20 12 EDITOR’S NOTE ........................ 05 Grass-Cut Syndrome 10 QUESTIONS WITH ............ 06 Jill Christenholz BOOKMARKED ......................... 10 Staff Picks OFFICE DOORS ........................ 12 Terry Ricketts of APS C AREY’S CORNER .................. 18 The Butterfly Effect COVER STORY ......................... 22 Hockey With Heart NEXT DOORS ............................ 30 A New Era for Golf in Arizona GIVING IN STYLE .................... 34 Gifts That Give Back CHARITY SPOTLIGHT .......... 38 Gompers KITCHEN DOORS .................... 42 Tastes of the Season A 2 ND ACT .................................... 44 A “Tail” of Two Second Acts OPEN DOORS ........................... 48 Holidays in the Desert 28 NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE: + 5 Arts Circle + Altered Tails + Anthem Pets Animal Rescue + Arizona Coyotes Foundation + Arizona Humane Society + Ballet Arizona + Center Dance Ensemble + Chances for Children + DA8Strong Foundation + Desert Botanical Garden + Foothills Animal Rescue + Gompers + Historical League + Make-A-Wish Arizona + Phoenix Children’s Hospital + Phoenix Theatre + Phoenix Zoo + Read Better Be Better + Smile Train + The Phoenix Symphony + UMOM New Day Centers + Valley Youth Theatre TABLE OF CONTENTS { december 2018, volume 16, issue 12 } 4 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2018

Every month, as I work on this magazine, I amass some pretty special experiences. Like a couple of weeks ago, standing on the ice at Gila River Arena, flanked by the captain of the Arizona Coyotes and the team’s lovable mascot, Howler. As much as I prize these kind of pinch-me moments, I truly treasure talking to people who pass on a message that resonates with me throughout the month, or longer. This month that wisdom came from … a clown. To be more specific, it was from APS events manager Terry Ricketts, the head clown in the APS Volunteer Clown Troupe. As we were chatting, he mentioned something that he called “the grass-cut syndrome.” As a boy, when he’d get off the bus every Wednesday, he’d walk home and discover that his lawn had been mowed. It didn’t make much of an impression. But years later, when he was in college, he began to realize all of the work his father did. “Sometimes, we get so caught up, we just see stuff and go ‘OK,’ never understanding how much people labor to get those things done,” he said. Ricketts was talking about all of the volunteers who put on the APS Electric Light Parade, but the concept applies to so many people this month. From volunteers who serve holiday meals, to artists who perform throughout the season, dancing in “The Nutcracker” or singing in choirs for our enjoyment. It extends to the restaurant workers who plan and serve seasonal menus, whether theyʼre baking cookies, braising brisket or preparing tamales. It also includes those who plan and put on fundraising events and work in nonprofit organizations — staffing museums, serving the underserved and so much more. In short, the world is full of people who work hard, cutting the metaphorical grass, so that organizations run and the world is a little more manageable, magical and merry. As I go about this month, I’m going to continue to look for and appreciate all of the people who “mow the lawn.” Because as great as it is to stand on the rink with the captain of the team, someone had to smooth the ice. GRASS-CUT SYNDROME Karen Werner EDITOR @kwerner409 EDITOR’S NOTE {on the job}