her personal experience with CPLC, “Our organization's name represents our roots. The term ‘Chicano’ refers to those who navigate both the Mexican and American worlds and was popularized during the Civil Rights movement, when CPLC formed. ‘Por La Causa’ (pronounced ‘cow’-‘saw’) translates to ‘for the Cause,’ which at that time was combatting discrimination. Since then, we have expanded our interpretation of ‘Chicano’ to mean anyone who believes in equal opportunity for all people, regardless of background, and ‘the Cause’ continues to evolve, like CPLC, to meet the changing needs of the community.”
Child Crisis AZ – Zsaber Gere elected Child Crisis AZ as one of the 100 acts of giving participants due to the large impact they have on our own community. Gere explains, “Child Crisis Arizona has been helping our community’s most vulnerable children, youth, and families for nearly five decades. In times of crisis, we are there to help. When no crisis threatens, we are there to strengthen families, build resiliency and prevent crisis situations.”
Cultivate Goodness – To seek, gather and lift is a priority to Cultivate Goodness by ensuring the greatest needs are met, by gathering for one common goal, to lift others in joy by serving their needs and cultivating goodness in their community. Active volunteer participant and Avnet employee, Patty Van West explains her time with Cultivate goodness, “We help to fill a lot of nonprofit’s shelves with stock (food and hygiene) for donation. We also help homeless with food and clothing. We also help Cancer patients with items that they might need while in the hospital or when they plan on going home. Right now, we are gathering stocking items for the homeless and the Foster care teens.”
Desert Botanical Gardens – Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) is one of 24 botanical gardens accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. DBG is committed to the community to advance education, research, exhibition and conservation of desert plants of the world. An Avnet employee elected DBG as one the 100 acts of giving and states, “I haven't yet had the chance to directly volunteer to support the Garden's conservation work, but I have been a member for years and they contribute significantly to the environment, arts and culture of the Phoenix area. And their classes are fantastic!”
Friendly House –- An Avnet employee sent in a story about Friendly house being another 100 year plus organization. As one of Arizona’s pioneer social service agencies, Friendly House was first established in 1920 as part of a local initiative to assist immigrants in acquiring the citizenship, education, and literacy skills necessary to acculturate into the United States. In 100+ years, Friendly House has evolved into a multi-service organization with wide-ranging programs aimed at addressing the pressing needs of our diverse community: Education, Workforce Development, Family Support, Basic Needs, and Immigration.
HaveiHope – HaveiHope is on a mission to giving youth of today a safe environment for learning and character building to ensure a generational difference leads a better future for children. Avnet employee Gina Haraway is heavily involved with HaveiHope and explains her active role, “I was the Interim President for 6 months in 2020. Currently, 2021, I am acting in an advisory role. We work with a diverse group of ‘at risk’ youth and provide an integrated hands-on equine and farm experience, while addressing emotional needs. HOPE Soil helps children gain knowledge of how food is grown, how it impacts health, and how it affects the world around them while learning and applying STREAM concepts. Children learn, science, STREAM and nutrition through the farming of vegetables, caring for farm animals and egg production. They also learn the business concepts of running a farm with an entrepreneurship component where they're taught how to plant and harvest product and eggs for sale.”
Hope & Aid Direct – UK - A 100% volunteer led, this UK-based, humanitarian aid charity joins together to form a fleet of aid trucks driving up to six days to reach their destination to support, acquire and pack aid for a crisis in need. Mark Hughes, explains his active time with Hope & Aid Direct- UK, “I volunteer for Hope and Aid Direct, a humanitarian aid charity where everyone is a volunteer. All the drivers, trustees, logistical staff, and management are volunteers. This somewhat unique business model means that all the money that we raise as a charity can be used to procure, transport, and deliver humanitarian aid. No money is spent on vehicles, salaries or premises allowing for maximum impact and ensuring there is no wastage.”
TCH – The Centers for Habilitation – An Avnet employee and previous board member submitted TCH as a 100 Acts of Giving option. TCH supports some of the most vulnerable people in Arizona by ensuring that more than 23% of Arizona adults with developmental or physical disabilities have the support and opportunities they need to live life to the fullest. From helping adults with disabilities develop critical life skills to guiding them through career training with the goal of independent employment, TCH offers Arizonians with disabilities the tools they need to make their own choices, improve their abilities, and gain control of their lives.
UMOM – Founded in 1964, UMOM is located in Phoenix, Arizona and is an innovative provider of shelter, housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. “Every night UMOM provides safe shelter and supportive services for nearly 700 individuals experiencing homelessness – 155 families and 130 single women,” said Avnet employee Zsaber Gere who submitted the nonprofit. “They also offer over 500 units of affordable housing across the Valley,” she added.
US Vets – On a mission to end veteran homelessness in the United States, US Vets believes all veterans deserve every opportunity to live with dignity and independence as our duty to deliver to those who have served. Tash Price, Avnet employee explains her role at US Vets, “I am on the Advisory Council of US Vets - Phoenix. In the spirit of Veteran's Day, I decided to resubmit for consideration because US Vets hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new Phoenix facility for homeless veterans earlier today (well-attended by dignitaries, including the Phoenix Mayor and a Congressman); I am delighted to support this organization and its mission (serving those who served), which is also celebrating a milestone year in 2021 (20 years in Phoenix). A veteran-beneficiary of US Vets' assistance spoke at the ceremony and underscored how much the organization had helped him with a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’ -- he is now working at Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic.”
YMCA – Kisumu/Kenya – “As the chairman of the Committee for international affairs of the YMCA Baden/Germany, my passion is our partnership with the Kisumu YMCA/Kenya. There many activities take place to support young, disadvantaged people – women and men: vocational training for different professions, computer training, life skills training and a very important special job training with baby care for young mothers who must abort the school because of unintentional pregnancy,” explained Siegbert Schaufelberger, the employee who submitted the organization. The YMCA is on a mission to enable young people in Kenya to go to school, to learn and to develop in positive conditions, as well as to shape the Africa of tomorrow. These opportunities are necessary to bring to an end unwanted and teenage pregnancies, early marriages, provide healthy living conditions, reduce HIV-infections and unemployment and poverty, among other vital trainings and activities.
Complete list of 100 Acts of Giving recipients:
1. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
2. A21
3. Acorn Music Theatre Company
4. AdVita
5. Aktion-deutschland-hilft
6. Alive Center
7. AMADYS
8. Andy’s Man Club
9. Arizona Educational Foundation
10. Arizona Friends for Life Animal Rescue
11. Arizona Science Center
12. Arizona Special Olympics
13. Armley Helping Hands
14. ASA Now Advocacy – Foster Care
15. Ashland Education Foundation
16. ASU: Project Humanities Service Saturdays
17. Avon Needs Trees
18. Back to School Clothing Drive (BTSCD)
19. Backpack4KidsAZ
20. Ballet Arizona
21. BET SHE CAN
22. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)
23. Bless Your Heart
24. Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley
25. Breast Cancer Can Stick It!
26. Cardiac Risk in the Young
27. Career Connectors
28. Casa por Cristo – TX
29. Cavell Nurses Trust – UK
30. CeCe’s Hope Center
31. Chandler Cultural Foundation
32. Chicanos Por La Causa
33. Child Crisis AZ
34. ComfortCare Women’s Health
35. Computers for the Blind (CFTB)
36. Cultivate Goodness
37. Days for Girls
38. DCA Mexico
39. DementiaUK
40. Desert Botanical Gardens
41. Dig Deep
42. Dress for Success Phoenix
43. Elderly Advocates
44. Epilepsy Research UK
45. Feed My Starving Children
46. Friendly House
47. Friends of City Dogs, Cleveland
48. Furnishing Dignity
49. Girl Scouts, Arizona Cactus Pine
50. GirlVentures
51. Gleaners Food Bank of Michigan
52. HandsOn Greater Phoenix
53. HaveiHope – Alabama
54. Haven First
55. Homeward Bound
56. Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV)
57. Hope & Aid Direct – UK
58. Hospice of the Valley
59. ICAN
60. Illinois Leadership Seminars (ILS)
61. InHope (Bristol) Limited – Wild Goose
62. Jonte Fonden
63. Ladder Up
64. Lost Our Home Pet Rescue
65. Matthews Crossing Foodbank
66. Midwest Food Bank in Phoenix
67. Mighty Writers
68. Minhaj Welfare Foundation
69. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
70. Myranda's Mended Souls
71. National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)
72. New Life Animal Rescue
73. One•n•Ten
74. Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (PHS)
75. Phoenix Zoo
76. Red Bucket Equine Rescue
77. Restore Addiction Recovery
78. School Connect
79. Shedd Aquarium
80. SSAFA – the Armed Forces Charity (UK)
81. St. Mary’s Food Bank
82. St. Vincent de Paul
83. Steps and Strides Equestrian Service
84. TCH – The Centers for Habilitation
85. The Children’s Center
86. The Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund
87. The Trussell Trust
88. Throwaway Ponies Horse Rescue
89. Treasures 4 Teachers
90. Trees Matter
91. UMOM
92. US Vets
93. Veterans Heritage Project
94. Via Services
95. Waldpiraten
96. Warwick Valley Humane Society (WVHS)
97. Waukesha Food Pantry
98. Women of West Islip
99. YMCA – Kisumu/Kenya
100. Yuva Unstoppable