Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa has been selected as recipient of the 2016 Valley Partnership Community Project. The event is Nov. 5.
Sunshine Acres provides a home for children who are separated from their parents and helps them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures, preparing them for success in adult life.
“We are truly honored to have this partnership; it’s going to be unbelievable,” said Jon Markwell, facilities director at Sunshine Acres. “The kids are going to love it and will benefit from all the opportunities the Valley Partnership Community Project will provide.”
Children come to Sunshine Acres for a variety of reasons. Some have parents in prison and others have a parent who is too ill to care for the child. The family could be homeless or the child has been living with grandparents who find it difficult to care for their grandchildren. Sunshine Acres is a 501(c)3 organization.
“We have an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of all the children who find themselves at Sunshine Acres,”said Kim Kleski, community project committee Co-chair and senior landscape architect with Olsson Associates. “A unique and fun outdoor amenity area will provide space for relaxing, playing, and connecting with their Sunshine Acres family.
“I am proud to work alongside committee members whose hard work will ultimately help Sunshine Acres mend broken hearts, prepare the children for a bright future, and give them the tools to succeed in life,” Kleski said.
Situated on 125 acres in Mesa, the Sunshine Acres campus presents a number of redevelopment opportunities for Valley Partnership’s members. Working with design and development experts, the Valley Partnership Community Project committee will determine the most critical improvements to be made to support the youth that Sunshine Acres serves.
More than 20 non-profit organizations in the Valley applied for the 2016 community project.
One of Valley Partnership’s cornerstones is community service. Each year, it selects a non-profit organization that can benefit from the skills, efforts and supplies provided by its partners to renovate and enhance facilities for children and those in need. Over the past 27 years, Valley Partnership has contributed more than $4 million to the community through these projects.
For its 2015 community project, Valley Partnership selected the Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona Girls Ranch in Scottsdale. Members of Valley Partnership transformed their outdoors spaces and contributed more than $150,000 in in-kind services to the organization.
“Valley Partnership’s annual community projects brings together hundreds of our members, across all sectors of the development community, to reinvest in the nonprofits that support those who are most vulnerable in our community,” said Cheryl Lombard, CEO and President of Valley Partnership.
“We are fortunate to have community leaders who step up, raise dollars, offer their building and design expertise, and create a legacy with organizations like Sunshine Acres that will create opportunities for children for years to come,” Lombard said.
