3TV's Javier Soto's interview with Judy Haenel
on Pass It On Day,
September 11, 2008.
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Dr Wilks has been awarded the Rotary International
Four Avenues of Service Citation
The citation recognizes her "outstanding efforts in the Four Avenues of Service, consistently demonstrating support of the Object of Rotary through participation in service activities in each of the avenues of club, vocational, community, and international service."
Glendale florist honored by Freedom Foundation
By Jean Bihn
Florist Judy Haenel is the first to admit flowers are not a necessity.
But for nearly a dozen years, she and her staff at The Tulip Tree have been making a difference with the temporary treasures - brightening lives and honoring the recently deceased.
Haenel's annual “Pass it On Day” began 11 years ago as “Good Neighbor Day.” She gave away dozens of roses for others to hand out - no questions asked. Many end up with teachers and public safety workers.
“They get the roses and do what their consciences tell them to,” she said.
When the annual day landed on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks four years ago, she changed the name of the event to “Pass it On Day.”
“People were just overwhelmed,” she said.
Last September's Pass it On Day saw in excess of 4,000 - more than 333 dozen - roses distributed in less than three hours.
Generosity, Haenel said, is a family trait.
“My mom was always that way,” she said. “Our whole family has always been like that.”
But while Pass it On Day has become widely known in the surrounding community, most of Haenel's contributions take place behind the scenes.
She works with local schools, inviting teens with developmental disabilities to work in her shop.
When the family of a local teen who died in an automobile accident could not afford a casket spray, Tulip Tree donated one. When a newborn was found dead in a portable toilet, Haenel created a small casket spray and three Tulip Tree staff members were the only attendees at the funeral.
“The mortician donated his time, the cemetery donated a plot and we did the flowers,” she said. “Someone else donated the dress.”
Her employees, Haenel said, “just didn't want the baby to be buried alone.”
Haenel's contributions were recognized last weekend with a George Washington medal from the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge. Bonnie Angster, an official with a local branch of the organization, nominated her for the award.
“I was kind of flabbergasted - lots of people do things, like the woman from Packages from Home,” she said. “My ‘Pass it On' is a month of hard work, then it's over.
“I'm a small business person, I do what I can.”
The awards were distributed at a Nov. 18 luncheon.
Organizers said the highlight of the luncheon occurred when one award recipient, a sailor, was about to voice his gratitude to the group. He stopped to hug another winner, Kathleen Morton, who founded Packages from Home.
“He said he had never met her, but recognized her name from a package she had sent him when he was in Iraq,” Angster said.
A professional storyteller, Angster joined the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge four years ago.
“The awards are given to recognize volunteer efforts,” she said. “I have become such a patriot and a lover of history.”
Angster also shares her talents in local schools as a presenter of living history. One of the characters she portrays is Isaac Potts. George Washington lived in Potts' home during the winter at Valley Forge.
“(Potts) was a Tory and changed his mind,” she said. “He saw the miraculous events happen, and if those miracles wouldn't have happened, we'd be waving to the queen. Providence was on our side.”
Glendale residents also recognized with George Washington Medals were: Kathy Morton, handicapped children advocate; Diane Camarillo and Daniel Martinez, Fiesta Mexicana Dance Co. and Drug Elimination Family Awareness Program; and John A. Ramsey, Sun City firefighter, who served in Iraq.
From The Glendale Star,
November 29, 2006
Dr. Rebecca Wilks has been appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano to serve on the Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners: Information about the Board is available at www.azacuboard.az.gov/index.htm.
Glendale businesswoman is finalist for
‘Golden Heart of Business’
Glendale, AZ, May 15, 2006---Deborah Campbell, owner of the Glendale FASTSIGNS store on Bell Rd., was one of four finalists for the prestigious Arizona Woman Golden Heart of Business Award. All finalists were featured in the April 2006 issue of Arizona Woman Who’s Who in Business.
The award recognizes an Arizona woman who is “deeply entrenched in the community with demonstrated leadership in caring, giving and nurturing,” and is presented by Arizona Woman magazine during its annual Who’s Who in Business luncheon.
Campbell, well-known throughout the West Valley for her civic leadership, actively supports the Westside Food Bank, the Peoria Educational Enrichment Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the One Child Foundation. She also works closely with Miracle in the Desert, a project of the Rock Bottom Brewery Foundation.
In 2004, she worked with the Catholic Relief Society to bring two African refugees, one of whom brought a 3-year-old son, to Arizona. With her employees, Campbell provided food, shelter, clothing, job training and cultural immersion to the two young men. Both are now establishing a life and career in the Phoenix region.
Campbell was named member of the year by the Glendale chamber of Commerce in 2004, and was honored by The Phoenix Business Journal as a Valley Business Alliance Star. She is also active in four other chambers of commerce, and several business and professional organizations.
She has owned the FASTSIGNS on Bell Road for six years, and recently opened a second store in Goodyear.
About FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS, the nation’s leading sign franchise, has more than 450
stores nationwide to make sign and graphic solutions simple. Fewer than 10
FASTSIGNS stores are owned by women; Deborah Campbell’s two stores are
among the top 50 in sales and success.
Lori Sanger named American Star Agent
by J.D. Power and Associates
The following is a recent letter received by Lori Sanger:
Congratulations! You're an American Star Agent! Your agency received a satisfactory
on-site evaluation from J.D. Power and Associates.
What an achievement! Not only will you go down in American Family's record
books as an inaugural winner of this prestigious award, you are among the
first in the insurance industry to be certified by J.D. Power and Associates
for having outstanding customer service.
Congratulations, and thanks for the exceptional service you provide American
Family customers.
Jeff Burke,
Vice President -- Marketing
Lori's
homepage at American Family Insurance
October 7, 2006
Bowling 4 the Cure bowling event
Sept 11, 2006
" Pass It On"
...at The Tulip Tree
Business Publication Ranks
Audrey Hickman Among Top Ten in Arizona
Ranking
Arizona 2005, published by Arizona Business Magazine, lists Audrey Hickman
of West USA among the top ten real estate agents in the state. The publication,
which is released annually and has completed eight issues, determines its
findings through data generated by a popular opinion poll voted on by the
general public. Participants who vote base opinions on the quality of product,
service, and people. Unlike other polls, Ranking Arizona does not consider
a company's revenues or number of employees to be primary criteria for determining
its position in the business community.
Audrey says, "I was both delighted and humbled to be named to this list.
The competition is stiff, especially these days, but I have always tried to
provide personal service that goes far beyond what is considered the norm
for my profession. I simply love what I do, and I believe my clients benefit
from my enthusiasm. Despite my years in the business, it still remains exciting
for me to be the matchmaker for people and the homes of their dreams."
Audrey has sold homes in metropolitan Phoenix for 23 years, and is a Certified
Residential Specialist, a distinction that less than five percent of all Realtors
obtain. She is a graduate of the Realtor Institute and currently serves all
areas of the Valley. In addition, Audrey provides referral services for out
of state needs. She comments, "The fact that my current and past clients
over my two decade career voted for me and still believe in my ability brings
tears to my eyes."
Voting for Ranking Arizona is conducted year round on an ongoing basis. Information
about Ranking Arizona 2006 can be obtained by accessing the publisher's website
at azbusinessmagazine.com, or by calling Audrey Hickman at 602-397-0813. (PDF
of news release)
A Puppy's Story
Every once in awhile, there's a win/win story that's just too good not to share. (more...)