From day one, she felt it was her calling to create. She recalls making up stories with friends about little people living in their hats. She even DIY’d her own Barbie Dreamhouse. Growing up in Montana, Gissler was often chosen by her elementary school teachers to design the class bulletin boards or make posters.

“I was asked to paint a compass rose on our playground in grade school and I guarded that thing with my life,” Gissler said. 

That early creativity led her to turn her passion into a career. Today, Gissler commissions pet portraits, illustrations, abstract paintings, collages and more. Her whimsical and dynamic style of art features bold colors, intricate backgrounds, curvy lines and a distinct quirkiness.

“A lot of people say, ‘You need to just focus on one thing,’” she said. “I couldn’t. I finally threw in the towel and said, ‘I’m doing what I know is from my heart,’ and I think it makes me even more creative.”

Not just creative in art, Gissler also writes short stories about some of her paintings, which showcases her humorous side. Her portrait of a woman titled “GeOrgEanN RuTh EliZabEth MiRiaM MaVe KeeLer’’ tells the story of a woman not too pleased about having to take a photo of herself. She wears sunglasses under the guise of giving her an outdoorsy appearance, but in reality, she had too much Limoncello the night before.

“Getting Your Magic Back” is a poetry book by Gissler, which tells the story of finding yourself after heartbreak. Lending her writing and artistic talents to the book, it provides a glimmer of hope for people facing similar situations. In part, it reads, “Stop! Breathe – I must focus on me / What is my life? What does it mean to me? / I turn toward my passions, sleeping deep in my soul / Wake up! I need you! We are changing my role!”

While she was writing “Getting Your Magic Back,” the pandemic hit, leading to her departure from her receptionist job. The situation inspired Gissler to finally embrace her career as a full-time artist.

“My two favorite words are “why not?” You don’t want fear to get in the way of your life. What’s the worst thing that can happen?” Gissler said. “You don’t want to look back and regret anything.”

Eclectic as it is, she finds deep meaning in her work, especially her pet portraits, which are often commissioned by people who have lost their furry friend.

In the summer of 2023, Gissler was on a plane from Phoenix to Santa Barbara to celebrate the life of Peter, someone she loved very much who passed away from cancer.

“I got on the airplane and sat down and this young couple sat next to me. We started chatting, and they told me she was pregnant,” Gissler recalled. “I said, ‘Oh, what are you thinking about naming your child?’ and they said, ‘Well, we’re thinking about naming him Peter.’”

The couple, Natalie and Chad, explained that they were drawn to the name and were looking for a sign from the universe — and that sign came to them in Jules Gissler. They told Gissler about their late dog, Moose, an Italian greyhound that loved to snuggle and give kisses. One day, Natalie took Moose on a walk with a friend and her pup, when another dog approached the pair and started attacking her friend’s dog. In an act of bravery, Moose stepped in to defend his friend, ultimately sacrificing his life.

The couple stayed in touch with Gissler and commissioned her to do a portrait of their beloved Moose as a Christmas gift. The portrait features Moose with antlers, a bow tie and plaid background — very fitting for his personality. When she dropped the painting at their house, she met 3-week-old baby Peter.

“When I hear people say, ‘Your art or your story or whatever brings joy,’ it makes me smile. I mean, we need so much of that in this world,” Gissler said. “It just warms my heart, my little contribution.”

To learn more, visit julesgissler.com. 

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There are plenty of reasons why dogs are called “man’s best friend.” They provide companionship and love in an unconditional way. And, like any good friend, they are there when you need them the most.

The dogs (and humans) of Gabriel’s Angels take the latter idea to the next level. Founded in 2000, the organization aims to help at-risk children through pet therapy. The goal is to use the connections between kids and dogs to help the kids develop some core behaviors — attachment, confidence, self-regulation, affiliation, empathy, tolerance and respect.

Like many nonprofits, Gabriel’s Angels had to reboot a bit after the pandemic slowed down their work and their founder left the organization. But now they’re back at it, with some exciting new initiatives to spread the impact of pet therapy to kids all over Arizona.

“I say it’s a 24-year-old startup working to reinvent what we can do for the community,” said Melissa Steimer, the CEO of Gabriel’s Angels. “We know that kids’ needs have changed through the pandemic. There are a lot of mental health issues happening. In Arizona, that’s one of the biggest challenges we’re facing.”

^{Melissa Steimer}

Gabriel’s Angels does its work by identifying and training volunteers (canine and human) who work in teams to go to crisis centers and other places where children experiencing trauma and mental health challenges can participate in programs with the dogs. The organization has ramped back up to now have more than 100 teams across the state actively working with kids.

And they may have found the secret sauce. Gabriel’s Angels is now expanding its work in schools in disadvantaged areas, where they can maximize their impact on the largest number of children possible. 

“They have more of a consistency of kids, which is really helpful, and they can pull kids out of their classroom space to have smaller group activities,” Steimer said. “A lot of schools right now are doing that anyway, because of needing counselors at schools to help these kids with whatever their issues are. We have this audience of kids that need this support, and the schools are allowing these kinds of programs to come into schools.”

Kristine Kassel is one of the organization’s volunteers — along with her dog Teddy — and is a former board chair for the organization. She has seen the impact pets can have in schools firsthand.

“I have witnessed direct impact individually and also on the larger groups of kids since Teddy and I have been at the same school for three years,” she said. “Now, we even see younger siblings of students that Teddy already worked with. There is no other program like Gabriel’s Angels. Personalized outreach from a fuzzy friend is a type of compassion like no other.”

Kassel cited the impacts of COVID and parents having to work longer hours as having a significant impact on the children she serves, as well as the access kids have to information — good and bad — through the Internet.

“The work has always been important, but I think today there is more of a need,” she said. “So the caring and outreach that a therapy team can provide to all students, especially those struggling, is priceless.”

One of the districts Gabriel’s Angels is most involved in is the Washington Elementary School District in the West Valley. Amanda Quine, the district’s director of social services, said the organization is currently working in three schools, with many more currently in the pipeline and the potential to work in all 32 of the district’s schools.

The district signed a memorandum of understanding with Gabriel’s Angels for this school year that focuses on three program areas.

“One is all about reading, where kids can practice reading to the dog in a safe environment. If they’re uncomfortable with their reading skills or abilities, you couldn’t ask for a better place to take some risks and be as vulnerable as you can when you practice those skills with a dog,” she said.

Gabriel’s Angels is also doing small group interactions where the children work on some of the core values that will help them as they grow and mature. And, teams from Gabriel’s Angels are making community visits where groups of children have an opportunity to interact with pets.

The results of the reading program have been tangible, as have the behavioral benefits for the students.

“It improves their coping skills, and in the reading group, you can see drastic improvements in reading skills,” Quine said. “Kids that have the opportunity to practice with the dog have seen significant growth academically. And those students’ reading abilities, comprehension, fluency — they are improving in all of that.”

But the improvements are more than academic. “Their whole presence is calmer, and it allows them to not only identify what those coping strategies are but to really feel them,” Quine said. “When we can feel the impact of something, it’s much more likely that we’re going to continue to practice it, because we like how it feels. We want to experience that all over again.”

Steimer said the organization is working diligently to plan for the future and expand its impact. Schools are an important part of that. She even sees Gabriel’s Angels as a resource in addressing issues such as school absenteeism and other core issues students and families face.

“Something we’ve been seeing lately is a shift in this realization that pet therapy has a place in helping to heal kids and to help kids show up at school more,” she said. “If we can bring the expertise of understanding how the pet can be brought into the solutions, that’s what we’re looking to do over the next 10 years.”

To learn more, visit gabrielsangels.org. 

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Or perhaps you stumbled upon the NAHMIAS brand after learning of the young designer’s inspiring story and his will to never give up. Regardless, the NAHMIAS brand and its genesis are the stuff dreams are made of.

Hustling to turn his passion for fashion into his career since adolescence, Nahmias moved from his average American home in Summerland, California, to Los Angeles in his late teens to be “all in,” obtaining his future aspiration. Fast-forward years of barely making ends meet and avoiding nay-sayers to the current day — now serving as the lead creative for Arizona Coyotes merchandise collections, as well as founder and creative director of his men’s luxury brand, NAHMIAS, a favorite among celebrities.  

The Nahmias x Coyotes mix is a natural fit, according to Arizona Coyotes chief brand officer Alex Meruelo Jr. The parallel between the emerging fashion designer and the Coyotes as an NHL team is well-aligned. Clean, modern styles that blend well with any wardrobe are the focus for Nahmias and are true to the NAHMIAS aesthetic the designer is known for. The Nahmias/Coyotes collection appeals to professional athletes, hockey fans and people interested in an elevated, luxe look. 

As founder and creative director of NAHMIAS, Nahmias’ path to success was one of struggle and risk. Nahmias spent years working multiple odd jobs to afford materials and continue creating. The grind included networking, looking for leads, making and distributing samples — searching for creative ways to get in front of stylists and others in the industry. COVID added an extra layer of complication, challenging the designer to push through and stay the course. 

Nahmias’ grit and determination eventually paid off when he attended Paris Fashion Week in 2020. While working on getting his designs in the hands of stylists, meeting designers and being in the middle of the industry action, Justin Bieber was photographed wearing one of his hat designs — aptly named Miracle. Instantly, Nahmias became “one to watch,” and, according to the designer, the rest is history.

The current Doni Nahmias x Arizona Coyotes collection includes a range of designs. “We have collaborated to offer fans limited-edition merchandise, including sweatshirts, sweatpants, a lifestyle jersey, T-shirts and hats,” Nahmias said. “I even designed a new custom skate that matches the apparel line, in partnership with Bauer Hockey.” The designer is also excited to reveal special jerseys for upcoming events. Recognizing the endless potential for partnership, Nahmias views hockey as a canvas for creative expression, with new perspectives to redefine the very essence of style and the sport.

The newest apparel line is available for sale only in-arena at Coyotes home games, with soon-to-be-announced opportunities to buy online at CoyotesShop.com. NAHMIAS ready-to-wear collections can be found in luxury retailers, including Harrods, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, and at fashion-forward sites online.  

To learn more, go to commonhype.com/collections/arizona-coyotes-x-doni-nahmias-collection

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From footwear to visors, functional fashion is key. Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing and accessories that offer sun protection set players up for success on the court. We gathered some hot looks to keep you cool while scoring major style points, regardless of your pickleball prowess.

Hey Ladies … Dress(es) to Impress. One-piece dresses are convenient and sporty. We love a short-sleeve option, providing shoulder coverage and monochromatic looks. Most come with undershorts and moisture-wicking material. Look for pieces with UPF 50+, like this Lily Pulitzer option at SHOPALIX.

Pick Your Paddle. There is a method to the madness when it comes to choosing the right paddle. From beginners to expert level, options abound, depending on level, players’ physical features, etc. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t add flair and personality while you dink, serve and volley. We’re fans of the colorful paddle selection at TANGERINE. With an elongated face for improved power, a fiberglass surface to help “pop your shot,” and lightweight design for improved hand speed, Tangerine paddles are relatively affordable and USA Pickleball approved.

Footwear for the Win. Fancy footwork isn’t necessary to play pickleball; however, we are fans of athletic shoes that promote speed, agility and comfort. Look for court shoes offering lateral support to keep your heel secure, durability in the wear of the tip of the shoe to stand up to rubber court surfaces, and any shoe providing adequate ankle stability and a spring in your step. Bonus: a techy, sporty look goes a long way, too. Dick’s Sporting Goods has a wide selection of pickleball footwear styles and price options for both men and women.

Shade Like a Champ. Accessories are part of the game, especially when it comes to staying safe outdoors. What’s better than a stylish, squishable visor to protect you from sunny rays? Winning your match, you say? Yes, that too, but don’t neglect taking care of your skin while you power through your pickleball day. We love Eric Javits for all things shade-related — especially when it comes to activity. Comfortable and durable Eric Javits visors are foldable due to the designer’s patented Squishee® material and include a detachable terry forehead pad that can be removed for washing. Javits is on the pricier side of options when it comes to visors or hats, but worth the splurge considering the wearability and color offerings.

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^{Lisa Masters with her sons Brandon & Andrew}

This month’s tip comes courtesy of Lisa Masters, the founder & CEO of Autism Life and Living

In the world of nonprofits, the mission is the guiding star that drives every action and decision. For many leaders, it can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day operations and lose sight of why that mission matters so deeply. As a nonprofit leader myself, I’ve learned that the most powerful way to truly understand and serve those we aim to help is to live the mission.

For me, this lesson came from personal experience. As a single mother of two young men with autism, I intimately understood the challenges and gaps in services that families like mine face every day. This insight fueled my passion to found Autism Life and Living, a nonprofit dedicated to serving individuals with similar needs.

But simply believing in the mission isn’t enough. To make a real impact, nonprofit leaders must immerse themselves in the lives of those they serve. This means actively participating in programs, events and engagements that bring them closer to the community they work so tirelessly to support. By experiencing a mission moment, leaders gain invaluable insights into the diverse needs and experiences of their beneficiaries. They witness firsthand the transformative power of their programs and services, and the positive difference they make in people’s lives.

Immerse yourself in the experiences of those you serve, engage with them directly, and let their stories guide your work. Only then can we truly fulfill the promise of our missions and create lasting change in the world.

Autism Life and Living empowers young adults with autism by providing programs that promote inclusion, independence, socialization and well-being. For more information, visit autismlifeandliving.org.

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Gala Chairs: Cindy Watts & Mark El-Tawil

Founders’ Award Honoree: Michelle Kerrick 

Fashion Show: Neiman Marcus presents Carolina Herrera with Creative Director Wes Gordon

Entertainment: The Hamptons

Auctioneer: Letitia Frye

Decor: Inspired Environments

Notable Moments: The celebratory evening kicked off with cocktails on the east lawn, followed by the incredible Neiman Marcus fashion show presenting Carolina Herrera fashions as the sun set. Creative director Wes Gordon introduced the fabulous collection filled with tailored necklines, fitted bodices and structured skirting in bright spring colors and patterns. The garden theme continued as guests entered the ballroom filled with greenery above the dance floor and shades of green throughout the lighting, centerpieces and tablescapes. The heartfelt program was once again filled with stories of ‘Fresh Start Women’ who have overcome incredible adversity on their journey with the organization. The generosity flowed after the program as paddles were raised to raise additional funds, and the evening concluded with a vibrant dance floor filled with couples and friends swaying the night away. 

Photos courtesy of Gudenschwager Photography

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Event Co-Chairs: Dr. Katie Martin & Jill Merrion

Competition Judges: Linda Dean, Suzy Nyemchek & Ricky Bentzen 

Judges Choice Winners: Dr. Michael Aragon & Lincy Maldonado 

People’s Choice Winners: Jeff Frye & Melissa Scarcelli 

Philanthropy Award: Melissa Scarcelli 

Sapphire Sponsors: Devil’s Hideaway | Legacy EV | Pedal Haus | Scarcelli Family Foundation

Emcee: Weezy 

Notable Moments: The evening’s theme of Fantasy & Feathers was on point for the ballroom dancing fun as many guests found ways to incorporate feathers into their ritzy attire. After cocktail hour, co-chairs Katie and Jill surprised the room by entering in succession with a dance paired with a pro partner of their own! Before dinner was served, everyone enjoyed the parade of the dancers and their pros per tradition. When the show began, all 12 numbers were fun to watch, making voting for the People’s Choice Awards extremely difficult! Congrats to the winners, and cheers to raising funds for the vital local programs provided by the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. 

Photos courtesy of Carrie Evans Photography 

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Exhibit Curator: Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum

Notable Moments: The preview was a first chance for top supporters of the Arizona Costume Institute and Phoenix Art Museum to experience more than 250 vintage dolls, over 50 historical objects and the life-sized Barbie Mirror-Pink Corvette on display. Guests walked the pink carpet while dressed in their prettiest pink, creating a sea of blush tones, bubble gum and fuchsia. Special touches included pop music in the air, pink drinks and treats, and the fabulous “Barbie box” photo booths as guests entered the space. This exhibit will run until July 7, 2024. 

Photos courtesy of Airi Katsuta 

A look inside the Exhibit

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Presenting Sponsor: Waymo

Safe to Age Award Recipient: APS

Emcee: Whitney Clark, Arizona’s Family

Dollars Raised: $162,000

Notable Moment: Attendees were welcomed with an extensive overview of the organization’s recent accomplishments before the organization leaders, the event speakers, and some incredible client stories were introduced. Len, a resident of one of FSL’s affordable housing communities, took to the stage to share his story. Like many who rely on FSL for affordable housing, his journey is one of changing circumstances in life and health that led him to need assistance. He found his community when FSL property manager Scott VanSoest took the time to get to know him and encouraged him to start the process. As an interactive opportunity, guests were encouraged to paint a rock for the Adult Day Health Center Garden.

Photos courtesy of Jaron Quach

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Gold Sponsors: Cheryl Hintzen-Gaines & Ira Gaines | Fore the Kids | Hospice of the Valley

Event Co-Chairs: Christina Andrews & Lisa Swanson

Emcees: Lindsey Smith & Tracy Leonard-Warner

Dollars Raised: $225,000

Notable Moments: Breakfast attendees learned about the impact that Ryan House made on two special families: the Garcias and the McMullins. Kaylee Garcia was born with CHARGE syndrome, a disorder that affects many areas of the body. The family would later be referred to Ryan House, which provides respite care and give Kaylee’s parents a break from caregiving. Ryan House parents Chris and Lauren McMullin also shared their Ryan House journey with their son, William, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. The couple shared how Ryan House supported their whole family through William’s end-of-life journey and how they remain active supporters of the organization today. Once again, the heartfelt stories told from stage depicted what incredible support Ryan House provides to families in need of support during such difficult times. 

Photos courtesy of Lori Krenzen Photography

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