Today the Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek hosted the renowned chef Kevin Barko of Meals of Joy and owner of Heritage Street Cooks. Kevin gave us a lively presentation on cooking an outstanding turkey while telling stories about kitchens across the country and famous TV chefs. According to Kevin, the kitchens of today are nothing like what we see on TV. The goal of kitchens today is one of mutual respect and support. Today's chefs want a happy kitchen with engaged and calm workers. Sounds like good advice for any employer today! 
Thank you Chef Kevin for the wonderful presentation and the encouraging words you left for our young readers. Our club is donating a children's book in Kevin's name to our Rotary Lending Libraries. The message he left for our readers is good for all of us. Kevin wrote,"Remember the more you read, the more you will learn." So keep reading and keep cooking!
Millennium High School selects 12th Grader Erin Ortiz to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Outreach.
Erin was nominated by Mrs. Jennifer Grumbling with the following narrative:
Erin Ortiz goes above and beyond to serve Millennium High School and our surrounding community. As Key Club President, she oversees 120 club members to make sure that the environment is inclusive and that all members are involved, engaged, and appreciated. Erin works tirelessly to lead the club and organize weekly club meetings. She spends countless hours recruiting club members to serve in events such as the mobile food pantry, Goodyear Make a Difference Day, and a handful of trunk or treat events, to name a few. Erin gets things done. For example, the Rotary Club of Goodyear PebbleCreek reached out to Millennium to have students participate in the Purple Pinkie Polio Project in recognition of World Polio Day on October 24th. Erin single-handedly organized and promoted two events to raise money for the Rotary. On October 23rd, Erin was out at lunches with a team of students and Senior to Senior community members to collect money and paint pinkies. On October 24th, Erin raised money at lunches with a handful of students by holding Teacher Pie in the Face competition. She even bought the whipped cream and pie tins with her own money, and I hear that she donated $50 towards her Physics teacher, the wonderful Mr. Wirth. In two days, Erin (and the Millennium Key Club) raised over $300 to help eradicate polio. For both days, Millennium students donated during lunches while learning about the need for polio eradication and getting involved in giving back to the world. Erin successfully rallied the Millennium students to get them enthusiastic about donating for this cause and to have fun while doing it. This is not an easy task. Great job Erin! Millennium is proud of you!
Desert Edge High School selects 12th Grader Delissia "Dee Dee" Fierro to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Outreach.
Erin was nominated by her art teacher, Mr. Ryan Williams, with the following narrative:
It’s my pleasure to recommend Delissia Fierro, a student whose dedication to community and leadership shines through in everything she does. As an Academy Ambassador, she guides new freshmen with care, helping them transition smoothly and ensuring they feel supported. Beyond mentorship, she collaborates with local businesses to secure funding and promote our school, showing her initiative and commitment to the community. Delissia’s passion extends to her involvement in clubs like Theater, Culture Club, Film & TV, and Student Government. Her presence is uplifting, and her involvement is key to making our school a welcoming, connected environment. Through the Senior to Senior program, she fosters bonds with local senior citizens, bringing joy and engagement across generations.
As President of the Art Club, Delissia leads with thoughtfulness, creating an inclusive space for students and building connections with the larger community. She played a vital role in the DE Colors Concert, coordinating the art section and collaborating with other groups to make the event a success. Her volunteerism also includes impactful initiatives beyond campus, such as participating in Feed My Starving Children and teaching ceramics at Pebble Creek Community. Delissia’s character is best exemplified by her self-funded pumpkin-carving activity for our medically fragile students, which showed her generosity and care for those around her. She is a standout leader who embodies the spirit of service and compassion, and I wholeheartedly recommend her for any opportunity that lets her strengths shine.
The Verrado Rotary Foundation presented Jim Frey with a $2,500 check to be used to pay for the books being mailed from the Dollywood Foundation to the 450 children in the DPIL program that live in Buckeye. Shown in the picture are Doug Bredow on the left, Verrado Rotary Foundation president and Holly Knaut, Verrado Rotary Club president.
On Friday, our Rotarians and Senior to Senior group were hosted as VIP's at the Canyon View High School Football game. We dined in the end zone of the football stadium and watched the most beautiful sunset over the White Tank Mountains. In addition, we were asked to be part of the "coin toss" to start the game.
Active Rotarians for Our Coin Toss Team were Betsy Hardrgrove who is currently the Superintendent for Avondale Elementary District. Joining her was Mark Yslas, Supt. for Agua Fria High School District, and Carter Davidson the Superintendent for Litchfield Elementary School District. And the lucky person flipping the coin was, Mary Kay Utecht, President of Goodyear Pebblecreek Rotary. We had a great turnout for this event. I think everyone had a wonderful evening of football and fellowship. Fun and friendship is the other "Business of Rotary" while we provide needed service to our communities.
For those of you who have not joined in the Rotary fun, come visit us as do business every Wednesday morning at 7:00am at Eagles Nest. You will see our sign welcoming you to join our group.
If you have any questions, call Linda Babcock 602.770.3924. She is the Membership chair for the Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek.
The strength of every Rotary club is determined by its members who are the people who do service for their communities. The Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek increased its strength with the addition of two members. We are happy to Welcome Becky Marrer and Kare Fiorenza as new members to our
club.
Karen is a resident of Pebblecreek and is active with many activities in Pebblecreek. She was sponsored by Colleen Mallany and I bet they met on the pickleball courts. Karen is a former Infant Welfare professional from Chicago. We are so happy she decided to leave the snow and join us in the sunshine. Karen's former career makes being a Youth Service Committee member a natural. However, she has
also been tapped to serve with The Vocational Avenue of Service as well.
Becky Marrer is a transplant from the East Coast and spent many years in Glendale, AZ. During that time, she helped raise two daughters and worked as a social worker (MSW) for UMOM, Faith House as well as for a elementary west side school district. A Becky was an adjunct faculty at Glendale Community College and is currently a Faculty Associate at the ASU School of Socialwork.
Becky is a quiet leader who just gets it done without a lot of notice. She will be an outstanding Rotarian. Becky completes the Marrer family of Rotarians serving alongside her husband Gary.
We are so happy to have these dedicated ladies as part of our group! We are looking forward to serving with you! Service above self.
We started last week at the "Paint the Pinkie" event with our students at Verrado High School and Millennium High School. Students were raising money and awareness for Polio Plus. Most of this generation knows little about the ravages of polio suffered by the preceding generations. It was a good opportunity to inform the students of the work Rotary International is doing around the world to eradicate polio. Verrado students held their event in conjunction with their homecoming activities. They were able to "Paint the Pinky' of around 100 of their classmates. MHS held their event the following Wednesday followed by a "Pie in the Face of the Principal for Polio." We are so thankful to these high school students for their leadership and support to spread the word regarding polio.
By teacher Denise Royal from Desert Edge High School:
I would like to nominate ILKER AGUILAR for the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary student for October: MUSIC. Not only does Ilker excel in his Academics, but he also enjoys being a part of Marching Band & Thespian Troupe #6843. One can often find Ilker filling the halls of DEHS with music playing various instruments from flutes to clarinets as well as singing. During a summer excursion to Japan with other students this year, Ilker even sought out a traditional Japanese flute which he purchased and has been perfecting ever since. Though Ilker initially struggled to connect with others as a freshman, his time at Desert Edge has helped him discover how to use music to engage and express himself, culminating in his senior year where his voice now resonates with those around him.
Julia Goto, 12th grader, is our October recipient, and was nominated by Ms. Gabbert (theater teacher) and Ms. Eckert (choir teacher) in the area of Music:
Senior student Julia Goto is a leader in Drama Club as vice president and is a leader in her theatre classes as well. She always has a smile on her face and contributes to the positive energy of the class. She is also very skilled in theatre and is a part of many other clubs across campus including Choir, Senior to Senior and others. Julia has been a dedicated singer throughout her time here at MHS. Julia has been a soprano section leader, lead roles as Matilda in Matilda & Alice in the Addams Family in the spring musicals, and made it into choir regionals last year as a soprano. Only 25 students are chosen for each voice part in the West Valley! Julia also composed her own music, and premiered one of her songs at our choir concert last year. It is now on Spotify for anyone to stream! On top of being a wonderful singer, she always has a positive attitude and is willing to step up into any leadership role we need in choir.
Jim Frey presented Maria Leopard, Store Manager of Karsten’s Ace Hardware, a certificate of appreciation for the generous donations they have made to our Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. We have been the recipient of their Round Up Your Change program for three separate months and each time we have received over $2,000. And they are also a sponsor of our annual golf tournament. We encourage all of our Rotary members to shop at Karsten’s Ace Hardware and thank them for their support.
September Student of the Month for Desert Edge High School in recognition of Outstanding Leadership - Agasne Bragado
Here is what her Art teacher, Mr Anthony Galto shared:
"I would like to nominate Agasne Bragado for leadership recognition. Agasne demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout the summer while collaborating with the City of Goodyear’s Community Engagement Office within the Mayor’s Office. She played a pivotal role in designing the city’s "Topics on the Move" vehicle wrap, leading the project from its inception to successful completion. Her dedication and consistency not only drove the project forward but also strengthened our relationship with one of our most valuable stakeholders. This remarkable achievement deserves to be celebrated."
September's Millennium Student of the Month is 11th grader Madison Mendoza. Here is the short narrative from her Spanish teacher, Mr. Davenport:
"Madison Mendoza is a leader in multiple contexts who holds both herself and her peers to high expectations. She is a leader on the mat as a cheerleader, where she serves as captain. Leading by example, Madi pushes herself to grow and get better every single day, and pushes her teammates to do the same. In the classroom, Madi is a leader, where she gathers primarily As and Bs. She holds herself accountable for performing well in her classes, and assists others as well to help them also reach their goals in class. In fact, she is a huge help to her classmates, teachers, coaches and teammates. Madi is always asking how she can help, steps in when a voice is needed, and is a willing volunteer to ensure the success of her class or her team. She also offers great ideas. She is not afraid to take on multiple responsibilities either, also serving as a club leader in MHS' Hype Squad. Madi's dedication trickles down to others, which makes her such an effective leader and model for others to follow."
Nearly 1 billion people around the world are without electricity and live in darkness. They spend up to 30% of their income on dangerous fuel sources just to have light, and it keeps them in a cycle of poverty.
It leaves them powerless.
BUT SOLAR LIGHT BREAKS THAT CYCLE
Access to solar lighting eliminates the need for a costly fuel source and offers immediate savings.
Solar lighting also means people can continue daily activities after dark, which directly impacts household income, safety, and overall health.
Solar light starts people on the pathway to prosperity.
Giving light to educate & empower
Jim Frey presented Megan Word, Sun Health VP Marketing & Communications, a certificate of appreciation for their many years of sponsoring the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary Foundation golf tournaments.
Many thanks to Tobias Holf and Tasha Austin of PMG Labels for printing the labels that will go on the 11 Little Lending Libraries being placed around the West Valley.
The first Little Lending Library is by State Representative Mariana Sandoval’s house in Goodyear. All the Little Lending Libraries will have both children and adult books .
Over 600 books have been collected so far for this project.
On behalf of the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary, Rotarian Jim Frey presented a certificate of appreciation to Adonis Trujillo of the Microsoft Corp. Microsoft has been a continuous supporter of Dolly Parton Imagination Library over the years. Microsoft allows our ROTARY club to pay for children birth to five, to receive a new book each month. Presently, we are supporting 1600 children and Microsoft has been a generous partner in this endeavor. Together we are spreading the message of literacy importance. Thank you Adonis Trujillo and Microsoft as we continue to spread story, words and print to our youngest learners. We appreciate you and your help!
While GYPC Rotary is supporting 1500 preschoolers to receive books in their homes every month, it is not enough. Our club wanted to expand its support for Literacy for more young children. Painted in Rotary colors and our club logo added, Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary built its first Literacy Lending House. We reached out to Rep. Mariana Sandoval because of her continuous support for public education. Representative Sandoval offered her yard as the place for our first Lending Library. Rep. Sandoval’s home is ideal as it is next to a community park where many families and children come to play and enjoy the shady park. We are forever grateful for her support and help.
Happy Reading Harrison Park families!
On April 28th, 140 golfers played in the 7th Annual Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary Foundation golf tournament. Perfect weather, excellent course conditions and 25 eager volunteers all came together to help create a very successful day.
The day started with the always-popular golf ball drop and this year the $3,000 winner was a Rotary member from the Peoria North Club. The Goodyear Fire Department dropped 600 numbered golf balls onto the putting green at the Tuscany Falls Golf Club and the winning golf ball dropped into the hole.
This year Avondale Toyota was the Event Sponsor and furnished each folder with a golf shirt. General Manager, Kamal Charef, is a long-time supporter of the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary Foundation and said, “As a local, independent, family-owned business in the West Valley, we deeply value the significance of community support. That's why we take great pride in our partnership with the Rotary Club of Goodyear PebbleCreek Foundation, and have actively contributed to various Rotary programs for a number of years.”
A huge thank you goes to all of our major sponsors including Sun Health-Platinum Sponsor, Estrella Mountain Community College-Lunch Sponsor, Argent Solar and West Valley Golf Cars-Golf Cart Sponsors, TLC Real Estate Team-Beverage Station Sponsor, Jones Ford-Hole-in-One Sponsor, Donna Strand, Realty One-Ball Drop Sponsor and Registration Sponsors-Meulenberg Law Office, Alden Meulenberg-Edward Jones, United Goodyear Firefighter Charities, Wilhelm Automotive, Taylor Martin- State Farm and PMG Labels. The Most Accurate Drive and Closest to the Pin sponsors were Osborne Jewelers and the Cincinnati Reds. We also want to thank our 28 tee and green sponsors too.
This golf tournament is the largest fundraiser of the year for our club. Since 2018, we have donated over $290,381 to many nonprofit organizations, provided scholarships to 6 area high schools, scholarships to students to attend EMCC, organized and delivered 80 holiday food and book boxes to families in need in the Litchfield and Avondale Elementary School Districts, supported student leadership programs and are an affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Many, many thanks to our members who sponsored, donated raffle items, sold and purchased ball drop tickets, played, volunteered at the event. We truly appreciate your efforts! Also want to thank this year's golf committee: Jim Frey-Chair, Steve Thimjon-Treasurer, Julie Frentz, Henry Raczkiewicz, Colleen Malany, Charlie Miller, Joan Smith, Lulu Zamora, Dennis Johnson.
The Magic of Rotary… we as Rotarians create the magic with every project completed and every dollar donated and every new member of Rotary.
We were honored to have D5495’s District Governor Elect-Michelle Holcomb install our 2024-25 President Mary Kay Utech, May 16, 2024 at our installation dinner at the Oasis Pool in PebbleCreek. The new Board of Directors will be Jim Frey-President-Elect, Lulu Zamora-Treasurer, Letha Zook, Secretary, Alden Muelenberg-Club Service, Julie Frentz, Community Service, Colleen Malany, International Service and Past President, Dr. Betsy Hargrove, Vocational Service, and Karen Gimse, Youth Service.
Outgoing President Colleen highlighted the many projects and programs completed this year including awarding 6 high school scholarship, helping to build and distribute beds to children who don’t have one, packing and delivering 80 food and book boxes to underserved families, working with AFUHSD to enlist senior citizens to participate in the Senior to Senior mentoring program, being an affiliate for the Dolly Parton Imagination Program, helping support a Ukrainian refuge school in Budapest and funding and delivering solar lights through Watts of Love in Kenya.
Charlie Miller was named Rotarian of the Year. Charlie is a Charter member of our club and has served the last couple of years as Club Service Chair. Setting up every week for meetings, organizing socials and organizing the annual holiday food & book box delivery are just a few of his tasks. Congrats Charlie!
Julie Frentz, our Secretary and Community Service Chair was given the Service Above Self Award. Julie is a trooper with the best organizational skills and attention to detail. She was the lead on all of our community service projects and kept us up to date with the minutes. Julie also chaired the volunteer and raffle committee for the golf tournament. She did an awesome job!
Thank you, Julie, for your tireless endeavors for the club.
Jim Frey was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by fellow member Joan Smith. Jim has shared his time, talent and treasure to enhance the lives of othe4rs. Five years ago, he accepted the role of being chair of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library chair for our club. He has brought in corporate money, written grants and fundraised to keep the program growing. He has also chaired our golf tournament for the past 3 years raising close to $120,000. He is an individual in our club whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations Jim.
“It is a pleasure to serve with an organization that is doing so much for our communities,” said Mary Kay, after she was sworn in as President. “It’s the energy and enthusiasm that our members have when engaging in service projects that makes Rotary such a great organization.”
On a recent Saturday, our club members partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling and delivering safe and comfortable bunk beds to children and families in need. In groups of 5-6 we delivered and built single and bunk beds for children living in homes who didn't have a bed of their own or who were sleeping on the floor. Seeing the excitement and smiles on these children's faces were marvelous. Rotarians are people of action and want to make a difference in people's lives. This project was inspirational and truly heart-warming to be a part of.
"Every child deserves the physical and mental benefits that come with a better night’s sleep. Every child deserves to have a bed of their own," says SHP.
Thank you Sleep in Heavenly Peace for the opportunity to help!
Austyn embodies the true essence of school spirit, consistently demonstrating enthusiasm and a positive attitude in everything he does. One of Austyn's most admirable qualities is his eagerness to volunteer and participate in various school activities. Whether it's organizing events, lending a helping hand, or cheering on his peers, Austyn is always at the forefront, rallying others with his infectious energy. A true scientist at heart, Austyn's curiosity knows no bounds. Beyond the confines of the classroom, he frequently engages in side investigations, delving into scientific concepts and experiments with a fervor that inspires those around him. His dedication to exploring the wonders of science extends far beyond the curriculum, showcasing his passion for learning and discovery.
I am writing to you today to highlight the exceptional talents and achievements of one of our outstanding students, an inducted Thespian, Mikaila Montessa, who I believe would make an excellent representative for the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary Club.
Mikaila is not only a remarkable artist, but she also excels in singing, dancing, and acting. Over the past few years, she has showcased her talents in our school's musical productions, including "Matilda," "Xanadu," and the upcoming "Addams Family." In addition to her performances on stage, Mikaila also painted a stunning mural for our production of "Xanadu," demonstrating her creativity and artistic abilities.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Mikaila is a model student who embodies maturity, kindness, and positivity. She consistently impresses both peers and faculty with her exemplary behavior and positive attitude. As a testament to her leadership and dedication, Mikaila serves on the officer council as the social media manager for our Millennium Theater Club where she excels in promoting our productions and engaging with our community.
Furthermore, Mikaila not only shines in the arts but also excels academically. Despite her busy schedule with theater and extracurricular activities, she continues to excel in all her academic classes, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in every aspect of her education.
As her teacher and mentor, I am incredibly proud of Mikaila and firmly believe that she highly deserves the honor of representing Millennium High School as Student of the Month for GYPC Rotary Club. Her talent, dedication, and exemplary character make her a true asset to our school community and a worthy representative for your esteemed organization.
Thank you for recognizing Mikaila for this prestigious award.
This Wednesday, March 6th-7:00-8:00 am in the EN Palm Room, Please join us-Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary will host Sharon Orlopp, author, consultant, and national speaker, who is passionate about building a world where everyone is valued and included. She believes in the transformative power of personal stories and actions to touch the heart which in turn change behaviors.
Sharon spent 30+ years working in Fortune 500 companies in senior executive roles in HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She currently serves on The Harwood Institute Board which is dedicated to transforming our shared civic lives with community leaders focused on creating change.
Her topic-Polio and Empowerment will transcend cultural barriers as she shares the story she co-authored, Standing Up After Saigon with Thuhang Tran.
The Rotary Club of Goodyear PebbleCreek is based on an ethic of “Service Above Self” and continuies to adopt diverse projects consistent with the club’s Avenues of Service supporting Vocational, International, Community, and Youth needs. The Club meets each Wednesday from 7-8AM in the Palm Room of the Eagles Nest Clubhouse. For further information, contact Joan Smith, Membership Chair-503-348-9468. www.goodyearrotary.org
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Goodyear, AZ 85395
United States of America