SBCO Honors Special Volunteers for 2022-23
Tony and Terry Lulek were honored as Volunteers of the Year.
John Williams was posthumously named Receptionist of the Year.
Ann Coziahr, who has been an SBCO volunteer for the past 20 years, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
For the past 26 years, all-volunteer organization SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) has provided food, clothing, educational grants, and scholarships for local children in communities along the 100+-mile Copper Corridor that stretches north from Catalina to Globe. On April 10, SBCO board members, volunteers, and supporters gathered to celebrate the achievements of the past year and honor the special contributions made by some of its volunteers.
Volunteers of the Year
Prior to moving to SaddleBrooke in 2017, Tony and Terry Lulek lived in Geneva, Ill. Tony spent 35 years working for Proctor and Gamble while Terry used her training in accounting as a business analyst for Western Electric and then as a consultant. Shortly after moving here in July, the Luleks became involved with SBCO, and by September Terry was working as a Kids’ Closet volunteer helping students select their wardrobes. Within two or three weeks, she became the warehouse manager for Thursday sessions. In November of that same year, Tony brought his organizational skills to the scholarship committee, helping to project future costs for scholarships. This year he has begun reviewing scholarship applications. Now he serves on the scholarship, enrichment, and scholarship endowment committees.
Receptionist of the Year
John Williams, who was a dedicated SBCO volunteer for many years, died in August 2022. However, his contribution to the organization has not been forgotten. John lived in SaddleBrooke for more than 20 years. And although he continued working for some of that time, he generously volunteered for SBCO, working at Kids’ Closet, helping with the Food Drive and finally, when he developed back issues, serving as a receptionist in the SBCO office. According to his sister, “John took his volunteer work very seriously. He loved SBCO and planned his schedule around his volunteer commitments. When I moved here, John brought me into the fold, sharing his dedication to the organization.” Susan herself was recognized as the SBCO receptionist of the year in 2020.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ann Coziahr moved to SaddleBrooke in December 2001. She recalls, “I moved here as a widow and was unsure what I would do with the rest of my life. But it has never been a problem. Moving here was a great decision and I’ve never looked back!” First, she volunteered for the SaddleBrooke Libraries, where she continues to work. Then, in April 2003, she attended the opening of the Golden Goose Thrift Shop and became a volunteer. Two months later she agreed to join the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) board of directors as assistant treasurer. As assistant treasurer, Ann worked with John Young as treasurer. In 2007, Ann was appointed to the Golden Goose board of directors where she was treasurer until 2010. After that, she served for 10 years as the Golden Goose representative for SBCO. For the past two years, she has served as SBCO executive vice president. Through the years, Ann has participated in the SBCO Walk-a-Thon, Food Drive, Kids’ Closet, and Home Tours. As she notes, “I have now volunteered for the SBCO, the Goose, and SaddleBrooke Libraries for 20 years!”
SBCO Elects New Board of Directors
SBCO’s board of directors for 2023-24 include (back row, left to right) Denise Anthony, Ben Eisenstein, Ed Barnes, Tim Bowen, Camille Esterman, Linda Richter, Melanie Stout, Laura Pauli, Jan Olsson, Steve Sahl, Vivian Enrico, Jeannine Grippo, Ken Siarkiewicz, Marcia Van Ommeran, Michelle Schroeder; (front row, left to right) Eileen Hansen, Andrea Stephens, Betty Ryan, Nancy McCluskey-Moore, Cheryl Smith, and Karen Green.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
On April 10 at the annual meeting of SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO), the organization elected its Board of Directors for 2023-24. The members of the new board include:
* President: Denise Anthony
* Executive Vice President: Laura Pauli
* Recording Secretaries: Cheryl Smith and Marcia Van Ommeran
* Corresponding Secretary: Karen Green
* Treasurer: Camille Esterman
* Assistant Treasurer: Jeannine Grippo
* Vice President Enrichment: Linda Richter
* Vice President Education: Steve Sahl
* Vice Presidents Kids’ Closet: Michelle Schroeder, Betty Ryan, and Eileen Hansen
* Directors of Scholarship Endowment: Ed Barnes and Jan Olsson
* Director of Teen Closet: Vivian Enrico
* Directors of Membership: Andrea Stephens and Tim Bowen
* Director of Communications: Nancy McCluskey-Moore
* Golden Goose Representative: Melanie Stout
Board members serve two-year terms and may be re-elected to serve a second term. Five returning board members required board approval to continue their service beyond four consecutive years in the same position. These included Camille Esterman, Karen Green, Nancy McCluskey-Moore, Marcia Van Ommeran, and Cheryl Smith.
2023 SBCO Food Drive a Tremendous Success!
Tim Bowen used his golf cart to collect food donations from Unit 10. (Photo by Steve Weiss Photography)
Miriam Brock
Beginning in 1998, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) has held a food drive to prevent hunger and poor nutrition among residents of local communities. With the ongoing pandemic and recent rise in inflation, more families than ever are requiring the assistance of the food bank. This year, as in years past, SaddleBrooke Ranch and SaddleBrooke residents generously donated money, food, and time to make the annual event a great success. This was the first year, since the onset of Covid, that food donations were again accepted.
With the combined efforts of SaddleBrooke Ranch and SaddleBrooke, the SBCO food drive raised $144,996 and 18,000 pounds of food. Of the total amount collected, SBR residents raised $57,492 in monetary donations and 3,100 pounds of groceries. The food drive benefits the Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB) which serves residents of Oracle, Dudleyville, Mammoth, and San Manuel. The Tri-Community Food Bank will be able to assist 515 households, including 1,518 people during 2023. Of those served, 426 are children and 305 are seniors.
Speaking on behalf of TCFB, Rosemary Douglas said, “The generosity of SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch residents is reflected in the amazing results of the SBCO 2023 Food Drive. TCFB now has a full warehouse and funds to purchase additional food items, such as high-quality proteins, for the remainder of the year. We are very grateful for your help as we continue our mission to support our neighbors in need.”
SaddleBrooke Ranch residents worked together to fill four trucks and five cars with food and cleaning supplies. This drive exceeded expectations, and additional trucks and cars were needed to transport all of the food to SaddleBrooke. Food Drive Unit Coordinators this year included: Mark Dickston, Dale Farland, Edie Kellogg, Ellyn Biggs, Deb Sandin, Marian Bianchini, Elizabeth Mastro, Linda Shannon-Hills, Pam Blaess, Donna Pedota, Cindy Pylkka, Erin Newman, Tim and Debby Bowen, Tony Zoellner, Terry Zimmerman, John Green, Glenna Matthews, Pat Albu, Gail Cowan, Marie Mantoura, Laura Haslett, Jim and Tony Selk, Lin Heald, Barry and Mary Milner, Judy Tedeschi, and Kelly Moss. A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this year’s food drive such a huge success.
All monetary contributions are tax deductible for the state of Arizona whether or not an individual itemizes deductions. Both SBCO and TCFB are IRS 501(c)(3)s and can also be a federal tax deduction for those who itemize deductions.
Miami’s ‘M & M’ Program Produces Big Results
Math Masters from Lee Kornegay Intermediate School and their teacher proudly wear their well-earned M & M T-shirts.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Do you recall memorizing the multiplication tables while in grade school? Kevin Hull, principal of Lee Kornegay Intermediate School in Miami, Ariz., knows this knowledge is vital to future success in mathematics. And he should know. Prior to becoming the principal of this third- through fifth-grade school, Hull spent most of his career in education teaching junior and senior high school mathematics.
He says, “The number one cause of failure to advance in math studies is a lack of computational skills. Learning long division in fifth grade is challenging. There are several steps to be completed. If you do not automatically know the multiplication tables, you get stalled trying to complete the first step in the process.”
To encourage students in his school to master the multiplication tables, Hull created the Math Masters (M & Ms) program. A grant from SaddleBrooke Community Outreach helps fund the program. Students who can recite the tables receive a black T-shirt emblazoned with green M&Ms. According to Hull, “We make a big deal of their success.” Their achievement is recognized with an announcement and special presentation of the T-shirt. Hull will also go into classrooms at random and present a pack of M&M candies to those students who are Math Masters. The desire to receive a T-shirt and candy, along with the pride of being recognized as an M & M has proven to be a strong incentive for the students.
Hull notes that the program has produced significant results. “In the first semester of this school year, from August through December, our students’ math test scores schoolwide showed slightly under (.93) a full year of growth in just five months. The teachers love the program.” This approach—incentivizing students to acquire skills through a combination of rewards and competition—has proven so successful with mathematics that teachers at Lee Kornegay Intermediate School are looking at ways to adapt it to teaching reading skills.
Scholarship Endowment: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Augustine (Augie) Hing is an SBCO scholarship student who plans to attend graduate school this fall.
Kathie Marshall
Weatherwise, March 16 was not the best of days to host a SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) endowment donor “Meet and Greet” event on the Ranch Grill patio. However, current and potential scholarship endowment donors braved the chill and wind to be honored at the SBCO Endowment Committee’s first Endowment Donor Appreciation Reception. The program included introductions of the committee members by the committee co-chair Ed Barnes, along with comments by SBCO Scholarship Committee Chair Steve Sahl on the status of the thriving scholarship program. The star of the event was Augustine (Augie) Hing, an impressive four-year SBCO scholarship student who is finishing her undergraduate degree at ASU and will be attending graduate school in the fall. Augie addressed the donor group with a moving speech on the impact the scholarship funding has made in her life.
Following Augie’s comments, a new SBCO endowment donor, Tom Marshall, addressed the group on why he and his wife support the endowment program. “My wife and I have enjoyed full lives with great careers and travel, all made possible by the privilege of education. In our retirement years, it gives us a great deal of satisfaction to know that we are helping to further opportunities for low-income students to achieve their dreams through education.” Tom and his wife plan on making an annual contribution to the scholarship endowment fund through their donor advised fund, as well as including the SBCO Endowment Fund in their estate plan.
At this event, donors were thanked and reminded of the power of endowment in allowing the scholarship program to exist well into the future. Currently, the scholarships are funded through the proceeds from The Golden Goose Thrift Shop, but the closing of The Goose during the pandemic illustrated the need for additional sources of funding.
Please consider a contribution to the SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund to ensure there will be scholarships for future generations. All contributions must be made payable to the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (CFSA) and designated for SBCO Endowment (CFSA’s Tax ID is 94–26817650). A minimum contribution of $5,000 is required. (Consult your tax advisor for potential benefits.)
Contribution options include:
* Mail a check made payable to CFSA and including SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund in the memo line. Donations should be sent to: SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund, Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, 5049 E. Broadway, Suite 201, Tucson, AZ, 85711.
* Arrange for a distribution from your IRA to CFSA for the SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund.
* Include CFSA and the SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund as a beneficiary in your trust or estate plan.
* To donate non-cash contributions (e.g., stocks, securities, real estate, autos) please email [email protected] for assistance.
For more information or questions about the SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund, please email [email protected] or call the SBCO office at 520-825-3302.
An endowment gift is indeed a gift that keeps on giving!