Paula Pedene

A crisis line worker sits in front of several computer screens ready to assist a caller.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Marks One-Year Anniversary with Increasing Call Volume

As Arizona’s primary 988 provider, Tempe-based Solari Crisis & Human Services continues its outreach across the state, particularly on vulnerable communities such as veterans, the indigenous, black, and LGBTQ+ populations. Since the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline a year ago, there have been more than 63,000 calls in Arizona alone, exemplifying the …

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Marks One-Year Anniversary with Increasing Call Volume Read More »

Basha High School Student and 2022 Essay Competition Winner Ryann Terrell rides aboard the Hall of Flame Fire Truck in the 2022 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.

The HAV essay competition theme is Never Forget, Forever Honor.

Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV), the nonprofit organization that organizes the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade is now accepting High School essays for this year’s competition. There are some great cash prizes on the line for both the students who submit the top entries for each grade level and their teachers. The essay competition and the Phoenix …

The HAV essay competition theme is Never Forget, Forever Honor. Read More »

Cheralynn Beaudry signs the book in honor of her MIA father Albert Tiffany at the 2019 book reception.

Local nonprofit’s after-school program connects veterans with students.

It’s back-to-school time, and for many students, there is a local after-school storytelling program that partners students with veterans. The non-profit Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) will celebrate its 20th year of Connecting Students with Veterans. (trademark symbol here, please) The program develops students’ leadership, confidence, character, and 21st-century skills while honoring veterans’ service and preserving …

Local nonprofit’s after-school program connects veterans with students. Read More »

Joint Services Color Guard

Chrysalis Aims to improve veterans’ job readiness.

Thanks to a special grant under Prop 202, Chrysalis Veterans Services, Inc. can now provide immediate financial assistance to cover the necessities and more to help veterans increase their likelihood of success. “Meaningful and sustainable employment is a significant factor in creating and maintaining housing stability which, in turn, is a crucial component of job …

Chrysalis Aims to improve veterans’ job readiness. Read More »

A Whistleblower’s Advice, keep the faith in difficult times. 

By Paula L. Pedene, APR, Fellow PRSA I’m in good company as we commemorate National Whistleblower Day on July 30. After all, two Navy Sailors, Samuel Shaw, a Revolutionary War naval officer, and Richard Marven, a midshipman, were the first whistleblowers in 1776. Shaw, a midshipman, and Marven, a third lieutenant in the Continental Navy, …

A Whistleblower’s Advice, keep the faith in difficult times.  Read More »

Photo of wreaths in front of the Korean War Veterans Monument in Washington DC

Korean War Veterans will gather for camaraderie on Sat. July 27

On July 27, many Korean War Veterans paused momentarily to remember the Korean War Armistice Day. After all, it is a national day of recognition to commemorate the more than 35,000 U.S. Service members who lost their lives during the Korean War. The war began on June 25, 1950, when the North Korean People’s Army …

Korean War Veterans will gather for camaraderie on Sat. July 27 Read More »

Sonoran Technology CEO Paul Smiley addresses the crowd at the HAV Veterans Forum for 2023.

Veterans Forum builds camaraderie amongst organizations with veterans’ groups.

Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV) recently hosted its annual Veterans Forum, but the concept differed this year. Rather than getting the community together to hear about veterans who are leaders at large organizations, we decided to reach out to the veterans within organizations that foster engagement, resource, diversity, or affinity groups for veterans instead. As such, …

Veterans Forum builds camaraderie amongst organizations with veterans’ groups. Read More »

Flags in containers ready to be bundled

Tributes build a thankful spirit and camaraderie for veterans

Volunteers from USAA, Bank of America, Mayo Clinic, Humana, AirGas, Scout Troop 531, Scout Pack 323, and many others joined in on Saturday morning, June 3, to assist the nonprofit Honoring America’s Veterans in gathering tens of thousands of flags from the internment sites at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. After the flags were …

Tributes build a thankful spirit and camaraderie for veterans Read More »

2014 Veteran Grand Marshal Ernest Urquieta waves at the crowd.

Honor Our Heroes Veterans Grand Marshals Competition is now open through July 14

Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV) is hosting the “Honor Our Heroes” Veterans Grand Marshal Competition again. Winners of the Competition will be honored as the veteran grand marshals at this year’s Phoenix Veterans Day Parade set for 11 a.m.,  Saturday, November 11, 2023. This year’s parade theme is “Never Forget. Forever Honor.” “The Parade is such …

Honor Our Heroes Veterans Grand Marshals Competition is now open through July 14 Read More »

Gravesides display thousands of flags at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

Community Support of the Memorial Day events is inspiring.

We sent emails, posted on social media, disseminated a news release, and prayed. We had a tough assignment facing us. It was the first year our nonprofit Honoring America’s Veterans had taken over the responsibility of gathering enough volunteers to place small American Flags at nearly 60,000 internment sites at the VA National Memorial Cemetery …

Community Support of the Memorial Day events is inspiring. Read More »