Make-A-Wish® Arizona, the state chapter of the international wish granting organization, recently elected Tom Hatten, president and CEO of Mountainside Fitness Centers and Fit Republic, as the new Chair of the Make-A-Wish Arizona Board of Directors.
Hatten has been on the Make-A-Wish Arizona board for four years. During that time, he has been instrumental in building a stronger Walk for Wishes in the Phoenix area through partnership with his fitness members. His work in the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Scottsdale also has encouraged the addition of new board members to the board who are committed to the non-profit organization’s vision to grant the wishes of every eligible wish child in Arizona.
“Tom is an energetic and dynamic leader who will help our board support our chapter mission of granting wishes to Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “We are excited to have him help us as we grant a record 350 wishes this year, and look forward to seeing how he can help us increase that number in our 2015-2016 fiscal year.”
Hatten started Mountainside Fitness in 1991, and now has 14 fitness centers across Arizona. Mountainside Fitness members have been very generous to Arizona wish kids, creating teams for the chapter’s yearly Walk for Wishes events and purchasing a record number of wish stars in a fall fundraising campaign.
“I am excited and humbled to be the incoming Chair for Make-A-Wish Arizona,” said Hatten. “Following former chairs like Mike Tully (CEO, AAA Arizona), Brad Vynalek (Managing Partner, Quarrels & Brady Law office), and most recently Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall leaves a great path of leadership that will surely help me this next year. As the Founder of Mountainside Fitness and Fit Republic, it has always been a goal of mine to involve our 50,000+ members and 1000+ employees to help Make-A-Wish Arizona grant the wishes of all the our local children this year – 350 is the goal! I will work hard to continue increasing the number of lives we can positively impact on an annual basis.”
Hatten is joined on the executive committee by Vice Chair Jennifer Moser of Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations; Secretary Nicole Pryde-Johnson of Lovitt & Touché; and Treasurer Todd Jarman of BBVA Compass.
In addition, Make-A-Wish Arizona welcomes Kaleim Manji, Chief Executive Officer of Spear Education LLC, to their Board of Directors.
Manji currently serves on the board of the Scottsdale chapter of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) where he is incoming Chapter Chair. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University and was recently awarded one of Phoenix Business Journals Top 40 under 40.
“Kaleim brings a unique business background to our Board of Directors,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and chief executive officer for Make-A-Wish Arizona. “We know his energy and enthusiasm, as well as his innovative thinking, will help our chapter build new relationships in Arizona.”
Make-A-Wish Arizona is the founding chapter of the now international wish granting association and grants approximately 350 wishes per year. With more than 540 children diagnosed annually with a life-threatening medical condition that would make them eligible for a wish, the chapter is dedicated to raising the funds to expand their reach throughout the state.
“After attending the 2015 Wish Ball, I knew I had to be a part of this wonderful organization,” said Manji. “I am so proud to be able to give back to a community that has provided so much to me over the course of my career.”
