As the warmth of summer envelops us and the world seemingly takes a collective exhale, I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your steadfast support and to share a reflection on the season ahead.

Summer often heralds a time of relaxation and a slower pace, a chance for many to unwind and recharge amidst the longer days and balmy evenings. Yet, as the world around us may appear to ease into a more leisurely rhythm, our commitment to our mission remains resolute and unwavering.

While others may take a step back, we continue to push forward with vigor and determination. Our dedication to making a difference in the lives of those we serve knows no season. There is too much to be done. Whether it's advancing critical research, transforming Scottsdale into a Blue Zone or transforming patient care through our Innovation Lab — our work persists with the same urgency and passion that drives us year-round. And part of that drive is ensuring the vision you entrusted us with, is realized.

Your support is the cornerstone of our efforts, empowering us to navigate through any season with strength and purpose. Together, we remain steadfast in our resolve to save lives and transform the healthcare landscape, creating a better future for all Arizonans.

Thank you for standing by us, come rain or shine, as we continue to strive towards our shared vision.

With gratitude,

Jared A. Langkilde, MBA, CFRE
President & CEO

Someburros joins the Blue Zones Initiative

Our corporate partners play a pivotal role in realizing and amplifying the impact of a mission-driven organization like HonorHealth Foundation. Through their philanthropy and new networks, they help us achieve awareness and realize more healthcare impact through their partnership.

Recently, Someburros Compassion Committee gifted $5,000 to the HonorHealth Blue Zones Initiative that powers community-led well-being improvements designed to make healthy choices easier through changes to Scottsdale’s environment, policies and social networks. And this includes healthy food choices.

We recently sat down with Amy Vasquez, community relations director for Someburros, to talk about the family business and their goals for their community impact through philanthropy and healthy food.

HonorHealth Foundation: What is Someburros corporate philanthropy mission or vision? When did you start giving back to your community?

Amy Vasquez: We aim to have a positive impact on every community we serve through our authentic Sonoran-style Mexican food, our exceptional hospitality, and our longstanding commitment to giving back to the community.

Prioritizing community has been a part of Someburros since my parents opened the first location in Tempe back in 1986. Through their example, my siblings and I learned the importance of giving back and being engaged in the community from a very young age.

We watched our parents volunteer their time with different organizations and projects, donate food from the restaurant to support various causes, and treat everyone they encountered (inside and outside the restaurant) with kindness and respect. This love of community and commitment to making an impact is as strong as ever at Someburros and we are thankful to have the opportunity to make a difference in so many communities throughout Arizona.

HonorHealth Foundation: Why did you choose to partner with HonorHealth Foundation on the Blue Zones initiative?

Amy Vasquez: Blue Zones offers a valuable guide for people to live longer, better lives. This effort in collaboration with the HonorHealth Foundation to make a real impact in the lives of people in our local communities is something we truly value and appreciate. We certainly know and appreciate the value of healthy food. We are honored and grateful for the opportunity to work together on this important initiative to make better, brighter, and hopefully MORE days for people in the community.

HonorHealth Foundation: How many locations do you currently operate throughout Arizona?

Amy Vasquez: We currently have 16 Someburros locations throughout the Valley and Flagstaff – with more on the way in the future.

HonorHealth Foundation: What would you like people to know about Someburros that they might not know as a local community resource or philanthropy partner?

Amy Vasquez: Someburros is a family-owned company serving family recipes that have been passed down for generations. We use the highest quality ingredients from local vendors for our scratch-made recipes that our guests have enjoyed for decades.

Someburros was built on family, and our company culture is a true reflection of our values. While our “Someburros Familia” has grown considerably over the years, this family culture remains strong — amongst each individual location — and the organization as a whole. It is really something special.

HonorHealth Foundation: What are your philanthropy goals as an organization?

Amy Vasquez: Through various charitable contributions, such as in-kind donations, sponsorships of teams and organizations, fundraisers for schools and local non-profits, and educational scholarships for our team members — we have the goal and the true desire to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Growing up, my mom always told us to leave things better than we found them. One of our philanthropy goals is not only to help make our communities a better place, but to teach and inspire the next generation of philanthropists in our Someburros Familia to do the same.

It is our hope that through the experiences they have of giving back with Someburros, they will see the impact they can make on the lives of others and will go through life committed to leaving things better than they found them — they will be difference-makers in their communities.

We appreciate that your commitment to others is so strong! Thank you for being a valued corporate partner and for inspiring generations to give back to others in the spirit of strengthening our communities.

Sharing y/our annual impact with you

The latest HonorHealth Annual Report is now online! The theme: Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is revolutionizing healthcare. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data to identify patterns and make predictions, leading to more efficient and personalized healthcare delivery.

But that’s not the only AI we depend on. At HonorHealth Foundation, AI can mean many things… check out all the Amazing Information in the HonorHealth Foundation 2023 Annual Report.

Patient receives first nonsurgical heart valve replacement in Arizona

For years, Maria L. of Scottsdale was told she may have to undergo open heart surgery to replace a failing aortic heart valve, the doorway to the main artery delivering oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.

Suffering from debilitating symptoms

Her condition left her progressively debilitated and forced her to give up her decades-old work as a hairstylist. “It made me very tired and dizzy,” Maria explains. “You can’t breathe. You have to go on oxygen.”

At age 81, Maria could not afford to take a year off to recover from open-heart surgery. Her husband, Franco, 84, had suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to speak or take care of himself.

“I couldn’t take a year off to just sit back and watch,” says Maria. “I’ve got to take care of him. My time is his. My life is not my own now.”

So, she kept putting off the surgery. Maria was not prepared to go through the same year-long ordeal as her older sister, Camela, who underwent open heart surgery nearly a decade ago to replace a similar heart valve.

Discovering a new treatment option

Then, during one of her twice-a-year checkups, Maria was told of a new clinical trial at the HonorHealth Research Institute — the J-Valve TF Early Feasibility Study — involving a nonsurgical procedure to replace her aortic valve.

David Rizik, MD, interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiovascular Research Division at the Institute, is the principal investigator for the clinical trial. Dr. Rizik performed the replacement, which consisted of a new artificial valve delivered via a catheter to the heart through a large blood vessel in the leg.

Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve takes over the job of regulating blood flow, keeping blood from leaking from the aorta back into the heart. Maria, the first Arizona patient to receive the device, was only in the hospital for two days of recovery.

“It’s like a miracle,” shares Maria. “I didn’t feel a thing (painless). I was only in the hospital for two days. I was on my feet from the first day I came home.”

She also has nothing but praise for Dr. Rizik and his team. “He’s marvelous,” Maria says. “As soon as he talked with me, I trusted him. He knows what he’s doing. He’s terrific. I’m much, much better.”

HonorHealth Desert Mission Food Bank Bottled Water Drive

This summer is on track to be the hottest ever in Arizona. Your neighbors need your help!

Keep the vulnerable in your community safe this summer with your tax-deductible gift to the HonorHealth Desert Mission Bottled Water Drive.

• $50 will help provide water to 200 people
• $100 will provide water to 400 people
• $250 will provide water to 1,000 people

Give what you can and help save a life. There is no greater gift!

Dior gives back to Women’s Wellness

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 24 at Scottsdale Fashion Square to raise critical dollars for breast cancer and women’s wellness at HonorHealth. We appreciate your commitment to comprehensive care and your shopping in support of women across Arizona!

Together, we raised more than $5,000 while mingling with friends old and new for a great cause. It is because of you that personalized care is tailored for each woman’s wellness needs. Thank you — we are grateful!

Happy Father's Day

“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back or a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.”
— Anonymous

Wishing all fathers a day filled with love, laughter and cherished moments with your loved ones.