SWIFT YOUTH FOUNDATION

Meet Mona Desai, member of the Board of Directors

6/30/2023

What do you bring to Swift?
My passion for education, helping others, and empowering individuals aligns seamlessly with the mission of Swift Youth Foundation. I firmly believe in the trans-formative power of meaningful programs and mentorship relationships, as they hold the key to unlocking the full potential of children and young adults. I have had the privilege of collaborating with organizations of all sizes in people development and talent management.

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Welcome Melissa Fried!

6/26/2023

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Melissa Fried has worked with various Nonprofits for most of her life. At a young age, she was involved in various camps as a camper, wrangler, counselor, and program creator. At the young age of 16, Melissa worked as a wrangler with the YMCA and assisted in developing the first Cowboy Camp program that is still running today. It was then that her love for the nonprofit world began.

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Welcome Julio Espinoza

6/12/2023

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Please welcome our newest team member - Sr. Director, Development - Julio Espinoza!

Julio is a professional in nonprofit management. He has worked for government agencies, political partisan organizations and chambers of commerce. Julio has experience working with grass-roots (members of the civil society, advocates, activists, private citizens) as well as the grass-tops (elected officials, business leaders, donors, journalists, influencers, and foreign dignitaries). Julio is passionate about empowering underserved communities by promoting capacity building programs. He is excited to work with the clients and stakeholders of Swift Youth Foundation as he sees a brighter future for raising Arizona. When not working you can find Julio hanging out with his dogs, working out, playing soccer, reading and watching documentaries. He is a nerd of policy and business and is eager to bring his skillset to the service of Swift Youth Foundation.

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Welcome Danielle Downs!

3/29/2023

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We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest team member, Danielle Downs!
Danielle Downs is an experienced Nonprofit leader with almost two decades of experience in community and mass market fundraising and providing life-changing programs to the community. Before joining Swift Youth Foundation as Executive Director Danielle spent the last 16 years at the American Cancer Society, managing volunteer and staff teams to execute fundraising campaigns and community events.

Danielle’s youth and camp experience dates back to elementary school when she was a 4-H camper for 6 years and a camp counselor for 5 years. Her first Swift experience was volunteering as a group leader at this year’s Carnival.

Danielle is Mom to 14-year old, future pro baller and current kind, witty and humble son Shaw. She is a member of Valley Presbyterian Church. Danielle moved to Phoenix from Georgia 13 years ago. In her free time she enjoys going to sporting events, volunteering at church and traveling with her son and significant other.

“I am honored to be selected by such talented and selfless volunteer leaders to continue their mission to serve youth in the valley and raise critical funds to increase our footprint and youth engagement and development.” -Danielle Downs

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March Grilled Cheese Gazette

3/29/2023

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ARIZONA GIVES DAY APRIL 4th, 2023
Arizona Gives Day is almost here and we need your help! We are currently in the process of expanding Swift After School and Swift Saturday but we need your help and what better time than during Arizona Gives Day. Just in time for Tax Day too! Count your donation to your 2022 OR 2023 taxes and receive a dollar for dollar tax credit up to $400 dollars for single filers and $800 for joint filers. Help us bring the Swift community to more schools in the Phoenix area!
This year, thanks to Marc Goodman (featured below) we will have a donation match up to $10,000 if donated through his fundraiser page. Double the impact of your donation by donating through his page directly.

Donate Now!

MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON AZ GIVES DAY
In addition to traditional fundraising, this Arizona Gives Day the Teen Leadership Board will be hosting a Chipotle fundraiser from 5-9pm at the Chipotle on Tatum and Bell Rd (16635 N Tatum Blvd Ste 100, Phoenix, AZ 85032) to make it even easier for you to make an impact on campers. Come out and show the flyer below to support Swift!

SWIFT IS 40ish
Happy birthday anniversary to Swift Youth Foundation! Come and celebrate 40ish years of Camp Swift, grilled cheese and tomato soup, mentorship and so much more. As we honor our history and ignite our future, we invite you to come be a direct part of the Swift mission.

Join us April 15th from 6:00-9:30pm for storytelling, a live and silent auction, dinner, dancing and so much more.

RSVP Now!

THE SWIFT CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE!
By: Andrew Pitts
Last month, countless kids of all ages had the opportunity to go to the Swift Carnival! The Swift Carnival is an awesome experience that allows children of all age groups to have fun and make memories together! A freshman from Brophy College Preparatory, Yusuf Rakhimi, said that his first Swift Carnival experience was amazing. At first, Yusuf said that he was a little nervous because this was the first-ever event he had done with Swift. However, after getting himself situated, he felt very welcomed and ready to meet the campers. Yusuf was responsible for eight campers and he felt that he connected with each of them almost instantly. He said he and the campers loved walking around in the festive atmosphere and participating in lots of activities. Yusuf mentioned that the campers liked the dunk tank and the relay race the most. “The dunk tank brought smiles to the campers’ faces,” said Yusuf and he said that the relay race invoked a “great competitive spirit” in the Carnival and the campers loved it.

Yusuf also felt that he formed a special bond with his campers and that they looked up to him in a really special way. Yusuf helped one of the campers pick out a book, which proved to be a special moment for the camper and Yusuf and he also said that one of the campers touched
his heart after the camper gave Yusuf a heart-shaped bracelet. And at the end of the day, although it was a little sad saying goodbye to the campers, Yusuf was already looking forward to spending time with them again.

Yusuf’s first-ever event with Swift was really special and he
felt that the Swift Carnival gives the campers a really fun and exciting event to look forward to and it proved to be tons of fun for everyone. Yusuf also said that he is definitely going to come back to the Swift Carnival next year, as well as, participate in Swift After School, Swift Saturdays, and Camp Swift in the summer!

MEET MARC GOODMAN,
PRESIDENT OF THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD - SUPPORT STAFF SPOTLIGHT
By: Manya Madala
What are some fun facts about yourself?

I’ve dressed up as Tomato Soup probably 4 times at camp.
I was on the Swift Teen Leadership Board when I was in high school and am now on the Young Professionals Board.
I was the youngest Staff Director in Camp Swift history, which I am very proud of!

How and when did you first get involved in Swift?
I originally got involved through my temple youth group because many of my older friends said they loved it so I thought I would give it a try and I absolutely fell in love. I’ve been volunteering for about 10 years and this summer will be my 9th summer at camp.

What are you looking forward to this upcoming year?
This year, I am looking forward to helping my board make a tangible impact on the fundraising side and the programming side, as well as developing this board so that it can last long after I am off of it. And of course, I am looking forward to camp!

Do you have any meaningful stories you’d like to share about Swift’s impact?
My most meaningful moments with Swift have always been running ropes at camp. Empowering kids to overcome fears and obstacles has been an amazing experience for me and there is nothing I enjoy more. I love teaching the skills to overcome those fears and showing kids how they can apply to their everyday life. Every summer regardless of how busy I have been as a unit head or staff director I make time to run at least one ropes session.

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Meet Mona Desai, member of the Board of Directors

Welcome Melissa Fried!

Welcome Julio Espinoza

Welcome Danielle Downs!

March Grilled Cheese Gazette

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