Can you believe this happened? We are still in shock and unbelievably grateful!

On September 13th, 2021, trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust awarded a total of $123 million in surprise grants to 71 Arizona nonprofits—the largest single-day grant initiative in Arizona’s history...

AND THE JOY BUS WAS ONE OF THOSE NONPROFITS!

It was a moment of absolute shock and I found myself speechless and in tears. There are so many exciting things in the works within our organization and although I had faith that we were going to be able to make it all happen, I was not quite sure of the 'how' just yet. I am so thankful to the Virginia G. Piper Trust and trustees for this incredible opportunity and the impact that it will undoubtedly have on cancer patients in Arizona.

"Now is the Moment" for The Joy Bus!

September 2021 Newsletter
New on the Bus!
For the entire month of September, our friends at Flower Child and Fox Restaurant Concepts will be donating 10% from the sale of EACH delicious #AvocadoHummus purchased! Stop in and show them some love in support of The Joy Bus. Yum!

Phoenix Knife Fight is back! Starting later this month, the famous Battle of the Chefs and Mixologists has chosen The Joy Bus as their beneficiary! Proceeds from these incredible events and their merchandise will all go back to supporting our meal delivery service for people with cancer! Be sure to check out their page for more information about the battles and how you can join in on the fun.

AZ Women in Food RESTAURANTOUR - throughout the rest of this month, when you visit any member businesses, check in on Facebook or post on Instagram, and you will receive 10% off of your bill (some businesses, such as personal chefs and caterers may provide alternate offers). We want to both thank you for and encourage your support of our locally owned and operated women owned businesses! Let’s finish off this summer in the most delicious way. Follow AZWomeninFood on Facebook or Instagram to see the participating restaurants.

The Joy Bus is participating in Thunderbirds Charities - Birdies for Charity program as part of the 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open! You can pledge one cent or more for every birdie that will be made by the PGA Tour players during the tournament.
We would love if you would consider making a pledge at the link below to support our program serving your neighbors who are going through cancer treatment. 100% of the pledges collected will go to our organization and work in the community! Get your pledges in HERE.

Upcoming Events
Check our website and Facebook page for more info and tickets!

Poker Tournament - October 16th - The Joy Bus Diner - 5:00pm
Drag Queen Bingo - November 13th - Bootleggers - 11:00am

Keeping the Bus Rolling
One thing is certain, our community ALWAYS shows up and comes through for The Joy Bus and the patients that we serve. This month, I would like to show a tremendous amount of love for:
  • Fingerpaint for their wonderful generosity as a 2021 Joy Bus Grant Partner
  • Masonic Charities for being a continued supporter and 2021 Joy Bus Grant Partner
  • Parma: Italian Roots for raising over $3,000 during the month of August as a Restaurant Community Partner
  • UMOM New Day Centers for the beautifully prepared meals that they provided to our patients on August 25th
  • Arcadia Meat Market for not only providing ALL the Arizona Grass-fed Beef needed for our program, but for also preparing a delicious meal for Joy Bus meal recipients on August 26th
  • CB Live for being amazing and hosting their first ever Four Peaks Beer Dinner benefiting The Joy Bus

October: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September is a special month around here as we celebrate the life and birthday of Joy, our namesake and very reason that The Joy Bus exists. The grace and determination that she showed throughout her battle with #ovariancancer continues to inspire us to help and support those who fight that same battle.

To celebrate, I jumped back in the kitchen this month to make a beautiful Joy-worthy meal to bring love and nourishment to the patients we serve. So ladies, in honor of Joy, we ask that you #knowovarian and watch out for the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Prompt medical evaluation by your gynecologist is crucial for early detection and can increase life expectancy by 95%.

"We believe that every woman deserves to know the symptoms of this disease. This knowledge is her chance for an earlier diagnosis . . . in fact, her right to survive." - Teal It Up Foundation
Getting Involved
The Joy Bus has many different volunteer positions available with new opportunities recently added - view them HERE! I would love to have you to sign up and join our Volunteer of the Month, Tara South, who is able to live out her life's passion of helping others as a Joy Bus supporter and Meal Delivery Volunteer! If you have any questions about volunteering with The Joy Bus, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Carol, at carol@joybus.org.

The Joy Bus Ambassador Program for real estate professionals is still going strong and getting creative with future campaigns for supporting The Joy Bus. If you are interested in joining this amazing team, please contact our Assistant Director, Jessica at jessica@joybus.org.

Thank you for taking the time to stay updated on The Joy Bus and our mission of serving people with cancer. Let's make it happen!

Love and blessings,
Jennifer
"THANK YOU for your selfless and loving service to others! The true JOY you bring to the community is so appreciated. As a meal delivery person, I became a more thoughtful and empathetic human. Everyone is trying their best and no one understands our journey by outward appearances."

- Gwendolyn, volunteer
More Than A Meal: The Joy Bus Community of Chefs Cookbook

Have you had a chance to get your copy of this culmination of dreams, hard work, and collaboration within the Valley restaurant community? With so many ways to purchase, there is no time like the present! You can purchase More Than A Meal: The Joy Bus Community of Chefs at local retailers, on Amazon.com (useAmazonSmile to increase your impact!),
or on our website.