The Anthem Giving Circle provides financial assistance to people in need within our community including help with rent, utilities, medical expenses, as well as home and automotive repairs.

The mission of Anthem Giving Circle is to provide financial and material assistance to members of our community in need. We are able to provide this assistance through generous donations and fundraising. Purses for a Purpose is our yearly fundraising event. Held in February at Ironwood Country Club in Anthem, attendees can bid on new and gently used purses during silent and live auctions, as well as enter a raffle for a beautiful designer handbag. This fun and entertaining event is always well-attended and has grown each year since its start in 2010. For our 2020 ten year anniversary, over 200 people attended, many who have supported this event and Anthem Giving Circle over the years and others who were new to both. All of the money raised during our purse auctions and raffles go back to the community in the form of individual grants and donations to schools and organizations. Purses for a Purpose brings together so many people with a unified goal of helping our community and neighbors – what could be better than that!

The Anthem Giving Circle teams up with seven area elementary schools and two high schools to help them provide for student needs. Each of our schools has an AGC member as a liaison to gather information and provide support for their students. Gift cards are supplied to the school administration to be used at their discretion.

The Anthem Giving Circle provides scholarships to our High School seniors who demonstrate solid academics, financial need and community commitment.

Over the past several years, Anthem Giving Circle has donated over 2000 bras to support St. Vincent de Paul’s program for women in need. During 2020, we partnered with St. Rose and St. Bernadette parishes and donated over 500 bras along with a check for $245. Last year, AGC donated 719 bras, 40 pairs of underwear and $525 in cash.

The Anthem Giving Circle and its partners work together to create Thanksgiving and Christmas “fixin” bags for families in need to go along with a turkey from local food banks. Last year, we prepared over 350 bags for those in need.

This year, members of Anthem Giving Circle packed nearly 200 food bags at the Black Canyon City location of the Foothills Foodbank. These bags contain items that can be used to make side dishes and desserts for Thanksgiving! It was a fun morning together – thanks to the great folks in Black Canyon City for inviting us!

Each Christmas season, the Anthem Giving Circle adopts several families through Foothills Foodbank. In previous years, families have received gift certificates and gifts for each family member. This year (and last year), however, due to COVID, Foothills Foodbank has asked all donors to contribute gift certificates and games, which the Foodbank will distribute to our neighbors in need through a safe drive-thru method. Last year, we donated $1000 in $50 certificates and many games to area families.

In the photo at left, Anthem Giving Circle members Julie Nelson and Dianne Christenson are pictured getting ready for Julie and her husband Merle to bring our donations to the distribution center. At right, member Jill Hieb holds bags filled with essentials from the Foodbank to be distributed to area families.