Happy New Year!

I hope you’re looking back on 2024 with as much gratitude and inspiration as we are here at the Foundation. Our partnership has really created some transformational “firsts” for our community. I look forward to sharing more about those with you, later!

As we step into 2025, I’m excited about the healthier future we will continue to co-create together for our families, friends and community. That looks like more innovative solutions, Blue Zones/Integrative Lifestyle options, the opening of the new Heart Care wing, groundbreaking research, and of course – more events and tours starting in January as a way to show off your philanthropy in action!

Transformation of the healthcare industry, while profound, doesn’t come overnight. But make no mistake that your generosity for the health and well-being of others is saving lives and finding cures but also driving progress, technological innovation and jump-starting cultural change.

Thank you for all you do to make our world a better place. Wishing you a year filled with health, happiness and success. Let’s make 2025 incredible for our community, together!

In gratitude,

Jared A. Langkilde, MBA, CFRE
President & CEO

2025 fundraising priorities announced

As we welcome in the New Year, we prioritize our annual fundraising efforts to focus on the greatest needs in the community and mirror HonorHealth priorities. Where are we growing? Where is there a need? Where do we see a health trend that we should address? The goal of every year is to advance patient care and improve outcomes.

On that note, we unveil our 2025 priorities with a special focus on the top three. We look forward to partnering with you to strengthen and heal our community.

Medical Education
As you may know, HonorHealth and ASU have agreed to a partnership under which HonorHealth will serve as the primary clinical affiliate for the new ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering. Together, we plan a significant expansion of medical school scholarships, graduate medical education programs, endowed chairs as well as clinical research opportunities. As we train future leaders in medicine and medical engineering, we will expand access to care and improve clinical outcomes, making care more personalized and more effective.

Greatest Needs Fund
As the world continues to change and our medical teams treat emerging disease and evolving community needs, the Greatest Needs Fund exists to make us nimble, able to pivot on a dime. If we need a new technology at a hospital that will improve diagnosis, or we must buy special equipment for an emerging community disease, this is the fund that ensures we don’t miss a beat.

Cancer Care
Cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death in the United States with certain cancers (pancreas, skin and liver) on the rise. HonorHealth is humbled and inspired to provide care for 42 percent of those with cancer in Maricopa County. We see the effects of this disease on the whole family, and we are committed to providing the most compassionate care while navigating this journey, with the most advanced treatments and technology, that help patients achieve the best outcomes.

Rounding out the rest of the list:

• Blue Zones/Integrative Medicine
• Desert Mission
• Endoscopy
• Heart Care
• Innovation Endowment
• Nursing Excellence Endowment
• Research Institute

Each month we’ll highlight these priorities so you can learn more about them. Together, we can make an impact on the health and well-being of so many lives. It’s an honor to partner with you in 2025 and beyond.

Foundation receives inaugural gift of cryptocurrency

Andrea and Brad Robertson live and work in a high-tech world. But they also have a soft heart for healthcare. Brad’s business is blockchain technology. What exactly is blockchain?

“Blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that securely stores the record of ownership for digital assets. It records transactions across multiple computers in real time with a high level of security,” explains Brad.

Among its many applications, blockchain is used in tracking supply chains, securing patient health records and serves as the “bank” for cryptocurrency. Andrea serves on the HonorHealth Patient & Family Advisory Council and is a member of the Women’s Board of HonorHealth Foundation. Their interests all came together when they asked Jared Langkilde, Foundation President and CEO, if we could accept of a gift of cryptocurrency.

“At the time, we were exploring the process for accepting and converting cryptocurrency into donations,” Langkilde recalls. “We are grateful that the Robertsons, who encouraged us and accelerated the process. Now, we have additional donors who want to make their charitable gifts to us using cryptocurrency.”

This December, the Robertsons were the first to transfer cryptocurrency. With just one click, their digital currency was immediately converted into U.S. dollars, which became a tangible gift to support HonorHealth quality and infection control. Their donation will enable the HonorHealth to add a next-generation germ-zapping robot that uses ultraviolet light to sanitize hospital rooms and public spaces. Since HonorHealth began using the robots, the system has consistently posted leading safety grades among Valley hospitals.

Visit the HonorHealth Foundation cryptocurrency page to learn about the benefits and process for making a tax-deductible donation of cryptocurrency while supporting the HonorHealth Foundation program or service of your choice.

Passionate Civil Air Patrol volunteers find joy supporting Military Partnership

It seems that wherever Margot and Gordon focus, good things come from it. From exciting careers to volunteering to philanthropic pursuits, together they are igniting transformation through the passions and purposes most important to them.

Luckily for the Foundation and the communities served — two of their passions include HonorHealth’s Desert Mission and Military Partnership programs. But first, a little background.

Margot and Gordon’s journey from high-level government careers to volunteering in their retirement is a testament to their deep commitment to making a difference in their community. After retiring from the U.S. Postal Service 15 years ago, Margot began a second career in the private sector. Both have dedicated their time to volunteer work, with a special focus on Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, where they’ve made significant contributions to the greater good.

With this background, it is no wonder the real-life Simulation Training experience at the Military Partnership inspired them to support HonorHealth. As a Public Information Officer (PIO), Margot plays a critical role in disaster relief missions, including search and rescue operations. She also supports Operation Pulse Lift, CAP’s blood donation mission, and the National Cell Phone Forensics Team (also as PIO).

As Public Affairs Officer (PAO) for the Deer Valley Composite Squadron and the Arizona Wing of CAP, her work spans everything from planning events and maintaining websites to managing social media. In addition, Margot is involved in national-level activities, helping to lead a team of volunteers in CAP's marketing and communications efforts.

Gordon, a Vietnam-era Navy veteran, is Deputy Commander for Senior Members at the Deer Valley Squadron, overseeing operations and emergency services. He also works as the Government Relations Advisor for the Arizona Wing of CAP, advocating for the organization at the state and national levels. Gordon also has a CAP headquarters assignment, serving as PIO for the national Health Services Advisory Team. Together, they support CAP’s three primary programs — aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services.

Upon their return to Arizona after retiring in 2009, they were looking to get involved in local community service. They were introduced to Desert Mission and its services through their family’s long-standing philanthropic support of Desert Mission. Over the years, they have supported the organization financially and through labors of love, including volunteering at the Food Bank to put together snack packs for at-risk children and food distribution.

While supporting Desert Mission, they lunched with their new Gift Officer one fateful day and upon hearing their background — he suggested he take them on a tour of the Military Partnership. It seemed like a natural fit. They visited the program for a simulation training that helps military officers and first responders more adeptly respond to trauma situations. From there — a connection was born.

“There was smoke and blood and helicopter noise — it was a very real, chaotic environment,” remarked Gordon. “But what was most amazing was watching the trauma simulations and how the students worked through the scenarios. The instructor's feedback was immediate, making the hands-on experience invaluable and lifesaving.”

From stabilizing critical injuries to bridging military and civilian trauma care, the Military Partnership trauma training emphasizes the unwavering imperative of medical readiness under fire.

“We don’t have children. We’ve been fortunate with good government jobs that allowed us to invest and we want to make sure that our legacy benefits causes and organizations that are important to us,” stated Margot. “For us, using Qualified Charitable Distributions to benefit various causes makes it easy to have a plan that makes an impact."

Their dedication to supporting military and community causes reflects their enduring commitment to making the world a better place. Thank you for your partnership, Margot and Gordon. It is indeed transforming healthcare and lives for civilians and the military.

Integrative medicine: bridging the gap between Western medicine and holistic healing

It’s Integrative medicine month!

Did you know that HonorHealth has a highly skilled integrative medicine team to complement your healing journey?

In today’s healthcare landscape, many patients and providers are recognizing the benefits of combining traditional Western medicine with integrative therapies. Integrative medicine is a healing-oriented approach that considers the whole person, including their body, mind, spirit and lifestyle.

Integrative medicine uses a combination of conventional and alternative therapies and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between patient and practitioner. This includes an emphasis on food as medicine and lifestyle changes to address the root causes of disease.

Conventional medicine excels in diagnosing and treating acute conditions like infections and performing life-saving surgeries. The focus is on acute treatment of symptoms and not as much on prevention or the use of lifestyle therapies to address causes of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

This is where integrative medicine comes in. By taking a whole person approach to health, integrative medicine goes beyond medication and surgery to look at diet, evidence-based supplements, meditation, massage and other holistic approaches to health to offer a more personalized and comprehensive approach to healing.

These therapies work to address the root physical causes of disease including mental, emotional and spiritual components. For example, acupuncture has been shown to complement Western treatments for pain management, while mindfulness practices and yoga can reduce stress and improve mental well-being, which can, in turn, support overall physical health.

Integrative Medicine is really the best of both worlds, where conventionally trained physicians engage in additional fellowship training to offer evidence-based tools to optimize one's health and longevity. Integrative approaches support the body’s natural ability to heal and can be especially beneficial in treating and reversing certain chronic conditions

“Integrative medicine offers a multi-dimensional, patient-centered approach that enhances the healing process by addressing the root causes of disease and creating a deeper sense of well-being,” states Fani Marvasti, MD, MPH, director of HonorHealth Integrative Medicine. “It brings balance and empowerment to a patient's health journey.”

Integrative medicine can also improve the effectiveness of conventional treatments. For instance, patients undergoing chemotherapy may use acupuncture to reduce nausea and fatigue, while nutritional guidance can help support the immune system. This collaborative approach can lead to better outcomes, faster recovery times and an overall improved quality of life for patients.

Ultimately, combining Western medicine with integrative therapies creates a more balanced and patient-centered model of care. By addressing the body, mind and spirit, integrative medicine helps patients achieve lasting health and well-being, offering a comprehensive solution to modern healthcare challenges.

By embracing both methods, patients can enjoy a holistic, well-rounded approach to health, where the strengths of both conventional and alternative practices join together for optimal health and well-being.
If you’re interested in adding Integrative Medicine to your protocol, visit the HonorHealth Integrative Medicine website, or call 480-587-6930.

 Join the Desert Mission Milk Drive

MOOve over calcium deficiency.

Milk is one of the most important nutritional supplements for children, but the least donated. To address the challenge, Desert Mission is holding a Milk Drive in honor of National Milk Day.

Through January 11, make a Milk Drive donation and help at-risk kids and their families — 100 percent of your gift will go to Desert Mission Food Bank for milk to distribute to families in need.

As a bonus, if you give $25 or more you'll receive a plush cow! (Limited to the first 200 donors; details of how to get your plush cow are provided in your donation acknowledgement email.)

Grab your bikes and join the tour

The 2nd annual HonorHealth Tour de Scottsdale is coming to town on April 12, 2025! This fun fundraising activity offers challenging and scenic courses that will undoubtedly push the limits of cyclists with routes of 32 miles or 62 miles.

Ride and raise money for HonorHealth Foundation — discounted registration for youth and military/first responders! Find out more and join Team HonorHealth Foundation!

 Learn more or register for the Tour de Scottsdale today!