Did you know when our organization was in its infant stages, between 2000 to 2003, our name was “Desert Foothills VICaP”? The acronym “VICaP” stood for “Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers Program” and we operated in coordination with the Beatitudes Center Developing Older Adult Resources, with over a hundred other “Partner Congregations”. During 2004, it was decided that our organization would become a program of the Foothills Community Center (currently the Holland Center) and with this new affiliation the talks about rebranding to a name with less of a religious-sounding undertone began! Gail Simmons, our first Executive Director, came up with “Foothills Caring Corps".
Foothillsreflects the broad geographic area in which we provide services. We are based in Carefree, but much of our service area includes locales outside of the Carefree and Cave Creek towns, with significant parts of North Scottsdale and North Phoenix.
Caring was chosen because it describes why we do what we do. Our organization was built on a simple premise there were people in our community, our neighbors, who needed help, and there were people who cared enough to want to try to meet their needs, either with their time or financial support.
Corps, pronounced "core", as when referring to the Marine Corps, was chosen because of the incredible “army” of dedicated volunteers who stand ready to serve our Neighbors through the programs we provide.
Whether its “Foothills Caring Corps”, “FCC”, or “The Caring Corps”, our name will always signify a history of promoting independence and enhancing the quality of life for older adults and persons with disabling conditions in our community.
Wishes for Pastor Mike
We are deeply grateful to the congregation of Christ the Lord Lutheran Church for their generous contribution of $5,000 to Foothills Caring Corps in honor of Pastor Michael Johnson's retirement.
Pastor Mike had been involved with FCC for over 10 years, working as a Handyman Volunteer and as a member of our Board of Directors, including a term as President. We will miss him dearly and wish him joy and happiness in his new journey ahead.
The Foothills Caring Corps Board of Directors and Staff are grateful for Madison Wetter’s leadership as President of the Board. After a year of truly exemplary service, Madison has completed his one-year term and is now stepping down from the role. We’re grateful he will continue to serve as a Board member, as he has for the past 5 years.
As President, Madison had a significant impact on FCC, our beloved Neighbors, and the entire community through his thoughtful, wise leadership and tireless dedication to our mission. He passes the torch to Heather Burgett, who will serve as President this coming year.
Heather, in partnership with the Board and Staff, will focus on enabling FCC to meet the growing needs of our Neighbors and recognize the amazing contributions of our Volunteers and Supporters who make it all possible.
Colleen Rock
Patricia Playman
What have we been up to?
Special thank you to the town of Carefree and the town of Cave Creek for their continued support over the years of our Transportation program!
Foothills Caring Corps has had a fantastic start to the year, and we owe it all to the unwavering support of our community partners. We are immensely grateful for their help in spreading the word about our organization and the vital work we do to improve the lives of our Neighbors.
One of the standout events of the year so far was Poppy Peterson's informative speech at the Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce breakfast. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Tech4Life, a local business that sponsored the event on our behalf, for giving us this platform. Poppy's speech showcased our work and raised awareness about the needs of our Neighbors.
At the Christ Anglican Church Valentine's Day luncheon, we were fortunate to have the support of our very own FCC Cupids! Volunteers, including 5th graders from Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, the Cactus Shadow Cheer Squad, and our Youth Caring Corps Volunteers, created beautiful Valentine cards for our Neighbors.
The event was filled with sing-alongs, delicious treats, and the company of friends old and new. Witnessing the joy that these simple gestures brought to our Neighbors was a heartwarming experience. Huge thank you to our Volunteer musical duo, Mike and Tricia, for playing the piano and flute!
March was an exciting month for us, as we participated in the Cave Creek Rodeo Days Parade with our FCC and YCC volunteers. Dressed in cowboy hats and bandanas, we may not have been the most skilled cowboys and cowgirls, but we certainly had the most heart! It was an amazing opportunity to boost the visibility of our organization and showcase the services we provide in a creative and fun way. Later in March, we were thrilled to be chosen as one of the beneficiaries, alongside the Foothills Food Bank and the Scottsdale North Rotary Club Foundation, for the "Spring into Action" fundraising event hosted by the Scottsdale North Rotary Club. We want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to this event and helped raise funds for local charities that share our passion for uplifting people in our community.
We are truly grateful and humbled by the generous support, and we're eager to explore new and exciting ways to connect with our Neighbors and continue to make a positive impact on their lives.
At FCC, we offer a range of services to help our Neighbors maintain their independence and quality of life. Our Minor Home Repair Services program is just one of the many ways we do this with. Whether it's fixing a leaky faucet or changing a light bulb, our team of dedicated Volunteers is here to help! And as some of our Volunteers shared, the connections we make with our Neighbors are just as important as the services we provide.
"...during a get-to-know-you conversation, we realized that he knew my Father and that they had actually worked together many years ago. A real gift for me to meet this neighbor!"
- Tom Stewart, Volunteer
“I enjoy talking to them and learning about their stories from the past or hearing about their hobbies. One was a young artillery loader in Italy, stationed a few years after my grandfather was a pilot spotting for artillery fire in Italy.”
- Dave Wilson, Volunteer
FCC Volunteer Appreciation
We want to express our deepest gratitude for all of the time, effort, and dedication you have given to Foothills Caring Corps. Your selfless contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of our Neighbors. Thank you for all that you do! We appreciate you more than words can express and are honored to have you as a part of the Foothills Caring Corps family.
