the impact each performance has made. Adri Preston is pumped up by the performance, talking about off-the-cuff changes the crew made to speak to this particular group of kids. A crew member since 2015, she clearly loves being part of the Be Kind People Project and has great affection for Meyer as well. “There’s no one like her. She’s incredible and she’s inspiring,” Preston said. “She does it out of the kindness of her heart because she believes in us and she believes in our teachers. You don’t find that nowadays, people who are willing to drop everything to make a difference in our country.” Meyer is thinking about the country, while thinking about the community. Here at home, she is heartened by the impact the Be Kind People Project is making. “All of us can make a difference for the good of Arizona — and even for our country — if we just take a positive step forward and think about the needs of others. These crew members give me hope. What we need is these kids times a thousand and everything would be better,” she said. For more information, visit TheBeKindPeopleProject.org . COVER STORY CONTINUED

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: THE BE KIND PEOPLE PROJECT There is a high correlation between poverty and childhood obesity, a condition usually caused by a lack of adequate nutritious and healthy foods. The Be Kind People Project has developed a School Salsa Garden program as an extension of its BE FIT. BE HEALTHY. BE KIND program to teach the skills of growing vegetables, develop an appreciation for fresh food through growing and gardening, and provide a project-based approach to learn important and practical life enrichment skills. To improve academic achievement, students also learn important science, sustainability and nutrition facts while working in their garden. Programs to date show that most students proudly take home veggies from their harvest, seeds to plant where they live and cost-effective, nutritious recipes to practice healthy eating with their families. RUNNER-UP: FURNISHING DIGNITY Each year, many people sell their homes, move into retirement communities or have family members pass away with no good way to remove furnishings from their homes. Many would like the furnishings to go directly to people in need versus a thrift store. The Furnishing Dignity Pack and Pick Up Service packs and removes household items as a free service to the community. Furnishing Dignity then uses these furnishings for young people aging out of the foster care system or for individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. In this way, Furnishing Dignity receives items essential to its mission, materials are kept out of the landfill, and a new group of workers is employed. RUNNER-UP: FUTURE FORWARD FOUNDATION The Future Forward Foundation grows healthy local produce on 26 acres in four different Pinal County locations in order to feed the hungry. The organization uses four refrigerated vans to transport the produce around the county to five food banks, two veterans centers, senior centers, Native American communities and churches. Additionally, the organization sells 25 percent of its harvest to finance its growing operations. The produce that the Future Forward Foundation sells sustains the organization, allowing it to follow its true mission and passion: serving the poor . Recently, Eide Bailly announced the winners of its 2018 Nonprofit Resource fullness Awards, recognizing creative and sustainable revenue ideas from nonprofits. The grand prize winner received $10,000 and runners-up each received $2,500. Congratulations to these Arizona winners!