Kare Bears History
Susan White
At the Kare Bears Luncheon, some of the following information was shared. We think you will find it interesting.
The first meeting was a planning session on November 1, 1995. Kare Bears became a nonprofit organization incorporated under the name Kare-ing Neighbors, Inc. on July 22, 1996. The first Kare Bears Board of Directors was appointed in 1996 and then in 1997 was elected.
1. Kare Bears started with 23 Coordinators in the various units in Eagle’s Nest. Now, Kare Bears has approximately 110 Coordinators and special Roving Coordinators in all of PebbleCreek.
2. First fundraiser was a bake sale raising $263. Now: Kare Bears annual bake sales raise approximately $1,000 every year.
3. Share Bears, a program for Super Seniors, was founded by Kare Bears in April 1996. Arlene Steele directed Share Bears until 2004, when Barbara Kinney took over. Now: Share Bears meets every Friday for bingo under the direction of Norma Klinger.
4. First luncheon was in November 1996. It was the first and only potluck, because they ran out of food. Now: Kare Bears Annual Fall Luncheon is continually sold out, drawing 380 people.
5. First health event was a blood drive in 1997. 26 pints of blood were donated. Now: Kare Bears has at least two blood drives every year.
6. Kare Bears first piece of medical equipment was a wheelchair in 1997. Now: Kare Bears has approximately 200 wheelchairs, walkers, knee walkers, crutches, canes and ramps in inventory.
7. The first flu shot clinic was in 1997 drawing 200 residents. Now: Approximately 350 residents received flu shots last month.
8. First AARP Safe Driving class was in October 1997. Now: Kare Bears offers this class four times per year.
9. First CPR class was in April 1998. Now: Kare Bears offers AED/CPR classes four times per year.
10. First AED was given to the community in December 1999. Now: there are 13 AED’s located throughout PebbleCreek; Kare Bears has donated 10 of them. The other three were purchased by the HOA plus a donation by the City of Goodyear.
11. First Health Fair was in 2001. Now: Kare Bears Annual Health Fair fills up the ballroom with 45 health and wellness related vendors.
12. Kare Bears delivered Source Books for the first time in February 2003 to approximately 2,500 homes. Now: Kare Bears delivers Source Books to approximately 4,400 homes.
13. Volunteer Driver Program for taking residents to and from medical and dental appointments was developed in 2004. Now: Kare Bears 50 drivers drove 18,400 miles last year, making 540 trips taking residents to medical and dental appointments.
14. In the beginning Kare Bears worked out of people’s homes. Kare Bears moved to a model home, furnished by Ed Robson, in 2003. Now: Kare Bears has been in our current home, furnished by Ed Robson, since 2008.
Hope you enjoyed a little history of our organization.
Thank you Kare Bears luncheon volunteers!
Susan White
A special thank you from Cathy Sitarz and Barb Kooyenga, co-chairs of the Annual Luncheon and to the following Committees and their volunteers:
Awards – Thelma Lindhorn and her team: Corrine Adams, Dru Bacon, Ken Kurtz, Laura Measles
Decorations – Co-Chairs Grace Cooper, Sandy Donovan and Jenny Schafer and their team, Lucy Kramer, Marni Millikan, Mary Cassil and Linda Grabau
Greeters and Hospitality – Judy Harden and her team Ann Abke, Carol Paulsen and Sylva Sheets
Ticket Sales – Arlis Legler and her team Linda Glazer, Linda Grabau and Judy Harden
Photographer – Fran Fee
Program cover, posters and inserts – Cathy Sitarz and Barb Koogyenja
Publicity – Sue White
Raffle – Mary McMahon and her team Joey Arnold, Jane Bacon, Janice Rossi, Mary Ann Chamberlin and Hilary Coltman
Raffle ticket sales – Jan Cosgrove and her team Nebbie Braun, John Caciola, Karen Murphy and Kate Schimelpfening
Special Guest invitations – Grace Cooper
On behalf of Kare Bears, we appreciate all your hard work to make this year’s event another success!
Left to right: Kare Bears Annual Award Winners, bottom row: Marge Ellison, Arlis Legler, Janis Korba, Corrine Adams, Joan Suriano and Tony Suriano; top row: Jim Ellison, Dave Eckert and Paul Vienna
Kare Bears 25th annual Fall Luncheon and Awards
Susan White
On November 11, 2015 Kare Bears celebrated their 20th anniversary at the annual Fall Luncheon. Table centerpieces were stuffed bears with birthday hats and a package with a special $20 gift card for one lucky person at each table. The room was decorated beautifully with balloons and many bears.
Melissa Gonzales of Food & Beverage was surprised to see her family in the audience. They were there to see John Kiekbusch, President of the HOA, present Melissa with a special award. She was recognized for acting quickly by using an AED machine to save a resident’s life. John also presented an award to Acting President Rod Grabau to thank Kare Bears for supplying the AED machines available in several locations of PebbleCreek.
The Master of Ceremonies for this event was Melissa Kallett. She kept the luncheon moving with her special wit!
Everyone had a choice of three entrees and all were treated to a special dessert from Nothing Bundt Cakes. It was a bundt cupcake with a cute bear cookie for decoration. In addition, everyone received M & M’s in a plastic cone.
After lunch, Acting President Rod Grabau announced the winners of several awards and why they were chosen. Joe Chimera and Corrine Adams escorted all the winners to the stage to receive their awards.
President Dave Eckert and Paul Vienna, past president, of the PebbleCreek Wine Club were awarded the Friends of Kare Bears Award. This award is given to an organization that has no official connection to Kare Bears. Their club has been very generous to Kare Bears the last two years with substantial donations received from their raffle held each December.
The Founder’s Award, in honor of Kare Bears founder Rayma Scalzo, is given each year to a PebbleCreek resident(s) who volunteers in PebbleCreek. This year, Jim and Marge Ellison were the recipients. They both have served in several capacities for the Pet Companions Club. Under their tenure, club activities include Pooch Parade fundraisers, charity golf tournaments to raise funds for the Goodyear Police K-9 unit and converting the club to a nonprofit animal rescue organization.
Kare Bears also recognized Corrine Adams, Janis Korba, Arlis Legler and Tony and Joan Suriano for their many hours of work as Kare Bear volunteers by honoring them with the Kare Bears Exceptional Service Award. These five people perform a variety of tasks for Kare Bears including training coordinators, arranging tours of assisted living facilities, tickets sales for the luncheon, Source Book delivery and working many hours at the Kare Bears house. It takes a lot of dedicated people like these individuals to keep our Kare Bears programs running smoothly.
A check was also presented to Sharolyn Hohman, President of the Southwest Lending Closet, from Kare Bears as we partner with them on equipment loans.
A special thank you to Cathy Sitarz and Barbara Kooyenga for chairing this event; other volunteers whom helped these co-chairs are in a separate article.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Thank you sponsors!
Susan White
Many contributed to the Kare Bears luncheon to help minimize various expenditures and also provided items for the raffles.
Corporate Sponsors were Brookdale – Freedom Plaza; La Loma Village; Mahoney Law Office; Nothing Bundt Cakes; Pathways; The Groves; Thompson Flower Shop and Thompson Funeral Chapel.
Additional sponsors were AAA Arizona; Abrazo Health Care (West Valley Hospital); Ah-So Sushi & Steak; Arizona Cardinals; Arizona Diamondbacks; Arriba Mexican Grill; Augie’s Sports Grill; Barro’s Pizza & Wings; Candy Klackle – RE/MAX Professionals; Costco Wholesale; Deja Vu MedSpa; Dino’s Greek and Italian Grill; Hope Ewest, Seamstress; Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; Goodyear Firefighters; Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant – Glendale; Hampton Inn & Suites/Goodyear; Hand & Stone; Hilton Garden Inn – Avondale; Home TV & Appliance; Honey Baked Ham Company; Impressions of Chandler (Lucy Coltman); Jewelry by Victor; Bob and Penny King; KM Advisory Group; Mahoney Law Office, PLLC; Mary Couzens Realty; Native Grill & Wings; Nothing Bundt Cakes; Oregano’s Pizza Bistro; Osborne Jewelers; Palm Valley Golf Club; Paradise Bakery and Café; PebbleCreek Food & Beverage; PebbleCreek Golf; P F Chang’s China Bistro; Realty One Group; Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill; Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q; Saddle Mountain Brewing Company; Safeway (Indian School and Litchfield Road); Salon 505 (Hair by Jacqueline Green); Salon VIP; Sugar N Spice Coffee and Tea; Suncoast Dental; Sundance Golf Club; Tanger Outlets; The Haymaker Restaurant Co.; The Phoenix Symphony; The Pottery Place Warehouse; The Tree of Oil; Total Wine & More; Vivian Nails & Spa; Walgreens; Wildflower Bread Company; Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium; Wind Spirit Studio – Bonnie Kitchens.
Thanks to all of our sponsors!