February 25, 2020
Courtesy Sonoran Arts League
By Sue Kern-Fleisher
Points of Light and Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family recognize
the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League for its strong core of volunteers
Sonoran Arts League Receives Points of Light Service Enterprise National Certification
Kim Brooks with the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family presents a Points of Light Service Enterprise national certificate to Patty Bell-Demers, executive director of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League. The League achieved the prestigious status after completing several months of comprehensive assessment, training, and coaching through the Points of Light Foundation. Photo courtesy of the Sonoran Arts League.
The nonprofit Sonoran Arts League has been nationally certified by the Points of Light through the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. Points of Light is the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The Sonoran Arts League achieved the prestigious status after completing several months of comprehensive assessment, training, and coaching through the Points of Light Foundation. The League was recognized during the Feb. 19 meeting of the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism at the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.
“This honor speaks volumes to our wonderful, dedicated team of volunteers who share our mission of promoting art, artists and art education through leadership and service in the belief that an artistic awareness is essential to the well-being of life and our community,” said Sonoran Arts League Executive Director Patty Bell-Demers. “We strive to create and support a culture of creativity, and we could never accomplish that without a strong core of diverse, engaged and empowered volunteers.”
Nearing its 44th anniversary as a nonprofit, the Sonoran Arts League boasts more than 780 members. The League services the Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree, North Scottsdale and North Phoenix. The North Valley’s largest arts organization produces seven events, 12 public art programs, and nine shows and exhibits annually. In addition, the League conducts educational and outreach programs, which include workshops, artist demonstrations, art talks, art critiques, free workshops for veterans, youth summer camps, youth mentoring and youth scholarships. The League’s signature event, Hidden in the Hills, is Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour.
With only two full-time staff members, volunteers are imperative to the League’s success.
“Last year, we had more than 250 volunteers log more than 5,500 hours, but we didn’t have all of the processes in place to track total hours,” Bell-Demers said. “Now that we’ve completed our training through the ASU Lodestar Center, we have more processes in place to better leverage our volunteers and their skills and measure their progress.”
Research shows that nonprofits that operate as Service Enterprises can be as effective as their peers, but operate at almost half the median budget.
The Sonoran Arts League is now listed on a national registry of certified Service Enterprises at www.pointsoflight.org/service-enterprises. The League is also listed on Arizona’s registry of certified organizations.
Kim Brooks with the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family and Patty Bell-Demers, executive director of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League during a ceremony where the League was presented with the Points of Light Service Enterprise national certification. The League achieved the prestigious status after completing several months of comprehensive assessment, training, and coaching through the Points of Light Foundation. Photo courtesy of the Sonoran Arts League.
About Sonoran Arts League
Based in Cave Creek, Carefree and N. Scottsdale, Arizona, the Sonoran Arts League is a 43-year-old non-profit, volunteer-based, arts service organization dedicated to actively advancing art, artists, and art education, affirming the belief that art and artistic awareness is essential to the well-being of life and the community.
The 780+ members participate in community outreach programs, public art programs, youth mentoring and art education, as well as free veteran art programs and special art programs. Throughout the year, the League produces several popular events, including the annual Hidden in The Hills Artist Studio Tour and Sale, Sonoran Small Works Art Show, April for the Arts, and the Holiday Artisan Markets. In addition, the League partners with the Foothills Food Bank each year to support the annual Empty Bowls Project.
By building strong partnerships with area towns, resorts and libraries, the League brings free art to the public. Art in Public Places programs include: The Gallery at el Pedregal and the Boulders Resort, the Desert Foothills Library, as well as the town of Cave Creek.
A new Center for the Arts at Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village, where the League is headquartered, provides the public with opportunities to create art and learn new skills. The Center also facilitates art events, festivals, exhibitions, shows, group activities and art experiences, and free veteran and youth art classes, providing plenty of opportunities to “Be A Part Of The Arts.” The League also recently opened a Workshop Space and Artist Studios at Stagecoach Village, adding to their Center for the Arts.
Susan Kern-Fleischer
(602) 810-1404
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