The Monks family wanted to make sure McKenzie’s spirit lived on. They knew how important it was for children to have a support system and activities. They developed the McKenzie Monks Foundation to help children cope with cancer.

Bill Hodges, CPA, got to know the Monks family through his involvement in the Fountain Hills community. McKenzie’s mother, Denise, said that Bill has been instrumental in the organization and success of the McKenzie Monks Foundation. “He has been a driving force in putting together the foundation’s incorporation and receiving our 501(c)3 status, as well as putting endless hours into fundraising efforts,” Denise said. “He even chose to sponsor his own personal fundraising event for the Foundation, which has raised more than $14,000 in less than six months.”

The McKenzie Monks Foundation was established in 2004. The mission is to sponsor and participate in providing toy rooms at oncology departments as well as hospitals with arts, crafts, movies, toys, gifts and objects of comfort and entertainment that will help a child endure and cope with the long days of treatment.

One of the ways the Foundation is providing activities for the children is through “Kenzie Kases.” The “Kases” are wheeled suitcases filled with a personal DVD player, movies, and age appropriate items to entertain and comfort. The idea came from McKenzie, because she would always bring her Hello Kitty suitcase filled with activities to keep her entertained while she went through treatment. In the first year, more than 150 children received a “Kase.”
Cathy House of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital wrote a letter to the Monks family and said, “So many of our kids come from families that can’t afford such an extravagant luxury. It’s so much fun to go into their rooms when they are all snuggled in their beds watching their own movies.”

In order to provide “Kenzie Kases” and to work on setting up special toy rooms at local hospitals, a lot of fundraising must be done. Bill helps coordinate a golf tournament each year to raise money for the Foundation. In its first year, the tournament raised $400,000. “We were very excited about the success of the event,” Bill said.

“Most fundraising golf events raise between $30,000 and $75,000.”

Another organization that has benefited from Bill’s contributions is Arizona Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH). Bill was one of the founding board members in 1989. Bill knew several people that were getting involved with founding the organization and decided to be part of BHGH. “Sometimes you get lucky,” Bill said. “But I’ve always thought luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Many times we all have opportunities, but if we aren’t prepared, we can’t take advantage of them.”

BHGH helps academically capable and motivated children-in-need to meet their full potential and become men and women by providing value-centered family-like homes, opportunities and education through college.

Children generally enter the program between the ages of 10 and 14 and live in the homes through graduation from high school. Placement in the program is voluntary on the part of the child and his or her parents or guardians. All children admitted into BHGH receive services at the time of high school graduation to help them with college and housing costs, employment and emotional support.

In Phoenix, 14 students live in the homes and another 50 to 150 are served through outreach programs. Since 1991, 100 percent of those who graduate high school while in Arizona BHGH’s care have gone on to college.

Bill knew that putting together a strong board would be the key to success for BHGH. Bill assisted the chairman and the other founders to find board members that would have the desire and commitment to the cause.

Under his tenure as chairman, he developed and led a capital campaign, which raised more than $1.2 million of needed funds to support the organization’s growth and allow it to build a second home in Arizona. Fellow board member at the time, Jerry Bisgrove said, “Bill demonstrated a great deal of leadership and patience as he guided a very doubtful board into a position of confidence, trust and ultimately success.”

Bill also created a program called “The Run for Hope” in 1992. This program has raised more than $300,000 since its inception. Bill alone raised more than $180,000 in his personal “Run for Hope” efforts over the last 11 years. 

“You can’t be afraid to ask,” Bill said when asked about his strategy for fundraising. “I ask people to support me in running a certain amount of miles to support BHGH. If you know me, you are going to get a letter. I wasn’t selective in who I was going to ask. You’re only going to get one letter. I’m not going to follow up or make a second request.  I’m not going to think of you differently if you don’t contribute. My closing sentence in the letter is, ‘I thank you for reading this. If you can support BHGH, that would be wonderful. If you can’t, thank you for learning more about the organization.’ I send out 500 to 600 letters each fall.”

Bill’s first involvement in the community began with his service to the Arizona Society of CPAs. “That’s why I am so honored by this award,” Bill said. “Because my first venture into community involvement was through my involvement with the Society. It really helped me learn what a difference a person could make.”

Please join us in recognizing Bill Hodges for the many contributions he has made to the community. We will be honoring Bill at the ASCPA Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on May 17 at the Arizona Biltmore. More information on the event will be available in future publications.
— Heidi Frei

AZ CPA – February 2006