When Geordie and Jamie Hormel bought the Wrigley Mansion in 1992, they not only saved the historic estate from being demolished, but they also established themselves and the mansion as a philanthropic beacon in the Valley. And though it’s been 17 years since Geordie passed away, Jamie and their three children are keeping his spirit of giving alive.
“He used to give out his number on the radio and tell people to call him if they needed help,” Jamie explains with a laugh. “He had the biggest, most generous heart and just wanted to help everyone he could.”
From strangers asking for help to the many charities the Hormels supported over the years, the impact of Geordie’s decision to move to Phoenix has been felt now for more than 30 years.
“When I met him, he was always getting this magazine called Unique Homes, and we would go all over the place and see homes for sale,” Jamie says. “One day that brought us to Phoenix, and he just fell in love with Arizona. We bought the McCune Mansion in 1991—we lived there for 10 years, and the Wrigley Mansion in 1992. That was a Geordie thing—he heard it was going to be torn down and wanted to save it. He fell in love with the feeling of the building. It reminded him of the home he grew up in in Minnesota. He said he grew up in a time when your word was your word and a handshake meant something. I think he wanted to keep that feeling alive in everything he did.”
Whether that meant turning the Wrigley Mansion pool into a pirate treasure scene complete with divers pulling buried gold plates from its depths for a children’s charity or glamorous parties for adults, Jamie says the kids grew up helping and finding philanthropy a fun and rewarding activity.
“They were always doing something to help with our events,” she explains. “Whether they were blowing up balloons or helping to assemble gift baskets, the kids found ways to contribute and loved it. We made it a family thing.”
Those family things now continue with daughters Geri and Gillian now both giving back to the causes they love.
“Geri started Almost There Rescue about 10 years ago, and it’s grown significantly,” Jamie says. “My daughters’ charities are the closest to my heart, and I have loved to see them take after their father. Almost There Rescue specializes in large-breed dogs that are pregnant or have a litter of puppies that other rescues can’t handle. Gillian recently co-founded Partners in Kind, a media and communications company. They are doing entertainment projects that focus on tangible acts of kindness.”
Jamie has been involved with multiple charitable groups, including the Arizona Humane Society, Scottsdale Arts, Sundance One, Special Olympics Arizona, ACLU, Waste Not, Compassion and Choices, Hospice of the Valley, and more. One of her favorite local places to support is the Phoenix Theater. An avid patron of the arts, she is also especially appreciative of the work they do in the community.
“I just love how I feel when I leave the shows,” she says. “I always want to thank the performers for what they do. But a lot of people don’t know they do great work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. My daughters were in children’s hospitals as kids, and that distraction means so much.”
Jamie is referring to the Partners That Heal partnership between The Phoenix Theatre Company and local hospitals. Using improv acting and big hearts, performers go into hospitals to entertain kids and their families while they are in the hospital.
“I’ve always been drawn to organizations like that personally, and thanks to my husband,” says Jamie. “Geordie was all about bringing joy to our family and others. He would get on our home intercom every day at sunset and invite us all out to join him to enjoy the beauty together. His love for this state is what brought us here and kept us here.”
And thanks to Geordie’s love for Arizona and Jamie’s love for Geordie, countless local families have benefited.
Wrigley Mansion is now also home to several restaurants, a wine bar, available to tour, and more.