Community Outreach

Bring a bear, bag a meal

The Arizona Highway Patrol Association (AHPA) annual Comfort Bear Toy Drive continues through Sunday, April 7. Famous Dave’s restaurants in Mesa, Peoria, Chandler and...

Fairy Godmothers bring affordable prom dresses

Joyce Jesko and her husband Paul, of Doylestown, Penn., are winter residents of the Valley. During one of her winter stays, Joyce heard about...

Gilbert family finds solace in New Song Center

On May 18, 2011, Carolina Gardner of Gilbert received news that her 39-year-old husband, Jonathan Gardner, was having a heart attack. Jonathan was in...

Books and pajamas for children in need

Tracy and Kristen Steward own one of the two Honest-1 Auto Care franchise facilities in Arizona. Located near Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix, the...

Library sale offers books, CDs & DVDs for under $5

Buying new books, even for small children, can get pricey! And despite our admonitions, some of those books will end up "personalized" by a...

Giving back: Toys, books and bowling

For children who will be spending this holiday season at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, volunteers and staff have some special plans in mind. On Dec. 23...

A little girl says a really big thank you

Hospice of the Valley shared this story by a proud daddy who wrote it after his daughter organized a pancake breakfast fundraiser to benefit...

Opportunities to feed, clothe and comfort

Help feed the hungry this Thanksgiving season by giving a cash donation at any Desert Schools Federal Credit Union branch. Your donation will go...

One last chance to see “Portraits of Opportunity”

A special exhibition of the 2012 Portraits of Opportunity families and their stories will be available through Nov. 16 at Phoenix City Hall, 200...

How to support military families

Angela Carmean is due any day. And while the Marine Corps spouse looks perfectly stylish with a burgeoning belly and glowing skin, her pregnancy...

Bennington, Brooks and benefits

Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington visited 12-year-old Danny Arismendez in the Forever Young area of the Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa last week....

2013 DSNetwork calendar and other gifts that give back

The DSNetwork 2013 calendar was unveiled Oct. 27 at the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk. The photography, courtesy of Bugabu Images, features the...

Donations of food, gently used shoes, earn you a ticket to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Phoenix-area Ford dealerships are collecting donations of non-perishable food to nourish local families in need and gently used shoes of any size to be...

Valley nonprofit is “calling all bakers”

The Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix (NHS Phoenix) is "calling all bakers" across the Valley to participate in the third annual “Home Sweet Home”...

Halloween-ing for a cause

The lure of a "bloody good time" or even “scary-oke” sounds a bit more enticing when you know your effort will make a meaningful...

Trickle-down civics

Despite plenty of talk about trickle-down economics, we’ve paid little attention to trickle-down civics. Yet children whose parents are involved in their communities, through...

PARTY ARTICLES

Money Lessons from Birthday Parties

Teaching Kids the Value of Gifts & Gratitude Between the cake, balloons, and wrapping paper tornado, birthday parties are often all about fun, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids early lessons...

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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