SWIFT YOUTH FOUNDATION

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
Interested in meeting Danielle yourself? Join us at the 40ish Celebration or Camp Swift, sign up now!

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.

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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Love at first Swift..!

2/14/2023

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As we start the day of love, we take a look back at an enchanting love story that originated from our very own Camp Swift!

In the summer of 2008, Ian and Rebecca were both students at Horizon High School and also a part of the same youth group. While they had already met before, it would take becoming co-camp counselors at Camp Swift for them to really get to know each other. Both sixteen at the time, Ian and Rebecca were both amazed by their experience at camp. Rebecca said that it was ‘pure fun’ and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to receive love from her community while also giving back love to the campers. She said looking back at it, her favorite activity was “paint the counselor,” in which she still has her splattered shirt. Ian said that camp was a unique experience that allowed him to have fun as a kid while learning the hard work and responsibility of an adult. He said that his experience at camp has helped him tremendously in his life now.

While Ian and Rebecca were both seriously busy with their camp duties, they still found time to bond with each other. They said that activities with the campers, especially game nights, really sparked their relationship with each other. And even after the fun from Camp Swift, not much changed as Ian and Rebecca constantly kept in touch through their cell phones, school, and their youth group. Ian, who also stayed for the second session of camp, said that he often found himself trying to find cell signal at camp to try and talk with Rebecca!

Fifteen years later, Ian and Rebecca Shore are currently married with one son! They are both ecstatic that Camp Swift is still doing so well and are major supporters of what Camp Swift stands for. They said that they will always be thankful for Camp Swift and for the experiences that ignited their charming relationship!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Interested in sharing your Swift story? Email us at info@swiftyouth.org.

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February Edition of the Grilled Cheese Gazette

1/25/2023

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SWIFT CARNIVAL IS THIS MONTH
By: Manya Mandala & Jessica Berman

What is Swift Carnival? The Carnival is an annual event held at the Palomino Campus to introduce new participants to Swift on Saturday, February 25th. It’s a day filled with fun and games for volunteers and kids. There are so many activities to do between a photo booth, sports, dancing, and even a dunk tank! Carnival is a great way to get involved with Swift and see what it’s like volunteering with the kids. As a volunteer, you can run an activity booth, the prize booth, or be a group leader. Carnival is free for all participants, and Swift has a goal of 300 kids. This event couldn’t be possible without the help of the gracious sponsors. For information on how to volunteer or be a sponsor go to www.swiftyouth.org/carnival2023 or call 480-443-5645.

What to Expect as a Volunteer at Carnival!

Plan on arriving at Palomino (15815 N. 29th St, Phoenix AZ, 85032) at 9:30 am for check-in. There will be a brief orientation and then you will help with some set-up before the kids arrive around 11 am. Once they arrive, everyone will have a delicious lunch (plus snacks for volunteers!). Then, Carnival will have officially begun! Maybe you’re leading a booth, or maybe you’re a mentor, but regardless of your role as a volunteer, it will be a day filled with fun. As a booth leader, you will be stationed in your specific area to facilitate a carnival game or other fun activities. As a mentor, you will be responsible for taking the youth participants throughout the Carnival and interacting with them, but also making sure they are always safe. After winning prizes, watching people get dunked in the dunk tank, and having a Carnival-wide dance party, the kids will begin to leave at 2 pm. You should expect to help with clean-up until around 3 pm before checking out. We hope you’re just as excited for the Carnival as we are! If you are interested in volunteering, you can still sign up, we hope to see you there!

Watch our 2022 Carnival video!

OPERATION TOOTHBRUSH

We would like to thank Operation Toothbrush (ASU's Pre Dental Society) for hosting our January Swift Saturday! The kids loved hearing about college and learning about how to better care for their oral health. Operation Toothbrush has now hosted two Swift Saturdays and about 10 after-school programs in the last two years, they are a valued partnership, we love working with them!

COFFEE FOR CAMPERS

Looking to get more involved with Swift? Curious how you or your company can be part of the mission? Join us at our first donor breakfast, Coffee for Camper on March 8th from 7:30-9:00am. You'll have a chance to learn about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, meet board members, and discuss with the Swift Staff what the next year for Swift will look like. Reserve your spot now!

RSVP Now!

SUPPORT STAFF SPOTLIGHT
MATT WALL

How did you get involved with Swift and how long ago?
I first volunteered my freshman year of high school as a counselor. My family told me about it as I was growing up as they were involved when Swift started. It wasn’t IF I would be a part of Swift, it was WHEN. For the last 13 years, I have volunteered at Carnival, Camp Swift, donor events, and even started a Swift kickball team. I am now the Vice President of our newly-formed Young Professionals Board. It’s my honor to continue to give back to the organization.
How has being a part of Swift made a difference in your life?
Swift has taught me so much during my time as a volunteer, specifically, how to stay organized in my life. My experience has taught me the meaning of perspective and how to be there for somebody no matter what has gone on in their life. It has introduced me to so many life-long friends who continue to play a role and impact my life. Swift has played a role in my ever-growing journey, whether it’s writing a Letter of Recommendation or serving as a reference for a job or university, and it continues to play a role. I am so excited about Swift as it continues to create these life-changing experiences for kids, adults, and the entire Arizona community.
Do you have a story about the positive impact on a child?
As Camp Swift’s Staff Director this past summer, I was truly behind the scenes organizing daily logistics, and it’s rare to stand in front of the group. But at the end of Camp, I stood in front of everyone and shared how thankful we are to host Camp Swift with this specific group of people. Though many of the adults and campers will return, this exact group will never all be together again. Afterwards, in one of my most powerful moments, a camper ran up to me and said, “I’m going to miss you.” I later learned that this camper was not previously able to attend school but because of Camp Swift, he started school in the fall.
What are the different positions you have held at camp?
I was a counselor, support staff, lifeguard for 6 years, Unit Head, Director of Logistics, and Staff Director 4 times.
What is your advice for other volunteers?
Never be afraid to ask your friends, family members, or people at school to volunteer with Swift. Recently, I have been inviting all kinds of community members to participate so they can experience Swift and share it with their friends and family members, too.
Team Grilled Cheese or Tomato Soup?
I’m always Team Grilled Cheese!

Mentorship Corner

"The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves."
-Steven Spielberg

This edition of the Grilled Cheese Gazette is sponsored by:

Integrity Contracting AZ
www.integritycontractingaz.com | (480) 331-1016 | support@integritycontractingaz.com

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Grilled Cheese Gazette - January

1/4/2023

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The Happiest Holiday Celebration

We were thrilled to host three Holiday parties this year at Wilson Elementary and Palomino Intermediate School, all three were a BLAST! The parties were full of gingerbread house decorating, gift opening and more Holiday joy than you can imagine! Thanks to the generous donations from Synergy Physical Therapy, Axway Inc and Bender Performing Arts we were able to provide 83 students with Holiday gifts! A very special thank you also goes out to all our volunteers who helped make the day magical for the kids!

Swift Saturday or Winter Wonderland?
By: Manya Madala

In celebration of the holidays, our most recent Swift Saturday was a winter wonderland! The kids honed in on their artistic skills with tie-dye snowflakes. They colored their coffee filters with markers, creating rainbow snowflakes, traditional blue snowflakes, and everything in between! After spraying the filters with water and watching the colors swirl, they cut small pieces out of them to design intricate patterns.

It’s always amazing to see all the creativity that sparks from these activities. Then, they got their hands dirty with one of their all time favorite science projects: slime! They mixed together glue and their activating agents to observe the reaction that occurred as the glue turned into slime. With the winter spirit in mind, they mixed in glitter to decorate their snowy slime. Finally, everyone was energized for a game of campers vs. counselors freeze tag. It was an intense game, but after their close win, the kids were hungry and ready for the delicious lunch waiting for them. Once it was time to go, everyone said goodbye for the holidays and headed home. We’re excited to see everyone again at more Swift Saturdays as we ring in the New Year!

Claire's Experience at Camp Swift!
By: Andrew Pitts

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Claire Cabianca, a counselor and teen leader at Swift. Claire is currently a sophomore at PCDS. She mentioned that she was first introduced to Camp Swift by a friend at her school and never looked back. Claire is heavily involved in Swift, as she is a member of the Swift club at her school and she also attended multiple Swift Saturdays,

helped in the Swift Carnival, volunteers at Swift After School every Tuesday, and was a counselor at the second session of camp this year.

Claire reflected fondly on her time at Camp Swift. As a part of the “MGB” cabin, she and her other co-counselors were responsible for 5 campers. Claire said that she loved the counselor-to-camper ratio because it allowed an abundance of one-on-one experiences and contributed to some unforgettable bonds made at Camp Swift. She noted that her favorite activities were the campfire and the night hike. She mentioned that she loved the array of activities that the campfire setting provided and the way it brought the night to life. Claire also appreciated the night hike and brought up a bond she made with one of the campers. One of the campers in her group was scared of the darkness of the hike and Claire said she found a real connection between her and the camper as they ended up loving the activity.

Similar to my experience, Claire said that Camp Swift affected her in such a positive way. Between the relationships with her co-counselors and the memories she made with the campers, Claire felt that Camp was an awesome experience. Although she had to leave early, due to a broken ankle, Claire left feeling motivated to get more involved with Camp Swift and inspired to give the campers the best experience that she can give them.

“I never realized how much of an impact one person can have in a child’s life.” ~ Claire

Carnival is Almost HERE!

Mark your calendars, February 25th will be here before you know it! We will be back for our 21st annual Carnival! Participant, volunteer, or sponsor, we are excited to have you there!

Wear a Piece of Swift

Teen Board Member, Julia Black, has created a line of t-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags with camper's art from Camp Swift. All of the proceeds benefit Swift. Go get yours now at JDesigns!

Shop Now

Mentorship Corner

"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself."
-Oprah Winfrey

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Welcome Danielle Downs!

March Grilled Cheese Gazette

Love at first Swift..!

Interested in sharing your Swift story? Email us at info@swiftyouth.org.

February Edition of the Grilled Cheese Gazette

SWIFT CARNIVAL IS THIS MONTH
By: Manya Mandala & Jessica Berman

What to Expect as a Volunteer at Carnival!

Mentorship Corner

Grilled Cheese Gazette - January

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