AZ HEROES TO HOMETOWNS_SRPMIC_APPLICATION PART 2.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2020-12-09)

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Cover Page 
 
Organization Name: AZ Heroes to Hometowns Foundation  
Street Address: P.O. Box 31646, Mesa, AZ 85275 
Telephone: 480.330.1632 
Email:  kathy@azheroestohometowns.org 
Chief Executive Officer: Kathy Pearce 
Title: Founder/President  
Proposal Contact Person: Kathy Pearce     
Proposal Contact Person Title: Founder/President 
Proposal Contact Person Telephone: 480.330.1632 
 E-Mail: kathy@azheroestohometowns.org 
Amount Requested: $25,000 
Type of Support: Programming 
Program name: Wilderness Healing Retreat – Anasazi Experience  
Agency Revenue Budget: (for year of grant) $ 330,000 
Program Budget, if applicable: (for year of grant) $25,000 
 
Mission: AZ Heroes to Hometowns is designed to welcome home our Wounded Service 
Members who, because of injuries sustained, can no longer serve in the military. AZ Heroes to 
Hometowns is here to assist our wounded troops/veterans and their families with social, 
emotional, spiritual and physical in the transition back to their community and their new normal.

Attachment for application 2021 Grant  
 
Organization History: 
(Provide a brief summary of the origins of the organizations and any notable milestones and/or 
significant audit findings) 
AZ Heroes to Hometowns (AZH2H) was organized in 2010 after working with 
Department of Defense with our Wounded Heroes to fill the needs of those 
returning home from combat. AZH2H has helped with financial resilience, home 
repairs, monthly dinner for our wounded heroes to meet others that have been 
where they have been and provided over 20,000 Thanksgiving dinners since 2010. 
AZH2H had developed a working partnership with Anasazi Foundation in the 
treatment of our wounded heroes to reduce the number of suicides.  
 
Organization Structure: 
(Provide a list of current board members and key staff members) 
Board of Directors for AZH2H - 2020 
Kathy Pearce – Founder/CEO AZ Heroes to Hometowns  Kathy has been an advocate for wounded 
heroes for 14 years.  Started with the Severely Injured Center in Arlington with the Department of 
Defense after her son was severely injured while serving in Iraq. In 2010 the AZ Heroes to Hometowns 
was formed to continue the work of assisting our wounded heroes as they return home. 
William Naney - Ret SFC- Army  Served his country for over 23 years. Has deployed 2 times to combat 
zones and has many awards including a Bronze Star. Is father of 2 children and 5 step children. William 
has a number of surgeries but is always looking for way to still serve.  William is a great motivator and 
communicator or our wounded heroes. His depth of understand is vital for AZ Heroes to Hometowns.  
Frank Molinar - Richer Life Ready Warriors  With over 30 years in financial planning experience. Has 
developed a financial strategies that work for our military families. It helps them look at their financial 
future in military terms. Frank teaches financial seminars for our military families to help them have a 
brighter future.  Strong families are stronger communities and Frank helps our wounded heroes more 
confident of their financial future.  
Brent Bretz – (Ret) SSG - Army Sniper   Served in Iraq in 2004 and was severely injured, with the loss of 
both legs and use of his left arm are just a few of the changes he has had to face. After more than 2 years 
of surgeries and rehab at military hospitals, Brent returned home to try and find his new normal. After 
returning home there were more surgeries and the struggles of finding his place. Brent has a way to touch 
the hearts of those that have been where he has been and his outreach is invaluable to AZ Heroes to 
Hometowns.  
Anthony Irby – (Ret) SFC Army  After deployments Anthony was struggling to find his new normal. He 
became homeless for a short time. He looked to his military serve and worked to make a better life. He 
has worked at the  VA Homeless program. His experience in the service of our country and after have 
given him an amazing insight to those that are still struggling with finding their new normal.  He strives 
to be an example to his 3 daughter and the veteran community. His insight is an assets that AZ Heroes to 
Hometowns relies on often.

Provide a brief description of the project being submitted to the 12% SRPMIC Grant program. 
In the description provide a summary of the relevant experience, administrative activity, and 
program development related to the grant request.  
Wilderness Healing Retreat  – Anasazi Experience 
 
After nearly 20 years of war, hundreds of thousands of our U. S. Military have faced the many 
horrors of battle and most of them are in desperate need of spiritual healing.  Military demise due 
to war since 1999 is approximately 5,273 compared to 128,480 veteran suicides in the same span 
of time.  According to the Veterans Affair 2012 data report, it is estimated that there are 22 
veteran suicides a day, this is 22 lives too many.  The loss of life due to lack of resources, 
community support, and family education is beyond belief.   
 
AZ Heroes to Hometowns, is excited to be working with Anasazi Foundation to help lessen the 
number of suicides that are destroying the members of our military through the spiritual healing 
program. The repercussions of war is reaching too far into the families of veterans as well as 
both the military and non-military communities.  The Wilderness Healing Retreat - Anasazi 
Experience will have an exponential positive impact, even if the life of one service member is 
altered.  
 
In partnership, AZH2H and Anasazi Foundation will provide a therapeutic and spiritual healing 
environment for veterans.  Specifically veterans dealing with anxiety, depression with and 
without thoughts of suicide, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.  This will be 
accomplished through the following interventions: 
1.) Provide experiential therapeutic milieu based on learning and using primitive 
wilderness skills; 
2.)  Provide education and experiential opportunities related to forgiveness, guilt, and 
depression; 
3.) Facilitate therapeutic group experiences (group therapy) in an outdoor primitive 
setting through ceremony called fire circles. 
 
Additionally, participants along with a family member or support person, will be invited to 
attend a full Saturday workshop in conjunction with the Arbinger Institute called "Living with an 
Outward Mindset".  This will be a day spent working on mindset, relationships, and looking 
inward. 
 
Target population is our military/veterans that have experienced war. Our military are often 
facing multiple deployments and return home where the VA or DoD may heal the physical 
wounds but the spiritual wounds go untreated. The stigma of asking for help complicates the 
insures.  The Wilderness Healing Retreats  - Anasazi Experience will provide the much needed 
help in an environment where they are with their peers.  The program is a non-judgmental, back 
to nature experience with the focus on therapeutic experiences for healing and tools to move 
forward in their healing. This creates stronger veterans, families, and communities.    
 
The funds from 12% SRPMIC Grant program will be used to for staffing with AZH2H and 
Anasazi, lodging, food, transportation and supplies for the Wilderness Healing Retreats - 
Anasazi Experience for our wounded heroes.

Three goals of the AZH2H Wilderness Healing Retreats – Anasazi Experience are: 1. A spiritual 
healing for our wounded heroes. The VA and other medical professionals can help heal physical 
wounds, but the spiritual wounds are left untreated. 2. Reduce the loss of life due to suicide 
among our veteran/military population. 3. AZ Heroes to Hometowns – Anasazi Experience will 
provide tools for our veteran/military community to continue the journey to spiritual healing.  
This will make stronger veterans/military, families, communities, and stronger Arizona.  
 
Has your organization ever applied for and received any local, state or federal grants? If so, 
please detail. 
 
Yes. AZH2H has applied for state grants, but no federal. Information for 2019 with Fry’s Food 
Stores - $15,000 for Turkeys to Troops program, Safeway/Albertson’s - $5,000  for Turkeys to 
Troops program, AZ Dept. of Veteran Services - $4,999 for Peer Mentoring, Arizona Disable 
Veterans Foundation - $10,000 for Turkeys to Troops and general needs, Wal-Mart Stores in 
Arizona - $8,000 for Back to School and Turkeys to Troops program, PSEMC - $7,000 for 
sponsorship, smaller grants with OneAZ Credit Union, Bank of America, Zion’s National Bank 
and Desert Diamond West Valley Casino. 
 
 
Budget for Grant Application 2021: 
 
Wilderness Healing Retreat 2020 
Cost of 1 retreat (Plan or 2 per year) 
Per 4 day / 3 night program 
Anasazi Facilitator (1) 
3500.00 
Trail walker/assistance (2) 
1600.00 
Lodging (10)  
2000.00 
Food/Transportation 
2000.00 
AZ H2H Facilitator/Coordinator   
3500.00 
Misc. supplies  
500.00 
  
  
Total 
13100.00 
Ethnicity - Disabled Military/Veterans  Ages 22 to 65