On Saturday, March 4,  from 7:30 a.m.-11 a.m., St. Joseph the Worker will host its 25th annual Hike for the Homeless fund raiser at McDowell Mountain Regional Park Pemberton Trailhead in Fountain Hills.

Funds raised directly support the nonprofit’s mission to help individuals experiencing poverty, homelessness, or who are in crisis, to find quality employment and regain stability in their lives.

The hike is a significant fundraiser for SJW. The goal this year is to raise $85,000. In 2022, the Hike for the Homeless helped hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and economic hardship get a second chance through employment.

“This is an extra special year and event for us as we’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of St. Joseph the Worker and the 25th anniversary of the Hike,” SJW Interim Director Jarrett Ransom said in a written statement. “We invite people at all levels to join us on March 4. And, what better way to spend a Saturday morning in Arizona with your family, friends—furry ones, too—than out on the hiking trail while helping those struggling with unemployment or financial hardship get a new start?”

In its fiscal year 2022, SJW provided its services to more than 7,300 individuals and connected 5,399 individuals with employment. The organization serves clients from more than 50 zip codes across the Valley through its five locations and 90-plus nonprofit, government and private partners.

SJW has helped transform the lives of more than 35,000 individuals since its establishment in 1988 and continues to dispense the resources needed to remove employment barriers and create success.

Register for the Hike for the Homeless by visiting sjwjobs.org/2023hike/. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact Deb Bacorn at dbacorn@sjwjobs.org.

Registered hikers will have the option between a 1.5-mile or a 4.5-mile hike, they will receive a free t-shirt and be treated to a free breakfast burrito from San Tan Brewing Company.