Friends of Ward 3
By Kevin Dahl
August 23, 2024
This week, the nonprofit Friends of Ward 3 was incorporated to create an organization that will help fund local “initiatives that promote health, education, and social welfare.” The group’s mission, vision, values, and guiding principles can be viewed on the currently interim barebones web page (volunteer web designers
requested!!!), https://fow3.org/.
The founding board members include:
- President Nigel Brooks, with extensive nonprofit experience and current President of Western Winds HOA
- Vice President Maxine Goodman, President, Words, Ink Public Relations
- Treasurer John Kovacik, Rillito Bend Neighborhood leader
- Secretary Chinna Garza, Community Engagement Coordinator for First Things First
- Daniel Dempsey, business owner and consultant
- (there are a few others who have helped the effort who will probably join the board but weren’t available for the initial meeting)
From left to right: John Kovacik, Samantha Kao, Nigel Brooks, Vice Mayor Kevin Dahl, Maxine Goodman, and Chinna Garza.
More Board Members are needed and welcome! Are you interested in learning about the wonderful neighborhood groups, nonprofit agencies, businesses, and civic activities that make up Ward 3 – and supporting networking and funding ongoing efforts and new initiatives? Do you have nonprofit experience or want to gain some? The Board meets monthly. Your commitment would include participating in projects and fundraising. To apply, send a note with a resume if you have one or short biography to friends@fow3.org.
The group also seeks new members for the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will be composed of folks whose skills and talents will be called upon by the Friends from time to time and will probably meet once a year.
This is an exciting effort that I hope will build strong social networks to “make Ward 3 a safe and welcoming place” – one of the group’s guiding principles!