Elaine Kraemer, CWPV Foundation President
Volunteerism and giving to others are considered to be high measures of success for the Cottonwood Palo Verde Foundation. In fact, the CWPV Foundation was established to enhance the quality of life for the older population of Sun Lakes and the East Valley in the areas of health, education and culture.
The directors of the CWPV Foundation are all volunteers and all reside in Sun Lakes. As the CWPV Foundation’s activities have grown, so has the size of its board. The board of directors increased to seven members in 2018 and expects to expand to nine members in 2019. Fundraising is a large component of the directors’ efforts. Several times per month, the Board members conduct 50/50 raffles at HOA concerts. They participate in an annual Fun Walk each November and provide themed gift baskets for raffle donations at the Eat, Drink and Be Merry Dinner in December at Cottonwood’s San Tan Ballroom. CWPV Foundation’s directors also speak to local clubs and organizations to promote awareness of how the CWPV Foundation benefits all of Sun Lakes; Sun Lakes Country Club, Oakwood, Ironwood, Palo Verde and Cottonwood.
In the 3.5 years since the CWPV Foundation achieved its 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS, it has been able to raise money and accept donations to benefit our local senior population. The CWPV Foundation has then been able to award grants in support of volunteer and charitable groups in Sun Lakes and the East Valley of Phoenix such as:
* Neighbors Who Care,
* Sun Lakes Creative Engagement Partners (Making Music Therapy & Memory Café)
* The Perfect Place Adult Day Services (Friday Focus Forum),
* The Chordaires Show Chorus of Sun Lakes,
* The Sun Lakes Community Theatre (Children’s Theatre Group),
* Sun Lakes Arts and Crafts Association,
* The Crystal Card Project,
* Walk with a Doc (first walk on Jan 12, 2019 – https://walkwithadoc.org/our-locations/sunlakes/)
The CWPV Foundation has awarded several grants to Neighbors Who Care, including a matching funds collaboration with the IronOaks Tennis Club last March. The net result generated $10,700 for Neighbors Who Care!
The CWPV Foundation is particularly pleased to have been able to provide the seed money for Sun Lakes Creative Engagement Partners to begin a music therapy program in Sun Lakes in 2017 for people with Parkinson’s Disease and memory impairment. Their Memory Café group also supports the caregivers. The CWPV Foundation has just awarded another grant to this important organization in support of their program expansion in 2019.
2018 was a busy year and a good year for the CWPV Foundation. It awarded grants and made donations to charitable groups in Sun Lakes and the East Valley of Phoenix totaling $24,000!
Grant Applications can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website, www.CWPVFoundation.org.
Your continued support and contributions to the Cottonwood Palo Verde Foundation make it possible to help many people have healthier and fuller lives here in Sun Lakes. THANK YOU!