Left to right: Barbara Barr Bengen, Bre Zientarski, Dan Stephens, Andrea Stephens, Fred Lowy, and Wendy Guyton
Rotary Club Honors Andrea and Dan Stephens as Citizens of the Year
Barbara Barr Bengen
Andrea and Dan Stephens are entering their ninth year as the driving force behind one of the community’s most impactful efforts, the annual food drive. Due to Andrea’s and Dan’s leadership and tireless dedication, the communities of SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch have united to bring hope and nourishment to families in need in the Copper Corridor. Their example of service to others reflects the very best of community spirit.
Under their guidance, Andrea and Dan Stephens work with more than 200 volunteers each year. Together, they collect, organize, and distribute food and invaluable financial resources to support the food bank and families in the Copper Corridor. Their organizational skills and deep commitment not only filled tummies but strengthened the bonds of neighbors and civic groups.
While Andrea and Dan work quietly, tirelessly, and consistently to make sure no one goes hungry, that is not all they do. Andrea also works with the Health Fair and has held many offices in P.E.O. She donates many hours to SaddleBrooke Community Outreach, where she has served on the Board for five years, works as a receptionist, and helps with the Walk for Kids. Dan puts his merchandising skills to work at the Golden Goose. While he’s only supposed to be there five days a week, he’s actually there every day. Keep in mind that Andrea and Dan are only here in Arizona part of the year, as they return to Grand Rapids, Mich., each summer.
For their heartfelt commitment to families in need throughout the Cooper Corridor, and for their dedication to helping others, the Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke is honored to select Andrea and Dan Stephens as our 2025 Citizens of the Year. The Stephens leave a legacy of kindness and caring that touch so many lives throughout our communities and through the Copper Corridor.
According to Bre Zientarski, chair of the Vocational Committee, “The Vocational Committee upholds Rotary’s core value of Service Above Self by recognizing integrity, excellence, and leadership in both professional and community life. A key responsibility of the committee is to honor individuals who exemplify these values through service, collaboration, and dedication to others—especially those supporting the Copper Corridor communities and partnering with Rotary to expand its impact. Each year, the committee selects the Citizen of the Year—a distinguished individual from the Copper Corridor region who has worked closely to advance the community’s well-being. This award recognizes a non-Rotarian who has gone above and beyond in their commitment to service, leadership, and partnership with our club. The honoree represents the spirit of cooperation, compassion, and integrity that defines both Rotary and the Copper Corridor community.”
Rotary is open to those who work or live in SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, Oracle, The Copper Corridor, Catalina, Oro Valley, and the surrounding area. The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke meets at the Ranch House at SaddleBrooke Ranch on Thursdays. We enjoy lunch at 11 a.m., followed by a brief meeting and program. For more information, contact Diane Demeroutis at RotarySBAZ@gmail.com.
Laughter abounded as Rotarians and their significant others shared the energy and camaraderie of the evening.
The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke Serves Up Hope
Barbara Barr Bengen
Rotarians gathered recently for a delicious cause, “Pasta for Polio.” Philanthropy, friendship, pasta, and Italian cuisine came together to raise funds to kick polio off the planet. President Fred Lowy and his wife, Fran, opened their home for this fundraising event.
Fran spent days preparing her Italian pasta dishes and meats. Guests thoroughly enjoyed a wide variety of pastas and Italian cuisine. Volunteers brought appetizers, salads, bread, and Italian cookies to add to the feast. “Pasta for Polio” was more than a meal; it is a reminder that when people come together, they can make a difference. “Yes, we did raise funds for polio; however, the best part was watching nearly 40 SaddleBrooke Rotarians in attendance join together with smiles and laughter.” Fran was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow to honor her work for the event.
In addition to enjoying pasta, guests also brought boxes of uncooked pasta. IMPACT of Southern Arizona is experiencing a shortage of donations and needs pasta for its food bags. So, Rotarians opened their hearts and their wallets to donate boxes of pasta to the organization.
The club is also raising funds to eradicate polio with the Ride to End Polio. Each November, Rotarians from around the world flock to Tucson to ride in El Tour de Tucson. The event is the largest fundraiser in all of Rotary International. Members of the club rode in El Tour or rode around SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch.
Each fall, Rotary International raises funds to eradicate polio from the face of the Earth through the PolioPlus campaign. We are deeply grateful for the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which matches our contributions two-for-one. Thanks to their help, our donations are tripled.
Currently, polio is 99.9% eradicated. However, polio remains a threat until it is totally eradicated. We are working hard to eliminate those last few cases so that no child ever has this paralyzing disease again.
Rotary is open to those who work or live in SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, Oracle, The Copper Corridor, Catalina, Oro Valley, and the surrounding area. Rotary is the world’s largest volunteer organization with more locations in other countries than McDonald’s, Starbucks, or the Red Cross. Come check out the fun we have as we volunteer and enjoy fellowship!
The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke meets at the Ranch House at SaddleBrooke Ranch on Thursdays. We enjoy lunch at 11 a.m., followed by a brief meeting and program. For more information, contact Diane Demeroutis at RotarySBAZ@gmail.com.