8 nonprofits seeking $218K in Apache Junction health, human services funding

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

When the Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission deliberates this month to determine which of eight nonprofit agencies seeking a total of $218,700 in funding from the city of Apache Junction will be funded it will do so with only six of its seven members as a commissioner works with one of the applicants.

The commission, comprised of volunteers who will make a recommendation to the City Council on which ones should receive fiscal year 2026-27 funding, met March 9 to interview the applicants. Last year the city provided $90,000 in funding.

Commissioner Della Wood was absent because she has a conflict of interest, City Clerk Evie McKinney said.

“So she will not be serving on the board as long as decisions are being made for the applicant funding,” she said.

Chairman Michael Brennan asked if Wood could have attended the meetings and abstained from discussing whatever organization she has a potential conflict of interest with to provide input on the others.

“I don’t think so,” McKinney said.

“No, because whatever decision she makes is going to affect the other group, her group, too,” Vice Chairman Jeffrey Danford said.

“And she works with two organizations — two of our applicants — so it’s a tough spot,” McKinney said.

Commissioner Wood has a potential conflict of interest with NazCare, the city clerk said in an email March 11.

“After reviewing the correspondence received from Ms. Wood, she actually stated two divisions within her current role that she works in, but only one of the nonprofits is creating the conflict of interest for her. That nonprofit is NazCare,” McKinney said.

Commissioners will first discuss their thoughts on who should receive funding and how much during a meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the Apache Junction Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

Applicants for funding are:

• A New Leaf, $20,000 to provide services for domestic violence survivors.
• Apache Junction Community Development Corp., $7,500 for operating expenses, code compliance and residents’ cleanup needs.
• Azura VITA, $15,800 to expand outreach of free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparation program.
• Black and Gold Youth Football League, $6,000 for fall football and cheer scholarships.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley, $30,000 for youth program staff at the Superstition Mountain Branch.
• Kiwanis Club of Apache Junction, $2,000 for youth services.
• Nazcare Inc., $62,400 for Rising Star Wellness Center renovations.
• Superstition Community Food Bank, $75,000 to purchase food.

The commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, provision of human services and care of the elderly, handicapped and developmentally disabled.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.