Recently named United Way Yavapai County Executive Director Patty Bell-Demers has mounted an aggressive campaign to create positive fundraising for the 2020-2021 year.
Bell-Demers was selected in early August, replacing Annette Olson, who retired to her home state of Washington. Olson guided the local organization for four years, said board chair Mary Ann Suttles.
A year ago, United Way Yavapai County was able to invest $250,000 into 25 distinct nonprofit organizations. The organization also provided $15,000 in social enterprise grants to help with workforce development projects. The 2019 campaign goal was $280,000.
The anticipation is, even with complications created by the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s campaign will equal or exceed those figures. Bell-Demers said the board will be announcing campaign details in the near future.
The nonprofit organization focuses upon supporting groups throughout Yavapai County that contribute to positive community health.
Located at 1678 Oak Lawn Drive, United Way Yavapai County is a volunteer-driven organization that focuses upon advancing the common good in communities throughout the county.
Bell-Demers came to Prescott from Carefree/Cave Creek, where she had been executive director of the Sonoran Arts League that oversees the Center for the Arts and Gallery at El Pedregal. She has more than 25 years of experience as a community leader.
A graduate of Arizona Christian University with a degree in business administration, Bell-Demers received the 2018 Business of the Year award from the Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Donald, have seven children and 10 grandchildren.
For more information about United Way Yavapai County, call 928-778-6605 or visit https://www.yavapaiuw.org
Photo: Patty Bell-Demers was named executive director for United Way-Yavapai County. Demers has more than 25 years in community leadership.
New United Way Yavapai County Executive Director Gets to Work
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Prescott Living Magazine
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LOCAL NEWS: The Northern Arizona VA in Prescott has provided an update on their Homeless Veteran Program. ![]()
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PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System’s Homeless Veteran Program, along with its community partners, housed 445 Veterans in 2022, exceeding their target goal by 157%.![]()
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Nationally, the 2022 goal was to house 38,000 homeless Veterans— a goal that was exceeded by 6.3%. The Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to ending Veteran homelessness and increasing housing placements is critical to achieving this goal.![]()
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“This success is a result of efforts built on the evidence-based ‘Housing First’ approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the support they need to stay housed,” said Steve Sample, Medical Center Director.![]()
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In Northern Arizona, there are a variety of services designed to house homeless Veterans. The VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program includes VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers that provide formerly homeless Veterans with subsidized housing and a wraparound, interdisciplinary case management team to address issues that may have contributed to homelessness. The program provides justice outreach services, employment services, health care services through the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team, outreach, and transitional housing support. The VA also works closely with community partners to house homeless Veterans through a system called Coordinated Entry, where community agencies along with the VA regularly meet to coordinate efforts and ensure homeless Veterans do not fall through the cracks.![]()
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“We are fortunate that there is so much support for helping homeless Veterans in our area,” said Jessica Taylor, Homeless Program Coordinator for the Northern Arizona VA. “This success could not have been possible without great collaboration between our community partners, Housing Authorities, Tribal partnerships, and support from our local communities.”![]()
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Looking ahead, the VA will continue to explore new avenues to house homeless Veterans and overcome housing barriers. In collaboration with U.S VETS, Gorman & Company, and the Arizona Department of Housing, a supportive housing project on the grounds of the VA’s Fort Whipple campus is in the initial planning stages. The VA is also expanding outreach to ensure that homeless Veterans are aware of services available to them. ![]()
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For Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness— or if you know of homeless Veterans in need of assistance, call 877-424-3838.![]()
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For more information on renting to or hiring homeless Veterans, visit: www.va.gov/homeless![]()
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About the Northern Arizona VA: Through its main campus in Prescott, along with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Anthem— with additional clinics in Tuba City, Page, Kayenta, Chinle, Holbrook, and Polacca, the Northern Arizona VA provides services to approximately 33,000 Veterans over a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles.![]()
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www.facebook.com/VAPrescott
Empty Bowls of Prescott Arizona has announced that it will distribute $24,000 to local foodbanks! Their 2022 Empty Bowls fundraising event took place in September, and donations can be made year round on their website.![]()
prescott-empty-bowls.square.site
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