View as Webpage

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• Help keep our wheels rolling for Arizona Gives Day
• Empty Bowls fundraiser success
• Jorge Ruiz represents ICS in the Fast Pitch Main Event
• Last chance for free tax preparation
• AZ Tax Credit donation deadline is April 15
• We appreciate ICS volunteers!

Help Us Reach Our Arizona Gives Day Goals

Here at ICS, we're not exactly gearheads. We don't spend much time thinking about cars, but we definitely appreciate how much our vehicles allow us to do for our clients.

We also appreciate the donors and supporters who fund gasoline, maintenance, permits and more to keep our vehicles on the road. Arizona Gives Day donors make it happen.

GOAL 1: Recover From Van Vandalism

At the beginning of this fiscal year, one of the ICS refrigerated vans used to pick up grocery rescue food and other donations was vandalized. In an attempt to siphon gas from the van’s tank, the vandals caused over $3,000 in damage.

Goal 2: Fuel the Mobile Food Bank (MFB) for a Year

While it might seem like there is a grocery store on every corner, in some parts of Tucson healthy, affordable food is out of reach because of income and transportation constraints. The MFB distributes food at eight locations throughout Tucson. 

IMAGE: Remember when Girl Scout Troop 402 collected 3,775 pounds of food for ICS in 2023? Our trusty van transported the haul to the Northwest Food Bank for distribution.

Bowls Full of Gratitude

Further proof that 13 is not an unlucky number: the 13ᵗʰ annual Empty Bowls set a new fundraising record for ICS! Together, we raised more than $201,000 to provide services and support to those in need in Tucson.

We couldn't have done it without:

• SPONSORS: Presenting sponsor Judy Weill (in memory of Dick Weill) and dozens of other sponsors supported the goals of Empty Bowls and the mission of ICS.
• HELPING HANDS: 159 volunteers cheerfully gave hundreds of hours of time and labor.
• BOWLS: More than 100 clay artists made about 1,500 bowls for the event.
• FOOD: 25 food partners provided 200 gallons of soup and thousands of servings of bread, rolls and desserts.
• MUSIC: Jazz guitarist Zach Zigan provided entertainment on the patio.
• LOCATION: Our hosts, the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.
• GUESTS: Hundreds of members of the community bought tickets, attended the event, and supported the silent auction and raffle.
• DONATIONS: Local businesses and individuals donated more than 400 items for the silent auction and raffle.

Support grows for Empty Bowls year after year, thanks to our amazing community. See you again next year for the 14ᵗʰ annual event!

Jorge Ruiz Represents ICS at Fast Pitch Main Event

Last Tuesday night, Jorge Ruiz took to the stage of the Fox Tucson Theatre to tell a story about ICS. Jorge is a participant in the Fast Pitch program from Social Venture Partners (SVP) Tucson. It's a five-month free training program to help nonprofit leaders learn the art of storytelling, the importance of building donor relations, and the power of a really good marketing strategy.

At the Fast Pitch Main Event, Jorge and representatives from seven other nonprofits delivered 3-minute pitches to a live audience of donors, competing for over $121,000 in on-stage sponsored grants. In his pitch, Jorge shared some of his personal story, along with the story of an ICS client who transformed her life. The audience responded to his sincerity and passion, and Jorge walked away with more than $30,000 in funding for self-sufficiency programs at ICS.

Click below to watch Jorge's pitch (scroll ahead to timecode 44:12).

Last Chance for Free Tax Preparation

Just two weeks remain until Tax Day! Free help is still available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, but get here extra early to secure your place in line. The last day to get help is Saturday, April 13.

WHO: IRS-certified preparers work one-on-one with individuals and families who earned up to $79,000 in 2023.

WHEN: Wednesdays 4:30-7:30 p.m., Thursdays 4:30-7:30 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Arrive AT LEAST one hour prior to closing. Walk-ins only—no appointments.

WHERE: ICS Northwest Office: 2820 W. Ina Road. Enter through the east door.

WHAT: Visit the VITA webpage for a list of documents to bring.

AZ Tax Credit Donation Deadline: April 15

If you haven't yet filed your taxes, there is still time to benefit from making a tax credit donation to ICS. Use QCO code 20438. Learn more about AZ Tax Credit >

ICS volunteers are the best! We get to celebrate them all month long for Global Volunteer Month. We'll step up the appreciation April 21-27 for National Volunteer Week (Will there be a party? Oh, yes, there will!).

Last year, nearly 840 active volunteers donated 62,669 hours in service of ICS clients. They are the people who meet with clients hands-on, hearts-on to change lives. Learn more at icstucson.org >

IN HONOR OF, GIVEN BY

Jorge Ruiz, Jason Krauss

IN MEMORY OF, GIVEN BY

Phillip Bain, Anonymous

Robert Batey, Cynthia & James Quigley

George Thomas Camp, Joan Regens

Risa Crockett, Sandy & Bob Crockett

Dick Kampa, Bonnie Kampa

Betty Phillips, Sandra Marchese

Sandra Rausch, Jim & Dorothy Lewis