Rescuers radio show

It’s an intergenerational project that connects our country’s veterans and high school students who together build relationships and immortalize priceless memories. Michelle DiMuro leads Imprints of Honor, whose mission is to recognize veterans, preserve America’s heritage, and develop students as future leaders. Bridging the gap between civilian and military life, they strive to develop students' character and civic responsibility, while recognizing our veterans' legacy of service. Over the past 20 years, the organizations has touched many lives: 59,748 students impacted via veteran presentations 2,927 veteran oral histories 3,101 student authors 20 volumes of published veteran stories 111 scholarships and over $231,000 awarded Pilot programs in Florida and Tennessee 600+ civic engagement activities These oral histories are published in mammoth volumes, recognizing the impact our veterans have had in our history. The veterans have the satisfaction of knowing their service will be remembered, and the students not only learn valuable skills, but get to meet history face-to-face. Click here to learn more about Imprints of Honor: https://www.imprintsofhonor.org/ Original air date: March 12, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When an individual goes missing or is the victim of a violent crime, the entire family suffers. And when that case lingers without resolution, the pain can impact generations. Kelly Crockett is an instructor of Forensic Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. Her passion is cold cases, rooted in service to her community, to victims, and to the families who are still waiting for answers. More than that, as a professor, she is passing that passion on to the next generation of students with the university’s Cold Case Project. Working in partnership with the State Attorney General’s Office and several local police departments, she and her students work directly on missing persons and cold case homicide investigations. That  work not only prepares the next generation of forensic investigators for the future, but also provides meaningful support to victims’ families when a case is solved – truly the most rewarding aspect. As a wife and mother, Kelly is driven by the belief that every family deserves truth, dignity, and – when possible – closure. Original air date: March 5, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advance Community specializes in care, love and concern for people – beginning with the Latino community in Phoenix more than 50 years ago, and now serving in seven countries in Mexico, Latin and South America. Committed to transforming lives in communities both locally and globally, the organization focuses on improving health outcomes for under-resourced communities through nutrition, health education, disease prevention, and medical care. In Arizona, they provide nutritious meals and food boxes, health education, and disease prevention programs to vulnerable populations, including Latino seniors and families. Internationally, they partner with local nonprofits in Nicaragua, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala to deliver life-changing surgeries, health education, and support for health and breastfeeding, as well as access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, and ecological home-building. Their culturally responsive approach ensures that every initiative—from nutrition boxes to building water systems in remote communities, empowers individuals and builds lasting, healthy futures. Advance Community’s work bridges gaps in healthcare access, and empowers individuals to lead healthier, more hopeful lives. Every initiative is intentionally designed to uplift the most vulnerable among us. Jeri Royce has led the organization for the past eight years, as Advance Community’s first female CEO. Her extensive background in nonprofits includes serving as vice president and deputy director at Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C., and as an instructor at the ASU Lodestar Nonprofit Management Institute. The organization’s original name – Esperança – means “hope.” Jeri and her passionate team continue reaching more people in more ways, because when communities thrive, the world becomes a better place for all. We are honored to recognize Advance Community as the Rescuer’s 300th show. Click here to learn more about Advance Community: https://advancecommunity.org/ Original air date: February 26, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It haunted her. When Elizabeth Ayers-Cluff was diagnosed with her first round of breast cancer, she was grateful for her circle of friends who provided her with support and hope. They walked with her through treatment, remission, and the countless challenges, and treatments, including nine failed reconstruction surgeries. But she was haunted thinking about other women on a similar journey without critical resources or that kind of support. So she helped one woman. From that beginning, she formed Impact One Breast Cancer Foundation. The organization provides a wealth of supplies, including prosthetics, bras, wigs, and post-surgical garments. They distribute supplies through Hope in a Box. Even more important, Impact One also helps provide emotional support, education, awareness, services, and external resources for women and family. They alleviate the financial and emotional stress as well as fulfill the physical need one experiences during the treatment and recovery stages. Because she believes no woman should have to battle cancer alone. Click here to learn more about Impact One Breast Cancer Foundation: https://impactone.pink/ Original air date: February 19, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many services for the unhoused in the Valley. But Pastor Jackie Parks saw the need in her own community, and couldn't wait for someone else to reach out. She and the members of her church created Community House to provide community, dignity, and hope for neighbors in need. What makes them different is their focus on relationships and hospitality, They support people in their journey to get off the streets through Day Relief Centers, meals together, worship gatherings, outreach and community events. But they help them as friends and neighbors, not as well-meaning strangers. That love expresses itself through showers, toiletries, a clothing closet, hair cuts, weekly dinners, case management, and partnership with like-minded organizations providing critical services. Pastor Jackie has led the movement. She is passionate about people and their stories, and convicted that she cannot preach about Jesus and how he loved people in the margins of society, without following His example to do the same. Click here to learn more about Community House: https://communityhouseaz.org/ Original air date: February 12, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Rodney Smith is the Community Outreach Manager for TigerMountain Foundation, an organization formed to help build flourishing neighborhood gardens ... and so much more. It helps build genuine self-value and competency in participants that enables people to rise above poverty. The program uses gardening to touch lives in many ways, to:  Restore pride in a community through beautification of vacant lots. Inspire people to volunteer and engage in their community. Provide youth the skills they need to prepare them for employment—and a better life. Provide people on-the-job opportunities through landscaping, planting in community gardens, and selling and marketing what they grow at farmers’ markets. TigerMountain empowers adults and youth as they garden alongside capable volunteer professionals who encourage and mentor them through every step.  Participants plant, grow and harvest produce they can use in their home. Local youth, troubled teens and adults get paying jobs taking care of our gardens where they learn what it means to be a valued and dependable worker. Garden produce is available at local farmer’s markets. Participants provide landscaping services to local residents and businesses. Through this program, they learn real on-the-job skills. And the services provide operating income for TigerMountain. 100% of the funds TigerMountain makes from landscaping and gardening are invested back into the community. Rodney has experienced first-hand the life-changing potential of TigerMountain, where the mission is simple: To empower communities to better themselves from within. To learn more about the TigerMountain Foundation, click here: https://tigermountainfoundation.org/ Original air date: February 5, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vera Marinez’s sister had Down’s Syndrome. In 1963, the family left Pennsylvania for the drier climate of Arizona. There were no services for her sister, so her mother – Mary Lees – made that her passion. She began several programs, including bringing Special Olympics to the state, and started the Special Services Section for the city of Phoenix. One of those projects was the concept of ARCH – Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped. Vera has worked full time at ARCH for 43 years. The five-acre recreation center in the heart of Phoenix, features a full range of skills-based programs and activities, enabling adults and children with developmental disabilities to obtain higher levels of physical well-being, pride, independence, and self-esteem. It offers a drop-in program, a day treatment center for adults, and the ARCHKids Program, an after-school offering for children. Most of all, it becomes a second family for participants. Click here to learn more about ARCH: https://archaz.org/ Original air date: January 29, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What began with a shoebox and a vision is now a healthcare operation that completes more than 63,000 medical appointments every year by meeting those facing homelessness where they are. Circle the City was founded by Sister Adele O’Sullivan in 2010, when she began caring for people on the street. Supporters offered donations to cover the cost of medical supplies, and she stored the cash in a shoebox. Today, Circle the City has grown to: Two outpatient clinics that provide primary and preventive healthcare. Two 50-bed respite care facilities for adults recovering from acute illness or injuries - those who are not sick enough to be in the hospital, but too sick to be on the street. They receive three freshly-prepared meals per day, 24/7 nursing support, substance use intervention, and more. Mobile Medical Care – Serving medical and behavioral healthcare throughout Maricopa County. Street Medicine – Delivering healthcare to unsheltered and unhoused individuals in river bottoms, canals, alleys, street corners and parks. Kim Despres now heads the organization as CEO, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a leader in healthcare. She has guided Circle the City’s expansion, including the launch of its first in-house pharmacy and construction of a new 85-bed East Valley Medical Respite Center planned to open later this year. Click here to learn more about Circle the City: https://circlethecity.org/ Original air date: January 22, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chances are, you've lost someone close to you from cancer.  That happened to Jennifer Caraway when she lost her dear friend Joy Seitz-Butts to ovarian cancer. Jennifer showed her love by delivering home-cooked meals to Joy during her illness, and this act of compassion not only nourished the family's bodies but also kindled their spirits. This experience inspired Jennifer to create "The Joy Bus," an organization dedicated to delivering meals and delivering encouragement to homebound cancer patients. A firm believer that we all need a purpose in life, The Joy Bus became Jennifer's. Her journey in the restaurant industry began at the age of 14 as a dishwasher and she steadily climbed the ranks, gaining experience in every role, both in the front and back of the house. She opened her first restaurant at the age of 26. From that pivotal moment, Jennifer's entrepreneurial spirit blossomed and she went on to establish multiple restaurants across the United States and  Mexico. The Joy Bus and The Joy Bus Diner form an ingeniously crafted hybrid organization that blends commercial and nonprofit aspects while profoundly impacting the lives of those in need within her community. The Joy Bus Diner, a popular breakfast and lunch destination, plays a dual role by financially supporting the nonprofit, The Joy Bus program. This program is committed to providing gourmet meals, meaningful conversation, and educational support free of charge to homebound cancer patients. To learn more about The Joy Bus, click here: https://www.joybus.org/  Original air date: January 15, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathon Basurto likes to brag on the Lord. And he has a lot of opportunities these days, as principal of the first Christian classical dual language K-12 school in the nation. Jonathon is a fifth-generation Tucsonan, descended from family who were ranchers in the area even before Arizona became a state. He loves his community and talks about how desperately the Spanish-speaking residents had prayed for a Christian school, recalling grandparents who could hardly walk, painfully lowering themselves to their knees to pray that it would one day happen. Now that the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy South is a reality, Jonathon is helping lead an innovative team that teaches a dual language immersion program to help students become fluent in both Spanish and English. The classical education – which  includes not just academics, but music, art, and phys ed on a daily basis – also offers Mariachi classes at all levels. Students in the early grades learn guitar, then they move on to violin, and ultimately learn how to play trumpet. The emphasis is on worship music, helping the kids prepare to participate in worship bands at their local churches, showing how children CAN change a community for Jesus. Click here to learn more about the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy:  https://www.prca.academy/academics/south-campus-dli Original air date: January 8, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darryl Brandt is no stranger to hardship. In the span of a single, devastating month, he lost his father, his family, his business … and his sense of peace. Known as The Dreaded Barber—a nod to both his hairstyle and his craft—Darryl faced deep depression in the aftermath. When he began to find his footing again, he made a deliberate choice: to turn his pain into purpose. As he puts it, “We all do things to put a roof over our heads; but we also need to do something that helps us sleep at night.” A master barber, he knew he wanted to offer free haircuts to the marginalized, but he was determined to do more than that. Darryl trained to be a Certified Peer Support Specialist, drawing directly from his own experience with depression to be able to help others. He also became a Narcan educator and an ACEs trainer, equipping himself to offer a confidential, non-judgmental, trauma-informed space. Each day, he asks himself, “What can I do in the 25 minutes someone is in my chair that can change their life?” From that space, he opens conversations about mental health, suicide prevention, and the opioid epidemic. He helps people connect to mental health support and care for challenges ranging from depression and suicide prevention to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and substance use. Today, Darryl operates a mobile barber shop out of a repurposed city bus, finding new ways to serve those who need it most—starting with the scissors in his hand, and the words, “What can I do to make life easier for you?” He's already given 1,000 free haircuts in 2025. In the comfort of the barber chair, people share, and lives are touched. As Darryl says, “if all you see is a free haircut, you’re missing the point.” Click here to learn more about The Dreaded Barber: https://thedreadedbarber.org/ Original air date: December 18, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 20 years ago, he was honored as a “Living Legend.” In the following 23 years, Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. has continued to change this world for the better. Congenial and warm as always, Pastor Stewart looks back at his time in ministry, as a respected civic rights leader, proponent of immigration reform, social justice, equality, and at his 48 years serving as pastor at the historic First Institutional Baptist Church. More recently, he’s embracing his role as grandpa. Pastor Stewart’s name is synonymous with the six-year battle to pass the Martin Luther King holiday in Arizona. He has a reputation for dealing with conflict with honor – but he’s not above challenging the status quo. He has impacted lives, and he has impacted history. His philosophy is to see the Christ in every person he meets. Pastor Stewart continues working to fulfill the last line of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance: liberty and justice for all. Click here to learn more about Pastor Stewart and First Institutional Baptist, click here: https://www.fibcaz.org/pastor-emeritus Original air date: December 11, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When she took the reins of the Assistance League of Phoenix in 2012, Aimee Runyon was the first executive director in the history of the organization that had served the community – totally run by volunteers – since 1960. She was recruited by another organization briefly but returned to the Assistance League in time to escort the nonprofit into another new era as they disaffiliated from the national Assistance League and became the all-local Delivering Dreams of Arizona. One of the milestones where she has left her greatest footprint during that time is through starting three Delivering Dreams buses – vehicles retrofitted to be mobile clothing stores, including dressing rooms. These travel to schools around the Valley to  help students each choose an entire wardrobe worth $300. Delivering Dreams helps children in many other ways, including: Wee Help program – providing basic items such as diapers, wipes, infant clothing, and blankets to new mothers being helped by partner nonprofits. Books Gifts program – providing books to low-income children in kindergarten through eighth grades, and to social service agencies who in turn put those books in the hands of needy kids. They distribute more than 25,000 books per year. HUGS Program – partnering with first responders by donating cuddly teddy bears for children experiencing crisis. The Thrift Boutique – a resale store that carries gently-used clothing, furniture. She leads a mammoth army of dedicated volunteers, working together to improve the lives of children through fulfilling basic needs, fostering self-esteem, and enhancing their quality of life.   Click here to learn more about Delivering Dreams of Arizona:  https://deliveringdreamsaz.org/ Original air date: December 4, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacque Salomon was lost. Her 11-year-old son had just died following a severe allergic reaction to a prescribed pharmaceutical. She and her other children were reeling, fighting their own health issues. But she found an answer. Through a whole plant foods lifestyle, meditation, yoga, and psycho-spiritual remediation, she and her boys rediscovered health, and in the process, rediscovered themselves. Today, Jacque is a trauma-informed health and wellness coach with a focus on plant powered nutrition and stress management. She adopted a whole plant-based lifestyle, which resulted in her losing 164 pounds and reversing her Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. She now dedicates her life to helping others do the same, and educating people through her nonprofit Seeds to Inspire. As an indigenous woman from the island of Boriken (Puerto Rico) born and raised in New York City, Jacque’s heart is to support underrepresented, underserved, under-financed, and marginalized communities in the Phoenix metro area and surrounding reservations. She addresses health inequity and disparity through the lens of cultural colonization and plant-based health. Through Seeds to Inspire, she leads programs rooted in community wellness through food for health, health & wellness coaching, teaching kitchens, and healing gardens, advancing health and well-being for all. Click here to learn more about Seeds to Inspire: https://www.seedstoinspire.org/ Original air date: November 20, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ted Taylor is a small-town kid. He grew up in Globe, AZ, raising animals in 4-H and passionate about the debate team. As an adult he’s worn many hats, working in the cotton business, for an aerospace company, a law firm, construction business, and in healthcare technology. But 15 years ago, he found his true calling – as CEO of Family Promise-Greater Phoenix, a shelter for unhoused families. Family Promise has five locations in the metropolitan area. They vow to help families move toward independent housing and self-sufficiency. They also promise to keep children, parents — and even their pets — together while providing meals, clothing, childcare assistance, computer access, bus passes, housing, education, and financial assistance. More than 7,500 volunteers from 34 area faith congregations shelter families in their worship facilities each night. They provide family-style meals, activities, and private bedrooms for each family. Families may then progress to shared housing, and ultimately permanent housing. Even then, Family Promise continues working with them for up to 24 months, providing case management, emergency assistance, employment, parenting, and financial coaching. This success is repeated at Family Promise locations throughout the country and together, 63,000 families were helped last year. Join us and learn more about the array of services that Family Promise provides to those in need. Click here to learn more about Family Promise of Greater Phoenix: https://familypromiseaz.org/ Original air date: November 13, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jana Ferraro earned a double major in biology and criminal justice, but her heart for service pulled her into the nonprofit world. Now her job is making sure other organizations have the right tool for the job. The Phoenix ToolBank is a nonprofit tool lending program that provides fellow nonprofit organizations with year-round access to an inventory of tools to use in volunteer projects and maintenance. The organization maintains an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse and an inventory of nearly 600 different types of tools and equipment in volumes large enough to equip thousands of volunteers at a time. They also have special event supplies like tables and chairs, pop-up tents, sound systems, parking stanchions - even T-shirt launchers! In total, more than 37,000 items. Access to ToolBank tools eliminates the need for agencies to incur the expense of purchasing, repairing, and storing tools, reducing the costs associated with service projects and allowing these agencies to focus more of their resources on their mission.  Even more exciting is the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department recently formed a partnership with the Phoenix ToolBank to expand its lending program, supporting neighborhood revitalization, community events and volunteer-led neighborhood improvement efforts. ToolBank currently partners with more than 800 community organizations. Click here to learn more about the Phoenix ToolBank: www.phoenixtoolbank.org Original air date: November 6, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Kaech’s first experience with refugees was spending time with the “Lost Boys” from South Sudan. From there began a growing respect, deep friendships, and a passion for seeing these new neighbors not just survive, but thrive. That passion led to mobilizing with others to build a community where our refugee neighbors could belong. She got involved with the young organization, Phoenix Refugee Connections (PRC), with people from several different churches and a shared vision to see even more churches embrace our forcibly displaced neighbors, personally living out God’s many commands to welcome the stranger and love our neighbors as ourselves. In addition to helping refugee friends become thriving, self-sufficient American citizens, they educate individuals and churches on how they can help walk alongside people forced to flee their home countries due to human violence and persecution.  The organization also encourages families to seek other ways to help, such as through an unaccompanied minor foster care program, with the opportunity to open their homes to these children. Mary herself has a grown daughter from the DR Congo and a son from Afghanistan. She invites others to live out Matthew 25:35, by feeding the hungry, offering drink to the thirsty, and inviting the stranger into your community. Click here to learn more about Phoenix Refugee Connections: https://www.phxrc.org/about Original air date: October 30, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold Grandstaff Moses likes to say he grew up under a grand piano. His mother – a concert pianist – helped instill a love of music in Harold that shaped his life. Harold is a composer, pianist, violist, choir director, and lecturer. But his greatest gift to the world is as co-founder of The Institute of Harmonic Science, and the therapeutic use of music and the power of the voice to transform individuals and communities. Harold worked with Mind-Body Department at Cancer Treatment Centers of America for nine years, and pioneered Improvisational Harmonic Singing. Learn about the fascinating science and how it impacts healing. To learn more about Harold, click here: https://highervibrationsmusic.org/  Original air date: October 9, 2025.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Coury had a vision of helping foster youth living in group homes – he wanted them to become “the heroes of their own lives.” He got together with a couple of friends, and in 2023 the Fostering Heroes Foundation was born. The focus is to deliver mentorship, life skills and experiences to provide kids aging out of the foster system with the skills, beliefs, encouragement – and love – necessary to succeed. More than that, the goal is to reach out not just sometimes, but reach out each and every day. Keynote of the program is the Future Heroes Summer Camp, that provides a blend of personal growth, skill development, and outdoor adventure in Northern Arizona. This year, Jeff passed the baton of leadership to his daughter, Galadriel Coury, who left her job as a math teacher to take the organization to the next level. Today, she is leading the organization to educate, empower, and encourage foster youth as they transition into adulthood. Click here to learn more about the Fostering Heroes Foundation: https://www.fosteringheroes.org/ Original air date: October 2, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sometimes think the issues raised through growing technology as a negative. But Jared Bodine leads an organization that addresses the challenge of castoff computers, and creates a win/win/win situation, by refurbishing them, reusing them, recycling parts, and doing it all while teaching students marketable skills. In the past year alone, Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology – AZ StRUT – has: Refurbished and distributed 9,041 computers. Prevented 1,098,513 pounds of discarded electronics from becoming landfill waste. Distributed $642,758 worth of refurbished equipment to individuals and organizations.  If that’s not enough, the organization’s Techie Camps not only introduce students to the world of computing and technology, but allow participants to take a refurbished computer home to use! Click here to learn more about AZ StRUT: https://azstrut.org/  And if you want to see Jared's Fun Finds that spotlights really neat old donations, check him out at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Ww4tAgxdEL8fUzroWCJGZjyGTtQSMi2  Original air date: September 25, 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.