Events at

The HSC

Events at

The HSC

ThirstAid 2022:  May 1 – September 30

100,000 Bottles per Month Needed to Keep Clients Hydrated

Bottled water donation drop-offs are scheduled on the first Saturday of each summer month from 9am to noon, and it couldn’t be easier. You pull up at 13th Avenue & Harrison St., and our staff will remove the donations from your vehicle. We also welcome travel-sized toiletries, summer clothing, shoes, new men’s/women’s underwear, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm. If you’re looking for a group activity that makes a difference, check out our Heat Relief Kit Checklist and come together to complete kits or donate kit contents in bulk.

And a big thank you to our partner St. Joseph the Worker, the originator of ThirstAid, for promoting collaboration among Campus partners to ensure our collective clients have water to drink as they work on ending their homelessness. Don’t forget to share our mission and needs with your social networks!

For more information or to schedule a drop-off on a different day, or for assistance with creating your own bottled water drive, please contact us at 602-282-0849 or volunteer@keystochangeaz.org.

You may also contribute online and help us purchase water in bulk. Thank you!

Project Connect

Project Connect – a traveling resource fair

Help a neighbor end their homelessness.

March 22, 2022
7am – 3pm

Salvation Army Northwest Valley
17420 Avenue of the Arts”
Surprise, AZ 85378

Project Connect

I Am Home Breakfast

Mike McQuaid I Am Home Breakfast
2021 Mike McQuaid I Am Home Breakfast

The annual Mike McQuaid I Am Home Breakfast recognizes and celebrates our collective work creating successful journeys from street to home.

Event Summary

With more than 400 people in attendance at the Arizona Biltmore and nearly 100 more watching and contributing virtually, the 16th annual Mike McQuaid I Am Home Breakfast raised more than $850,000 to support HSC programs and services to assist people experiencing homelessness move from street to home.

“Being able to return to a live format after a fully virtual event last year, and to reconnect with so many friends, supporters and family members made this event even more meaningful for all of us,” said HSC Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender, who co-hosted with HSC Board Chair Jonathan Koppell. “We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of the community to support the work we do in helping individuals experiencing homelessness move from street to home.”

Among the highlights of the event were:

  • A discussion with two HSC staff members about their experience with homelessness and how access to resources and services changed the direction of their lives
  • A presentation by Congressman Greg Stanton who gave the McQuaid family a framed certificate of the statement Stanton read into the Congressional Record in honor of Mike McQuaid, campus founder and former board president, who passed away in July 2020.
  • A special recognition of attorney Paul Gilbert of Beus Gilbert McGroder for donating more than two years of pro bono legal representation during the formal Phoenix City Council zoning-change process that resulted in approval for an additional 275 shelter beds in the shelter at HSC operated by Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS).

The event sponsored by 42 organizations, including Signature Sponsor Avondale Toyota, also featured a performance by the Phoenix Symphony Ensemble: B-Sharp Music Wellness Program and a video of an HSC client’s journey out of homelessness.

Watch the Event (Replay)

2021 Event Program (PDF)

2021 Event Photos

(click an image to start slideshow)

Signature Sponsor

Avondale Toyota Logo

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Cowley Companies
Maricopa County | The Industrial Development Authority
Lee & Associates
Osborn Maledon
Brighter Way Institute

Compassion Sponsors

Crescent Crown Distributing
Sunbelt Holdings
Mike and Betsy Haenel
Mushkatel, Robbins, and Baker PLLC
Myron Hammes
APS
Molina Healthcare
AAA Logo
FoodStory Brands Logo
Next Phase Enterprises Logo

Kindness Sponsors

AZ Department of Housing
Andy Markham
DOXA Central
Waste Management
Jackie and Jim Davis
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
MariSol Federal Credit Union Solutions
Arizona Housing Inc.
Circle the City
Brighterway Institute
Andre House
LBA Realty
Nationwide Logo
Chuck and Judy Backus logo
Albertsons Safeway Logo

Sustaining Partners

Avondale Toyota Logo
Arizona Department of Economic Security Logo
Bank of America Logo
BlueCross BlueShield Logo
City of Phoenix Logo
Garcia Family Foundation Logo
Maricopa IDA Logo
Maricopa County Seal
Mercy Care Logo
Thunderbirds Charities Logo
US Department of Housing and Urban Development Logo
United Way Logo

Special Thanks To

  • Molly McQuaid and Family
  • Marx Productions
  • Phoenix Symphony
  • Southwest Scenic Group, Inc.
  • Steve Carr, The Kur Carr Group
  • Lynn Pellistri, LM Pellistri Video
  • Jason Lewis, Enigma Design Graphics, Inc.
  • Brian O’Meara, Saolré Marketing

 

2021 ThirstAid Bottled Water Drive Starts Early Due to Pandemic

Our bottled water donation drop-offs at 15th Avenue & Harrison occur the first Saturday of the month from 9am to noon, and it couldn’t be easier. You pull up and our staff will remove the donations from your vehicle. Call Ivan Orozco at 602-282-0849 or email volunteer@keystochangeaz.org for more information.

While the HSC and our Campus partners are always in need of bottled water, the pandemic required us to start our ThirstAid campaign early this year. CDC guidelines for distancing and sanitation prevent us from offering refillable water stations. Therefore, we need your help to provide water for our collective clients.

You may also contribute online and help us purchase water in bulk. Thank you!

The 2020 Mike McQuaid Virtual I Am Home Breakfast was a Great Success!

Event Summary

Nearly 400 viewers tuned in to this year’s virtual Breakfast event that celebrated Mike McQuaid’s life and contributions, client successes and the 15th anniversary of the Human Services Campus (HSC). Avondale Toyota was the hour-long virtual event Signature Sponsor. A total of 40 sponsors supported the event.

Hosted in an ESPN-like production by HSC Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender and HSC Board Chair Jonathan Koppell, Dean of the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions at Arizona State University, the event featured a video tribute to campus founder and former board president McQuaid, who passed away in July from COVID-19, a 15th anniversary look-back video and stories of two individuals impacted by the work done at HSC.

While donations continue to come in, the event has so far raised more than $700,000 to support HSC programs and services to assist people experiencing homelessness move from street to home.

“We are deeply grateful not only to those who took the time to watch the event but for those who so generously donated during this very difficult time in all of our lives,” said HSC Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender.  “The pandemic has posed unexpected challenges in our efforts to help individuals experiencing homelessness, and the good work being done by our campus partners, staff, volunteers and donors doesn’t, and won’t, stop. Too many lives are at risk.”

The event also featured a performance by the Phoenix Symphony brass quintet, the first performance by orchestra members this year following cancelation of the season because of the pandemic.  Arizona Diamondbacks’ mascot Baxter made a special appearance.

Broadcast Photos

Click to Enlarge or View in Slideshow

Streaming Video

Signature Sponsor

Avondale Toyota Logo

Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Brighter Way Institute
Cowley Companies
Lee & Associates
Maricopa County | The Industrial Development Authority
Osborn Maledon

Compassion Sponsor

Crescent Crown Distributing
HOM
Mushkatel, Robbins, and Baker PLLC
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Kindness Sponsor

AZ Department of Housing
AZ Precision Security
CASS
Community Bridges, Inc.
DOXA Central
LBA Realty
Nationwide Logo

2020 Weather Relief Drive exceeds 500,000 bottles of water!

Collectively with our Campus partners, we need at least 60,000 bottles of water per month to keep our clients hydrated and healthy.  We held monthly Donation Drop-offs from April through September and received over 500,000 bottles of water!  We are incredibly grateful for all of the individuals and organizations who contributed.

While the 2020 Weather Relief Drive officially ended in September, we need water throughout the winter months as well.  The Human Services Campus accepts donations seven days a week from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Please contact us at volunteer@keystochangeaz.org or by phone at 602-282-0849. We will coordinate a convenient time for you and provide directions to the Campus drop off area.  Thank you!!

If you have questions about making an in-kind donation, please contact us at:
volunteer@keystochangeaz.org or (602) 282-0849

Our December 2019 I Am Home Breakfast was a great success!

On Friday morning, December 13th we heard success stories from individuals who made their unique journeys home; they each shared their gratitude for all of the staff and services on the Human Services Campus. Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender updated everyone on the State of the Campus and provided a glimpse of the “HSC 2.0” vision, including a strengthened partnership with the ASU Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.  Amy also recognized our clients, staff, partners and volunteers for all they do in ending homelessness.  Andre House received the Mike McQuaid Collaboration Award. Mike McQuaid, past HSC Board President and current Board member, thanked the Garcia Family Foundation for their very generous multi-year pledge to the HSC, as well as Avondale Toyota, Thunderbirds Charities and many others who have been long-term supporters of the HSC and our partners.  Mike also introduced new HSC Board President Jonathan Koppell.  Jonathan provided a passionate explanation of the need for more shelters beds on the Campus and urged everyone to come together and help with the respective zoning permit change, anticipated to be voted on this spring. We are so grateful for all who make this event and all of these successes possible!

Human Services Campus Video

Great Turn-out at Inaugural HSC Awareness Walk to End Homelessness

Nearly 300 people attended our Inaugural Awareness Walk to End Homelessness on March 16th! Amy Schwabendlender, HSC Executive Director, and Mike McQuaid, HSC Board President, kicked off the event by welcoming everyone and identifying key homelessness issues in our community such as high eviction rates and lack of affordable housing. After a brisk two-mile walk from the Campus to downtown and then past the capitol mall area, attendees enjoyed coffee and refreshments supplied by Serafina Coffee Roasters, The Larry Restaurant and St. Vincent de Paul. Rani “G” from World:Life:Music provided sound equipment and a range of playlists while people interacted with our Campus partners to learn about our collaborative approach to ending homelessness. It was a beautiful day and we are very grateful for all who made this a successful event!

Thank you to Thunderbirds Charities and Everyone who Contributed to this Year’s Birdies for Charity Event and making this a successful fundraiser!

Help end homelessness.