Dinner in the Desert Friday, March 25, 2022, 5:30 pm The Barn at Desert Foothills | East Jomax Road, Phoenix Join us for fireside cocktails at sunset, a desert sky full of stars, din- ner, dancing, raffles and more at the lovely Barn at Desert Foothills. Music by the popular country western band Honeygirl, performing old and new country favorites. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to sponsor the event, please call 623-584-4999 or visit us at www.Benevilla.org. 2022 DID Benevilla Ad_Front Door.indd 1 2022 DID Benevilla Ad_Front Door.indd 1 12/23/2021 4:53:40 PM 12/23/2021 4:53:40 PM Teaching the world to fear less and love more . Love Grows Here ! FOR MORE INFORMATION: hunkapi.org love@hunkapi.org 480.393.0870 FOLLOW US! @HunkapiPrograms A donation to Hunkapi Programs will provide aid to many and varied populations within Maricopa County to participate in crucial equine therapy services. Donate up to $400 (single) or $800 (joint/married) today to support the benefits of horseback riding and horse therapy at Hunkapi Programs.

a partnership the YMCA has with the City of Phoenix? “These are at-risk youth, ages 14-24, typically not working or in school,” Knak said. “We’ve got our caseworkers helping these kids in a million different ways, from groceries to housing to GED and college training. But we needed them to have some real work experience.” As the pandemic hit, an idea popped into the head of Libby Corral, COO of Valley of the Sun YMCA. What if they took all this expensive printing in-house? And what if they turned it into a youth training program for kids in need? Thus the Valley of the Sun YMCA Print Studio was born. Its initial goals were two-fold: first, reduce printing costs for the organization, and second, give foster children in the organization’s care an opportunity for employment. “Those two problems really came together in this program,” Knak said. “We’re able to print our things in-house and then we’re also able to bring these WEX young men and women into the program to essentially run the print shop.” In a unique bit of kismet, the director of the Watts Family Maryvale YMCA, Tracee Spire, is married to Chris Spire, who owns a printing company. When the idea popped up, Chris Spire provided some of the initial equipment needed to make the Print Studio viable, and lent his expertise as director of the program. “It is so rewarding to lead a program at the Y that is taking young men and women, teaching them real-world skills and giving them an opportunity to be successful in their future careers,” Chris Spire said. The kids who work in the studio are paid through the WEX program, and the goal is to give them life skills that they can carry on and potentially use in their careers. “It’s these kids learning to come into work on time, work etiquette and ethics, and then they’re learning a real technical skill,” Knak said. “There are a few goals. It would be great to hire these kids as employees of the Y, but we’d also love to see these kids go out and work in a print shop or start their own print shop. And some of these kids “ It is so rewarding to lead a program at the Y that is taking young men and women, teaching them real-world skills and giving them an opportunity to be successful in their future careers.” NEXT DOORS { ahead of the curve } FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 59 | FEBRUARY 2022 Printing posters, T-shirts and promotional pieces, the YMCA Print Studio is a one-stop shop.