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Organizations making 2017 the best year ever

JR and Vanessa visit companies and organizations working to make 2017 the best year ever for everyone.

ICAN is a free, family-centered youth service providing a full complement of programs proven effective in equipping youth to achieve personal and academic success by tackling substance abuse, gang involvement and juvenile delinquency.

1 in 8 Americans are food insecure. Even Stevens “The Sandwich Shop With A Cause” has discovered a way to provide delicious food to its patrons and at the same time, support non-profits with funds to feed the needy.

Not Your Typical Deli is a full-service delicatessen and bakery and was created to make a difference. Not only do they serve incredible food, NYT Deli also creates an integrated work environment for those with developmental disabilities. NYT Deli offers three, 12-week training programs per year for adults with developmental disabilities. After our students complete the 12-week course, NYT Deli offers long term mentoring as students start their careers in the culinary industry. The unemployment rate for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Arizona, is nearly 90%. It’s their objective to provide capable adults with developmental disabilities, comprehensive training that will qualify them to work in the restaurant industry.

For the third year in a row, Pita Jungle will host an “Empty Bowls” event. Guests can purchase hand-crafted clay bowls created by local artisans during the holiday season to benefit Waste Not, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been feeding the hungry in the Valley for more than 25 years.  100 percent of proceeds will go to the charity. The Empty Bowls – hand-crafted, custom bowls created by Arizona Clay Association artists and their friends in the community – will be sold for $15 each. Every dollar given to Waste Not feeds six people.  Waste Not rescued and transferred a record 2.5 million pounds of food last year for those who needed it most.

Dylan Strong is a young boy who experienced a tragic accident at Lake Pleasant. He fell out of a boat and was badly injured by the propeller.  His family is facing enormous medical bills and Dylan will need additional surgeries and physical therapy for years to come. Sanderson Ford, with the aid of Jack Rousch, generously donated a Ford Mustang to be raffled off to help Dylan’s family with their expenses.