Chapter 66 Pioneers: Arizona/New Mexico

2023
Chapter 66 has been awarded the following 2023 Pioneers Don MacKenzie Charitable Foundation Fund Grants. Congratulations to everyone and thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our communities.

New Mexico Combined Club
– Children’s Homes Christmas Party

Phoenix Thunderbird Combined Club
– Acacia Elementary School – Back to School Project
– Acacia Elementary School – Read to Ride Project
– Cross Christian Academy
– Hug-A-Bears
– Recreation Therapy Program VA Campus

Southern AZ Combined Club
– Arizona School Deaf Blind Beeping Egg Hunt
– Emerge Luggage & Personal Hygiene Project
– Hug-A-Bears
– Readers For Life
– School Supply Drive
– Stocking Project

Chapter 66
– Hope’s Women’s Center

We have the ability to apply for grants each year for our various projects. This money comes from the Don MacKenzie investment fund. The amount Legacy West chapters receive depends on the group membership count.

A big place to sign people up is the new Family and Friends category where we can enroll any volunteer whether they are company employees or retired members or friends or family members-anyone who is interested in participating with us. We have a lot of volunteers helping us that haven’t worked for the Bell system, and they are all potential Pioneer members.

When we receive a grant for one of our projects, certain dates are given as when to apply, when and how to spend and how to show it as a completed grant. As soon as we receive a grant, the timeline has begun. Keep on reading!

2022

Welcome to Chapter 66!

Chapter 66 is comprised of 3 clubs including the Phoenix Thunderbird Club, So Arizona Combined Club (SACC) and the New Mexico Club (along with our members at large throughout AZ and NM).  Through the last few years, we have been keeping everyone informed to what our Chapter and local Pioneer clubs are doing by using e-mails, newsletters, Facebook and mailings. Our members have found this type of communication very useful. Below is a brief overview of what our clubs have been up to and how they have been continuing to serves our communities even during these difficult times.

Phoenix Thunderbird Club
Over 1600 Hug-A-Bears were delivered in 2021 to several locations and, so far in 2022, 320 bears have been delivered to Valleywise Medical Center. These bears make their way into children’s hands to give them some comfort in stressful times – whether it’s a first day of school or a family emergency. Thank you to our dedicated Hug-A-Bears team! Visit our Webpage!

As of today, our club has donated a total of 92 t-shirts for the veterans at CLC! The CLC is a living center where Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where Veterans can receive various areas of care including nursing home level of care, and skilled nursing and medical care, restorative care, palliative care, and hospice care.

So Arizona Combined Club (SACC)
In 2020 and 2021, we continued supporting the children of the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind by creating the Easter baskets and delivering them to the school. Staff there handed out the baskets.  Our school supply and scholarship projects went on, along with Hug-A-Bears, lap robes, Seeds for the Bees, Military collections, Soft goods fundraising, and luggage for clients of the Emerge! Domestic Violence Center.  We were able to give books to needy and deserving 2^nd and 3^rd graders, again delivering the zip lock bagged books to the schools.  These and other projects have kept the spirit of Pioneering alive and well.  The past two years have really been a proving ground for the resilience of Pioneering.  We are looking forward to having a productive year in 2022, starting with our luncheons picnic style at the park. We are continuing our projects such as Hug-A-Bears, Lap Robes, Emerge!, School Supplies just to name a few. You can keep up with all our current and future projects by visiting us on our Facebook page or our webpage!

New Mexico Club
These last few years we could not have a party, so we did gifts instead. For each child about $50 was spent from grants, club funds and donations. Each child got a hand decorated ornament, candy and present(s). The 46 children at the Christian Children’s Home, Baptist Home and Hope Children’s Center will be very happy to be remembered this Christmas.  We are looking forward to continuing our work in the communities we call home. Visit our webpage for more information!

Barbara Palmer

Hello Loyal Pioneers!

Good news! There are some discounts and special offers recently opened up to all, and using these discounts benefits our Pioneers organization! Below is a link to a list of the companies who support our Pioneering mission by paying royalties to Pioneers when people use their services. Clicking on their link lets them know a Pioneer promoted them. Please save this site and share with all your friends and relatives! This is an easy way to help our organization and help your friends, too. There is no obligation when you click on a company’s link, and comparing prices is strongly encouraged! Help keep Pioneering healthy and strong for the next 100 years! We are at 110 years and counting, so pass this info along.

Click Here => https://www.pioneersvolunteer.org/Pioneers/Members/Benefits_Details