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Meet Jon

January 31 2023

StandUp for Kids - Tucson My name is Jon Smith, I’m a Tucson native that grew up in the Northwest side and graduated from Ironwood Ridge High School in 2013. After high school I joined the Army and spent the last 8 years living in Texas, Germany, and Tennessee. I really enjoyed getting to expose myself to wide array of cultures both at home and overseas. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to lead others in the Army in a wide array of environments and, at the conclusion of my service, I had the opportunity to help Afghan refugees process into the United States when they arrived from the Kabul Airlift. My experience with the refugee community gave me a strong desire to ...

Meet Sarah

January 31 2023

StandUp for Kids - Tucson Sarah Bedor is a passionate young woman determined to make a difference in the Tucson community. She got her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with an emphasis in cognition from the University of Arizona with intentions of continuing her education onto medical school. She believes that in life one should always give, whether it is their time, their effort, or their wisdom. She wants to dedicate her life to helping others in the field of medicine as well as out on the streets. She is empowered to act as a voice for those who cannot speak, and desires equality for all, especially with regards to medical services and healthcare. ...

Meet Wes, Tucson's new Director of Fund Development!

September 2 2022

StandUp for Kids - Tucson Wes Moulton grew up in rural West Texas. After high school, he attended Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX, majoring in Biology and Chemistry. After graduation, he worked in formula development in pharmaceutical compounding in Texas before moving to Tucson, AZ in 2015. In Tucson, Wes was Director of Compounding in a compounding-only pharmacy. In January, 2021, he moved into the non-profit sector, becoming the Office and Program Administrator at Valley Assistance Services in Green Valley, AZ for three years before becoming the Director of Funding Development at StandUp for kids, Tucson. In addition to his pharmaceutical and social service work, Wes has been ...

48 Minutes of Trash Cleanup

June 15 2022

StandUp for Kids - Tucson In April 2022, Tucson Volunteers kicked off the nationwide “48 hours in the street” by helping clean house for 48 minutes. In addition to our 2 regular outreach evenings, we added an evening clean up because everyone likes a clean home. One young person responded, “this is kind of embarrassing.” Another said, “thank you” with tremendous emotion.

StandUp for Kids Commits to "48 Hours on the Streets" Campaign to Help Homeless Youth

April 14 2022

Volunteers across the U.S. to meet homeless youth where they are, while raising awareness of the dangers typically faced in the first two days without shelter Atlanta, GA--(PRNewswire)--StandUp for Kids, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness, announced that its "48 Hours on the Streets" public service campaign - an annual event since its founding 31 years ago - will take place from April 22-24. StandUp for Kids hopes this call to action will elevate awareness of youth homelessness and the dangers typically faced in the first two days without shelter, which often include being approached by drug dealers and being lured into ...

Say Hello to StandUp for Kids - Tucson's New Development Director!

April 8 2022

StandUp for Kids - Tucson "My name is Megan Merfeld, and I recently moved to Tucson from Iowa. Happy to escape another Midwest winter, I’ve been enjoying the lovely hiking weather with my dog, Roo! Using my Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Iowa and Master’s in Applied Psychology from the University of Southern California, I’m excited to get involved in the local community with StandUp for Kids. I have experience organizing and running fundraisers for various local charities in my hometown and on my college campus. If you or your company are interested in coordinating a fundraiser, please reach out ...

StandUp and Move Finishes as a Major Success

November 4 2020

StandUp and Move, a national virtual event that took place from October 8 through 12, 2020, attracted 275 participants, 340 donors, and 8 sponsors. After shattering our first goal of $50,000 before the event kicked off, we ended 19% over with proceeds totaling $59,605! As the first event of its kind to end the cycle of youth homelessness, all participants got to choose a time, distance, and location to move. And did they ever: They ran, walked, biked, wheeled, skated,danced, and they cheered others on. Today, thanks to this community of friends, StandUp for Kids is able to face the critical issue of youth homelessness a little bit ...

Join Our Virtual Run/Walk/Bike Event

September 12 2020

The work we do to help homeless youth across the country get back on their feet would not be possible without amazing volunteers and supporters like you. It’s because of your dedication that we have a 30-year history as a nationally-recognized organization fighting to end youth homelessness. To show our thanks, we’ve created a virtual run/walk/bike event that will unite us all together in a safe, healthy way for an important cause. Register or donate today to our first ever virtual nationwide event, StandUp and MOVE, taking place across the country October 8 through 12, 2020. Register to MOVE! This virtual event is like no other. You will ...

Kia Calls For Nationwide Blitz Against Youth Homelessness In Super Bowl Campaign

January 29 2020

News provided by Kia Motors America Kia Teams with Standout Rookie Running Back Josh Jacobs in 60-Second Spot Focused on Overcoming Adversity and Achieving the Impossible Dream Jacobs - who experienced homelessness growing up - gives his "younger self" valuable encouragement and advice For every yard gained during the big game, Kia's "Yards Against Homelessness" initiative will donate $1,000 to three charity partners dedicated to ending the issue of youth homelessness IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What would you tell a younger you trying to make your way through the world? For Josh Jacobs, who rose from homelessness in middle school to football stardom, it is an inspiring ...

Kia Chooses StandUp for Kids for Big Game Campaign

January 27 2020

Kia Motors America has announced that their Big Game commercial this Sunday will address youth homelessness. What's more, the company has decided to give a major donation to StandUp for Kids and two other organizations caring for homeless youth in America! According to Kia, "This year, with more than 4.2 million young people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., the car company known to 'Give It Everything' will use its big game advertising platform to give back in a meaningful way. For every yard gained during the game, Kia will donate $1,000 to three charity partners dedicated to ending the issue of youth homelessness and transforming the lives of young people in ...

See you in San Antonio

September 22 2019

Starting Friday September 27, the entire StandUp for Kids family -- from outreach volunteers, local leaders, and executive directors, to donors, national board, and staff -- will convene in San Antonio, Texas for mark our 29th year, and partake in one very special National Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Remember the Mission," evoking the neaerby Alamo Mission's cry. We thought it would be fitting to tie in local roots with our own mission of "ending the cycle of youth homelessness." For the young people we serve, their own plea for independence rings ever so loudly in our ears and mobilizes us to take action. Together at this national conference, we have the ability ...

StandUp for Kids Has a New Look

July 24 2019

After nearly thirty years of serving youth in need, we are thrilled to announce that the StandUp for Kids brand had a makeover! Youth-Centered Our new logo captures the awesome potential of young lives when they know care, feel loved, and have the support they need to move quickly from surviving to thriving. Youth are the heart of our organization, so it was important to convey that. The logo is youth-centered, energetic, and a clever evolution of our former look. Proud to be the Purple People Purple often represents wisdom or creativity. To the youth we serve, it represents safety, care, and support. Our kids often call volunteers the Purple People. Youth know they can trust them to get ...

Look What We Did Together in 2017

January 25 2018

A year of highlights from Eddy Ameen, PhD, National Board Chair Your support and involvement in our mission has helped make 2017 a standout year for StandUp For Kids. Our central responsibility is to our nation’s young people faced with homelessness, whether temporary or longer term. No matter the circumstances that got them there. No matter the work that needs to be done to help them transition them into safe, stable chapters of their lives. We are deeply humbled by this responsibility, and held fiercely to it through the political tumult of 2017. When some of our youth felt unwelcome, we stood taller to welcome them. In 2017, we worked with over 2,200 youth for the first ...

Four Award Winners Announced at our 2017 National Conference

October 16 2017

Volunteers, staff, youth representatives, and board members from all across the U.S. gathered in Tucson for our national conference October 6-8, 2017. The conference theme was "Raising A.R.I.Z.O.N.A." for Awareness, Respect, Inspiration, Zero Stigma, Ongoing Support, National Concern, and Attention to the Plight of our Youth. The Tucson program hosted the conference. With input from the Executive Director Advisory Council, the conference featured some tremendous sessions, not only to share best practices and do hands-on outreach, but also to focus on raising leadership capacities and technical skills to meet the complex mental health needs of our youth. An annual tradition at our ...

Around Tucson

February 27 2017

Thank you to Mr. Heads and Jessica for hosting another successful fundraiser! Performances by Austin Counts, Rival Shapes and Saer 1 were awesome...food was amazing and the support of the crowd and hard work of the volunteers the best! Thank you to Corpus Christie for Thanksgiving meals again this year and for all of the holiday support for our kids! Thank you to Arizona State University Mr. Taylor Place Competitors for choosing to help our kids! For all those currently collecting items for the holidays...We couldn’t do what we do without you! St. Marks United Methodist, Newman Center Catholic Church, St. Cyril, Our Mother of Sorrows, our awesome pre-nursing students and many ...

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