Repeatedly answering this question led him to a career managing science and engineering corporations, including more than three decades as president and CEO of Microchip Technologies Incorporated. This inquisitive nature never waned and binds the pages of his personal and professional stories. “When I traveled around the world, I took a little toolkit with me,” Sanghi said. “I used it to open hotel thermostats, coffeemakers and TVs to figure out what products are in them. If I didn’t see our Microchip logo, I would talk to our salespeople about how they could break into those accounts.”

Both tireless effort and education are undoubtedly the keys to Sanghi’s success. After completing his bachelor’s degree at the age of 20, Sanghi decided to continue his education in the United States so he could pursue entrepreneurial and growth opportunities that were not available in India. 

With just a one-way plane ticket and $150, he arrived at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1976 to earn his master’s degree. “All I could afford was an off-campus room that could only fit a twin bed. Not even a desk,” Sanghi said. “I used the communal bathrooms and kitchen, and my food would often get stolen from the refrigerator.” To survive, he borrowed money from the credit union, got a job grading for a professor and did research work.

After graduating with a 4.0 GPA, Sanghi’s professional life reflects accomplishments attributable to his skills and knowledge, coupled with competing fairly and working hard. Sales growth, Microchip’s stock price increasing 300 times over the course of his tenure, and the company becoming a juggernaut are a few of his career achievements. In 2022, Sanghi was recognized with the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s highest honor, the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award, for his exceptional contributions to the semiconductor industry.

Sanghi is equally proud of his personal life, which includes a 42-year marriage, two kids, three grandchildren and one on the way. “Few CEOs make it throughout their lifetime without getting divorced or experiencing other issues,” he said.

In 2021, Sanghi’s second act began when he stepped down as president and CEO and assumed the role of Microchip executive chair. He spends three days a week as adviser to the company’s CEO and management team. The remaining two are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs by serving as board chair for two private companies as well as giving back to the community.

Investing in the community is a mainstay for Sanghi. More than three decades ago, he took the lead in working with Microchip’s management team and employees to identify eight areas of need in the community. There was a keen awareness that the company did not solely have the resources to address those needs and a partner was essential. Microchip collaborated with Valley of the Sun United Way over these many years. The holistic partnership includes financial support, as well as the time and expertise of Microchip employees.

Three of these eight areas — education, entrepreneurship and workforce development — are the direct focus of Microchip’s community involvement. Sanghi will readily share how engineering is a crisis for the United States due to a lack of engineering graduates supporting the semiconductor industry, resulting in a need to hire from other countries. “The recognition of science and technology is very low among our youth. Unless you catch kids early enough and build their interest in science and technology, they’re going to be lost to pop culture,” he said. “If you ask most teenagers in high school about their role models, their response is singers, actors and sports heroes. Society gets what it celebrates.”

Sanghi applied his signature drive and determination in shifting society’s celebration to science and technology when he brought the national nonprofit For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition to Arizona 20 years ago. Describing this as his “personal passion,” Sanghi has volunteered to mentor a majority-girls team that won the state competition, funds two annual scholarships, and underwrites the state championship held at ASU.

Whether it’s teaching Microchip employees to take the time to figure out customer problems and how the company can solve them or nurturing a love of STEM through AZFirst, Sanghi continually leverages his entrepreneurial mindset to offer sustainable support to others. “Since I came here with nothing, I’ve always had the desire to provide opportunities for others who may not be able to reach their potential because they couldn’t get resources,” he said. “I look back and wish more help were available when I needed it. But I survived, and I’m here trying to give help to others.”

To learn more, visit microchip.com. 

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“I experienced a challenging and abusive childhood, and it gave me the desire and drive at a young age to want to help others,” Shell said. “So even while I was still living through some of it, I was actively seeking that out.”

Shell’s work with those in need began when she spent a few hours on a Saturday with kids at the Vista Colina Family Shelter. When it was time for her to go, the kids wrapped their arms around her legs to prevent her from leaving. The touching experience left Shell wanting to do more, despite being “broker than broke” because she had not yet begun building her photography business. Still, she successfully harnessed her idea to provide a new swing set for the kids, realizing how easy it was to make a difference. “I just had to have an idea and act on it,” Shell said. “From that moment on, I was in hot pursuit and started creating my own stuff.”

A self-described “born entrepreneur,” Shell spent two decades working on community projects ranging from shoe drives to reading programs, including coordinating an annual Picture Day for a thousand children experiencing homelessness at Children First Leadership Academy (formerly Thomas J. Pappas Schools for homeless children) so they could have free portraits.

Her deep connection as a mentor for five years with a group of 17 kids at the Leadership Academy sharpened her focus. Hoping to build the kids’ confidence, Shell arranged for photographers to teach them photography and exhibit their work at Burton Barr Central Library. She didn’t expect to see the profound changes in these kids she had come to know so well. “I thought, this is it! I had finally found the way to make a life-changing difference in these kids’ lives,” Shell said. “They were more open, connected, vibrant, confident and calm. And I thought, I really need to build this.”

Build she did. Shell established the nonprofit Kids in Focus in 2012. Kids in Focus empowers youth, ages 10 to 18, who come from backgrounds of poverty, homelessness, neglect or abuse to reframe the world around them, becoming more aware and connected. The nonprofit is dedicated to mentoring youth to overcome adversity and build resilience through the art of photography.

Youth from partner organizations throughout the Valley participate in the no-cost programs. A camera, mentor, field trips, self-celebration and continuum of care are embedded  in every program. “Using the camera as a tool is incredibly effective because it’s like a safety net,” Shell said. “You pair kids with a mentor who’s trained to see and notice, take them on field trips to remove them from their daily stressful environment, and the magic starts to happen.”

After eight years of working 18-hour days, seven days a week, between her photography business and Kids in Focus, Shell could no longer do both and made what she felt was the clear choice. “There was no hesitation,” she said. “I’m going to give up my career because my heart is with the kids.”

Just as a camera’s fast shutter speed captures quick-moving action, Kids in Focus has grown from only Shell and volunteer mentors to include staff and an expanded board of directors now supporting 700 kids a year. “I’m really proud of the profoundly life-changing programs I innately created because of my own experience, and that I grew the organization from nothing to where it is today,” she said.

As you turn to the next page in Shell’s photo album, you will see it is not yet filled with images. That is because another act is on the horizon as Shell recently transitioned from her role as Kids in Focus executive director after more than a decade. She will undoubtedly continue her lifelong pursuit and intense focus on giving back.

“When you go through really hard stuff, it’s going to change you, but you get to choose how,” Shell said. “You have two choices — bitter or better. I wanted to be better because of it. It’s always been clear to me there’s nothing more healing and rewarding than when you give to others.”

To learn more, visit kidsinfocus.org and shell-photo.com.  

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Titla was born to poor teenage parents on the San Carlos Apache reservation. Her prospects looked dim. On a visit to a tribal office as a teenager, she found a newspaper article about UNITY. It talked about events going on around the country and the big conference taking place in Oklahoma. She begged her parents to take her, which they did, along with her two siblings.

“The conference was life-changing and inspired hope for young Indians looking ahead to the future,” Titla said. 

UNITY’s founder, J.R. Cook (who would go on to be her friend and mentor), was keen to guide the young attendees through their cultural tug-of-war. He wanted them to succeed in mainstream America without turning their backs on the ways of their ancestors. Titla listened and learned.

After high school graduation, Titla attended the University of Oklahoma to be close to UNITY’s executive office, continuing to volunteer. “It helped me become the person I am today,” she said. That person is multifaceted with multiple second acts. She was the first in her family to graduate from college. With her degree in journalism, she landed a job at a Tucson television station, becoming the first Native American TV reporter in Arizona. After a stint at a Phoenix TV station, she earned a master’s degree in communications at ASU. 

I always had a strong desire to move back to the reservation and give back,” Titla said. “I wanted to reconnect with my cultural identity. And I loved it!” She worked in the school system, simultaneously working on a second master’s degree in education and supervision. All the while, she never lost touch with UNITY founder Cook. 

The first time Cook asked Titla to consider becoming the organization’s executive director in 2008, she was making a run for U.S. Congress, which was not successful. The second time he asked, she was running for Tribal Chair, also unsuccessful. “When he asked me the third time in 2013, I decided this was meant to be,” she laughed. “My only condition was to move the headquarters from Oklahoma to Mesa in 2013. My family is here, and I didn’t want to move.” 

UNITY is the only organization of its kind in the country. It encompasses 300 of the 576 federally recognized tribes, coming from 36 states. Of course, Titla and her team are working on bringing in the remaining tribes. The young people range from 14 to 24, though it is open to everyone. It was designed to empower Native Americans in the U.S. (including Native Hawaiians). But now, groups in other countries are looking at the model for their communities. 

UNITY provides something for every Native youth, including athletics, leadership and community. The programming is year-round, with many peer-cohort programs. But the organization’s heart is the National Unity Council. “These youth councils are the key for kids to see their potential,” Titla said. “They learn about organizing and Robert’s Rules of Order, etc. The councils are autonomous, giving the youth a voice. Each sets up its own bylaws and officers and conducts its own service projects.”

Native Americans face challenges similar to all youth: substance abuse, domestic violence, suicide. Packed on top of those are the frightening annual numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, preserving their cultural language and overcoming still-existing prejudices.

But Titla is excited about the future of Native America. She sees smart, talented young people climbing through the ranks. A 16-year-old she knows started a nonprofit. A 15-year-old was invited by the Seattle Mariners to be in the broadcast booth. They are the hope of their people.

“My mother has always said, ‘Never forget you’re a descendant of three Apache chiefs. Whenever you face challenges, remember there’s nothing you can’t do.’ I carry that with me, knowing that all of my life experiences leading up to this point have prepared me for this role.”

To learn more, go to unityinc.org.  

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It’s with this philosophy that Loscher goes about her work as assistant director and chief curator of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. But her interest in historical stories was born decades ago. Walking through the Prescott Forest  behind her childhood home was magical. “The wind spoke through the trees, and remnants of people long gone washed to the surface after each rain,” Loscher said.

She found bits of rock tools and shards of pottery — each thrilling find inspiring her to learn about the people who left them. She was 7 when she first visited the Heard Museum, and instantly recognized that the museum painted the stories of the people from long ago, giving them second chances at becoming known. Their lives were reborn every time new visitors viewed their art and artifacts. That was the moment Loscher set her life course to become a curator.

Her first magazine subscription was to Southwest Art. Traveling across the American West with her family, she saw the landscapes that jumped from the magazine’s pages and was entranced by the ranchers and trading post owners she met. When it came time for college, Loscher earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University in art history and fine arts, respectively. When she became curator of the Heard Museum, her long-held dream became reality.

Twelve years later, a yen to teach led her to the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in art history. She missed curating, though, and in 2014, the second act of her personal dream manifested. The Museum of the West was in its planning stages, and Loscher was named curator. It was thrilling and intimidating at the same time, as she realized her planning would be not for just current exhibits, but for many into the future. As in five years into the future!

“It was tough going at first,” Loscher said, “and then we became a Smithsonian Museum affiliate. And everything changed. Having that connection gave us important legitimacy in both grant and acquisition success.”

Loscher considers the exhibits’ whole context, wanting to entertain and educate the museum’s visitors. An important part of that mission is bringing women artists to the fore. “Women artists have often been forgotten or relegated to the basement of a museum. Historically, they haven’t had a voice,” she said. “I want to continue to tell their stories as a way of inspiring a curiosity about the West, its cultures and how that impacts society as a whole.”

A favorite is Jessie Benton Evans, whose work hangs in the museum. Known for her brightly colored desert landscapes, Evans is considered one of the most important Arizona artists of the early 20th century. The museum holds Evans’s written archives (letters and notes about her work), as well, which Loscher feels act as a thread, weaving Evans’s story from the past to the future.

The museum is looking toward its next phase of growth. “I feel like we’ve only just begun,” Loscher said. “We’re planning an expansion, envisioning how new exhibit spaces can accommodate current and future collections and gifts. We want to bring in state-of-the-art technology and interactive elements for a more enhanced visitor engagement.”

As she did in those early days, when she first held pottery shards in her hands, Loscher believes that every piece of history — whether art or artifact — is an entity with a life of its own. And like the phoenix itself, they are reborn each time a new visitor first lays eyes on them.

To learn more, visit scottsdalemuseumwest.org.

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With a wife he adored, a healthy son and daughter, an exhilarating career in banking, and the beautiful Pacific Ocean just a short drive from his Portland home, Chris Rudolph had the perfect life. During the winter of 1991, Rudolph got a chest cold. He was an active, healthy guy and figured the cold would go away. But it didn’t. He sought advice from his physician, who didn’t like what he heard in Rudolph’s chest and sent him to a cardiologist. That doctor sent him immediately to the hospital, where Rudolph was admitted for testing. 

The news the next morning wasn’t good. A healthy heart is about the size of a fist; Rudolph’s was the size of a football. His diagnosis was idiopathic (spontaneous from an unknown cause) cardiomyopathy. Although he would be given a variety of drugs, his long-term survival was unlikely without a heart transplant. When the symptoms became too severe, Rudolph went on the transplant list and received a new heart in October 1996.

“I had always been a positive person,” Rudolph said. “On transplant day, I told my team, ‘You do the surgery, I’ll take it from there.’” And he did, starting his first second act by joining the speakers’ bureau of the Portland chapter of what is now called Donate Life. “I spoke to churches, civic groups, schools, anyone who would listen about the importance of becoming an organ donor before a tragedy strikes,” Rudolph said. “And I joined their board of directors.”

He continued his volunteer work with Donate Life after he was transferred to Phoenix. Then came the 2008 financial downturn. Rudolph was laid off and eventually found his way  to nonprofit development work, first at the Musical Instrument Museum and then at the Phoenix Art Museum. Then, slowly, the familiar symptoms returned. Rudolph knew his low energy and shortness of breath meant the beginning of heart failure. A visit to Mayo Clinic confirmed his suspicions. The majority of his arteries were either collapsed or plaque-filled.

In January 2019, when most of us were putting away our holiday décor, Rudolph received his second transplant. This time a veteran, he knew exactly what he would need to do post-surgery. But two days later, he awoke in the hospital, totally blind. Rudolph tells the story. “A dozen doctors, including a neuro-ophthalmologist, could only surmise that I was the one in 10,000. The new organ anti-rejection drug had burned both of my optic nerves,” he said.

Some of Rudolph’s vision returned by the time he went home a few days later. “I have a small amount of peripheral vision in my right eye and about 20 percent in my left. Everything pretty much looks as though it’s dim and in the shadows,” he said.

Remarkably, Rudolph’s optimism did not dim. And his second second act began. A Mayo staff member connected him with the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Founded in 1947, its mission is to facilitate independence and promote full participation in all aspects of everyday life. Rudolph availed himself of a number of their services, from cane training for mobility to life-skills training — learning how to adapt to sudden loss of vision. And as soon as he could, he was ready to lend a hand.

“I’m on the board, and chair of the development committee,” he said. “My passion is to help them grow. Two and one-half percent of the American population is impacted by blindness or vision loss. Using that equation, that equals nearly 200,000 in Arizona. Our current client maximum is only 300, but we hope that changes soon.”

ACBVI has just purchased the block on which their center sits. They’ve partnered with Terros Health to increase and expand their services, the list of which is long: social and recreation programs, vocational training, support groups and more. They’re currently training clients who are computer-savvy to provide support to sighted computer users. And they’ve begun an adventures program, allowing clients to enjoy skiing, indoor rock climbing and water sports.

“I hope readers will stop in for a site visit,” Rudolph said, “no pun intended.” He encourages everyone he meets not to waste a single minute. Live fully, find a second act and give back to the greater good. Because life can change in the blink of an eye.

To learn more, visit acbvi.org.

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Sam Leyvas has been a man on a mission his entire life. That’s not hard to imagine considering his lovely mother, Helen, taught her only child the value of lending a hand. Whether the need came from their South Phoenix neighbors or a family member, Helen was quick to offer assistance without being asked. Taking those valuable lessons from his cherished guidepost to Northern Arizona University, Leyvas was active in student government and the Arizona Students’ Association. 

Following graduation (and continuing to volunteer with ASA), Leyvas dove into a lobbying career, advocating for affordable housing, proper land use and other policy issues. That work led him to First Things First, an organization dedicated to helping Arizona’s young children from birth to 5 years old. “Children who are hungry or in need of medical care can fall behind even before they’re in school,” Leyvas said. “Then, when traumas manifest or roadblocks build — which they will — it’s harder for kids to keep up.” His dedication to that mission took him all the way to the CEO position.

Next on Leyvas’ career path was the newly launched Stand Together Foundation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the group was looking for someone to build partnerships. Leyvas was the perfect candidate, having done similar work with First Things First. In his spare time, he volunteered as a reserve officer with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

One day, Leyvas attended a conference where civil rights attorney and activist Bryan Stevenson spoke. The author of “Just Mercy,” Stevenson made a statement that stuck. “He said, ‘If we want to improve people’s lives, we have to be proximate to where issues exist and people struggle. The world changes at a grassroots level,’” Leyvas said. 

Leyvas’ previous jobs had been at the statewide and national levels. “Those few words made me realize I wanted to work at the local level,” he said.

Adding a University of Arizona MBA and a Georgetown postgraduate certificate in nonprofit management along the way, Leyvas followed Stevenson’s advice and came home to launch the Phoenix chapter of HomeAid, which focuses on homelessness. 

He wasn’t in the position long when the COVID pandemic arrived. Nonprofit work, just like everything else, changed drastically. Meanwhile, the new CEO at Valley of the Sun United Way was also navigating a new position amid the pandemic. Less than a year later, a new, five-year program was launched called Mighty Change.

“Their whole dynamic was changing to address the root causes of four key areas: health, education, housing and homelessness, and workforce development,” Leyvas said. “You can’t solve one without solving the others. And United Way was uniquely positioned because of their intersection with business and nonprofit partners.”

They were also seeking a vice president of corporate relations and social responsibility. Leyvas’ return to the Valley had created a big local wave (think tsunami-sized). They recognized that he was perfect for the job, and he stepped into the new role last May.

Even though it’s a national name, each United Way chapter is independent, which fulfills Leyvas’ desire to work at the grassroots level. His position also fulfills an unwavering belief in the inherent dignity of people. It’s the golden thread that has run through all of his career steps — the one first woven by a single mother lending her neighbors a hand.

To learn more, visit vsuw.org. 

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In 1916, the city of Phoenix ended at the Salt River. But Dwight B. Heard, one of the largest landowners in the Salt River Valley, saw value in the “South Side.” His newspaper,

In 1918, Heard thought an acre of that land, located at Southern and 7th Street, would make a perfect site for the Congregational Church, which had been meeting in the Neighborhood House. Now they would have their own buildings, beginning with a parsonage. “A good sum was pledged at once,” the newspaper reported about the initial fundraising. And another $525 was donated four days later at the Sunday church service (the equivalent of more than $10,000 today). The parsonage was completed in a matter of months.

Time passed. Phoenix grew to envelop the “south side,” and the church continued meeting at the Neighborhood House. Finally, in the mid-1940s, a sanctuary was built for the Congregationalists to call home. As the decades passed, the church changed hands and denominations. But through all of its iterations, the stately building and stunning stained glass windows welcomed all to worship, regardless of denomination. And the tradition of being open to all paved the way for the perfect second act for this gift from Dwight Heard.

The Crosiers, a 1,000-year-old religious order, came to the United States in the 19th century. The small group of priests spread across the country. Never judgmental nor intent on proselytizing, the Crosiers’ mission was simply to reach out to those who live unrecognized and in the margins.

The Crosiers who had arrived in Phoenix over the years served within the Diocese of Phoenix. In 1983, a community was officially established, but they realized there were even more ways they could serve the people of Arizona. As part of a national reorganization in 2000, Phoenix became the national Crosier headquarters. The growing community soon needed more space. They found their forever home when they purchased the former Neighborhood Congregational Church.

Today, the priests embrace the opportunity to be present to those in need via a wide range of ministries. They offer vibrant Sunday worship services, welcoming all denominations as has always been the tradition in that sanctuary. Other work includes assisting in local parishes, elder care, campus ministry, veterans programs, immigrant services and visiting memory care patients. Some of their most moving work occurs as a result of their jail ministry. The Crosiers are often the only visitors the inmates receive. And sometimes, miracles happen. 

In spring 2022, Phoenix Crosier Father Tom received a letter from an inmate he had been visiting and praying with. The man wrote that a fellow inmate came to him asking for help after a loved one had died. Father Tom’s protégé was able to provide solace.

“I gave him words of love and comfort and peace. I was letting him know that he is not alone, and that God has His arms … wrapped around him,” the inmate explained. “Many of these youngsters come to me
and ask for different kinds of advice or encouragement and, without hesitation, I am there for them.”

And then the big question: “Is putting my life on hold for 25 years a reason for finding my purpose? Is this where I really need to be right now?” The inmate knew the answer before Father Tom gave one.

As the result of a generous community, the Crosiers have just completed the construction of their new priory building, giving the 16 priests a place to live and pray together, and an opportunity to be where they need to be.

For more behind this Frontdoor, visit crosier.or

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T.J., four years older than Chris, was born with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities). Watching his older brother navigate life inspired Chris. “T.J. is my only sibling, and I had an interesting vantage point,” Rodriguez said. “My natural inclination was to think about what I could do in my life to tear down the barriers I saw him face.”

Rodriguez also had an interest in policy, politics and law. When he was ready for college, the challenge was to find a way to marry those passions with his desire to be a change agent for T.J. and others like him. His challenge was solved at the University of California, Berkeley, where he combined his passions with a minor in disabilities studies. Having competed in gymnastics since the age of 3, Rodriguez earned a scholarship 16 years later, and this man with a big Texas heart (he was born in Houston) has never regretted a minute of his chosen path.

A graduate degree in public affairs followed and was enhanced by what Rodriguez calls “Potomac Fever,” the urge to spend time in Washington, D.C. There, he lobbied for the disabled on a national level. “But I realized that working on a state level, you actually see more laws passed than at the national level,” he said. That’s when his second act began.

For Rodriguez, every career move has put him in a dream job. Austin, Tex., Lansing, Mich., and Los Angeles, Calif. have all benefited from his knowledge and experience as a caregiver for someone with IDD. He says he thrives on new challenges but always wants to be positioned where he can have the most significant effect.

The Valley of the Sun became brighter when he arrived at Ability360 in June 2021. Founded more than 40 years ago, the organization offers programs to empower people with disabilities to achieve or continue independent lifestyles in the community. “It’s a culture of innovation that embraces the philosophy that no project, no idea is too large as long as there are resources to cover them,” Rodriguez said.

Disabilities come in many forms, and Ability360 strives to serve all spectrums and all ages. Their 45,000-square-foot sports, fitness and aquatics center is the first of its kind in the western United States. Competitive sports programs for persons with disabilities, fitness, health and wellness are all here. Their Center for Independent Living assesses client needs, helps them develop goals, offers independent living skills instruction, and provides a home modification program for lower-income individuals. E-gaming is extremely popular among those with disabilities, so Ability360 makes sure their clients have access to computers and the Internet, too.

Last year, they took on a youth-in-transition program to help young clients move into education or employment. And next, they’ll be preparing to add a veteran specialist.

The “360” in the name refers to the organization’s goal of supporting the whole person, empowering them to live as independently as possible —and that’s reflected in all of their programming. Sometimes it’s as simple as speaking with someone “who’s been there,” so Ability360 provides peer-to-peer mentoring. Other times, a louder voice is necessary, and advocacy takes a front seat. Ability360 offers advocacy training, from a volunteer level and personal level to a governmental level.

As president and CEO, Rodriguez says one of his (and the organization’s) biggest challenges is getting the word out. “We’re always looking for ways to educate the public about the variety of support we have,” Rodriguez said. “So often we hear, ‘I wish I had known about Ability360 years ago.’”

Well, now you know. Help spread the word. ability360.org

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Kozemczak’s first job out of college was in marketing and public relations, and then fundraising, for Arizona Theatre Company. “I love the nonprofit world!” she said. And then, an incredibly prescient Ballet Arizona board member changed Kozemczak’s life. 

“It was Carol Schilling’s last year on the board,” Kozemczak said. (Schilling is now a board chairman emerita.) “The ballet had a staff of just two and Carol realized an investment in the organization was needed in order to keep growing. She was a visionary.” Schilling created the development officer position, found Kozemczak, and underwrote her position for two years. “I had my dream job,” Kozemczak said. “I would never have walked into this organization without her.” And thus, Kozemczak’s first second act in nonprofits began in April 2014.

Ballet Arizona had undergone its own second act 15 years earlier. After its creation in 1986 — the result of bringing together three smaller and struggling Arizona dance companies — the “Cinderella” season launched that October, with a performance of, aptly, “Cinderella.” But by the late 90s, the ballet was again besotted with financial troubles. Thankfully for everyone in this state, a wildly successful fundraising campaign saved the day in 2000. Since then, the company has continued to wow audiences under the artistic direction of former New York City Ballet principal dancer Ib Andersen. 

Kozemczak has wowed her coworkers at the ballet, as well. A year after assuming her position, she was promoted to director of development, a job in which she happily immersed herself. Then in early 2022, the ballet’s executive director, Samantha Turner, announced she was leaving. Kozemczak had always hoped to ascend to that position some day, but a cup of coffee last October revised her timeline.

As they chatted over lattés, her friend (who’s also a Ballet Arizona volunteer) encouraged Kozemczak to apply for the position. She said she’d think about it.

Jami Kozemczak

“But from that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking about it!” she laughed. “I encouraged the ballet to do a national search. If it was to be me, I wanted to make certain that I was the best candidate for them. The search took six months — there were many interested candidates. And ultimately, it was me!” Kozemczak assumed her new role as executive director on July 1 of this year.

Now in her second second act in nonprofits, Kozemczak says she wakes up every day with fresh ideas. The ballet is in an “all systems go” mode. Ticket sales have returned to their pre-COVID numbers, and contributions are exceeding pre-pandemic levels. They have also resumed their wonderful community programs: classes in schools, lifelong learning events, free performances in parks across the Valley, and more.  

“We want to make magic for the community,” Kozemczak said. In that, too, Ballet Arizona is successful, touching the lives of more than 35,000 children each year, along with countless adults. Kozemczak feels lucky to be surrounded every day by people who have given their lives to the success of the ballet.

With a bright smile, a lilt in her voice, and boundless enthusiasm, Kozemczak makes everyone feel ballet’s magic.

To learn more, visit balletaz.org.   

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The painting is the first piece of art guests see when they enter her Paradise Valley home. On a personal level, the painting holds special meaning for Rupoli-Katz. But for guests intrigued by the colorful art, it’s an opportunity for her to share the story behind the piece and her family friend, Eric Weinbrenner, who painted it.

Weinbrenner was never an artist. But on Nov. 27, 2019, just before Thanksgiving, everything changed. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

The day after his diagnosis, he turned to painting to cope. “Whenever I am able to throw paint on a canvas, my mind clears and focuses on the piece of work, rather than my disease,” Weinbrenner said.

Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain cells and spinal cord. It currently has no cure.

“People reading this need to know ALS can happen to anyone,” Weinbrenner said. “I was 49 years old. I was healthy, active and full of life. I have two young kids that I couldn’t wait to watch grow up and learn about the world. I didn’t know what ALS was until I was diagnosed and had no idea how quickly it would change my life.”

As the real estate entrepreneur found healing through his creativity, he achieved something more by helping the 30,000 other people living with ALS, with stories like his.

“ALS creates so many challenges for patients and their families. Not only will you lose complete mobility and your ability to communicate, but you also lose all independence. This means that eventually, you won’t be able to work. It’s an expensive disease, and families are often left in financial debt because of it,” Weinbrenner said.

He and his wife Jennifer founded Paint for a Cure just two months after his diagnosis to support others affected by ALS. Inspired by Eric’s passion for painting, the nonprofit auctions  art pieces to raise funds to help “cure” the financial burden of ALS by providing monetary assistance and medically accessible housing for ALS patients and their families.

“Eric and Jennifer have taken the positive of ALS, meaning helping other families,” Rupoli-Katz said. “To see how Eric and Jen have persevered, the dignity and the pride and the drive and motivation, it’s humbling. It really puts things into perspective.”

Though it may have started as a way to support her friend’s cause, the vibrant painting she procured at “Hues for Hope” is a reminder of that perspective when Rupoli-Katz needs it most.

“It’s a grounding piece,” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe it — gives me a little jolt — that things are OK. That’s why I love that painting.”

Contrasting the vibrancy of the first piece, Rupoli-Katz procured a second black and white circular abstract painting at the fundraiser, which she interprets as the circle of life. As with the other piece, she has found significant personal meaning in the monochromatic design. “It’s nice to have that piece in your home and know you did some good,” she said.

Funds from Paint for a Cure go to families with an ALS diagnosis. The work they are doing changes lives, and Rupoli-Katz is honored to participate in some way. 

Unfortunately, Weinbrenner can no longer hold a paintbrush, but he now uses his wheelchair and feet as brushes. “I’ll spill paint on a canvas and use my wheelchair as my paintbrush, rolling back and forth over the canvas,” he said. “It’s quite fun and finding creative ways to paint now is part of the enjoyment!” 

Just as Weinbrenner has found strength in adapting his creative method, he also has found it in helping others battling ALS. “Living with a terminal disease, you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you. I have decided to let ALS strengthen me,” he said. “Paint for a Cure allows me to focus my time and energy on something good and clears my mind of the everyday struggles of living with ALS.”

To learn more, go to paintforacure.org.

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