In April, Leslie McReynolds celebrated her 16 year anniversary working with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona (NKF AZ).
McReynolds, who has been CEO of the nonprofit organization for 6 years, took some time to answer questions about her life in – and love of – Ahwatukee, the services that the NKF AZ provides and what she loves most about her work.
Q: How long have you lived in Ahwatukee?
A: I actually grew up in Ahwatukee! My family has lived in the area since I was 6, with my sister and I attending elementary school through high school here. College and then adulthood took me to other cities and another country for a while. Once our little boy came around, my husband and I wanted him to be closer to both sets of our parents and we have now lived in Ahwatukee again for the past 4 years.
Q: What types of services does NKF AZ offer?
A: Since 1963, the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona has been a source of help and hope for Arizonans living with, or at risk for kidney disease. At the heart of our work is direct emergency patient aid – helping people in financial crisis with rides to dialysis, medication assistance, dental care, rent eviction prevention and more. Last year alone we provided more than 100,000 rides to dialysis, a record year, and the need continues to grow. We also offer free community health screenings in underserved areas to detect kidney disease early, host transplant education workshops, and run Camp Kidney, a free medically supervised camp for children living with kidney disease.
Q: What is something you especially enjoy about your work?
A: I enjoy the opportunity to help people who are going through some of the hardest moments of their lives. At the end of the day, we’re all human and life happens to all of us. Illness, financial strain and unexpected hardship are things no one plans for, and everyone deserves compassion and support when those moments come. I feel incredibly grateful to work in a field where the goal is to help lessen someone’s burden when they need it most and help others perhaps prevent that burden from happening. No matter how my own day might have gone, I’m always reminded that many of the patients we serve are facing far greater challenges. If we can make even a small part of that journey easier, then all of this work truly matters.
Q: What is something you love about living in Ahwatukee?
A: I love the little corner of the world that Ahwatukee has made for itself, so much so that we returned here to raise our own family. It truly feels like one big neighborhood, and it has a close-knit community feel that makes it a comfortable and safe place to raise a family. The schools here are wonderful, and I give my mom credit for recognizing that and moving us here so many years ago. I also appreciate the long-time, family-owned businesses that have stayed rooted in the community—they give Ahwatukee so much character. For example, Arrivederci was always for family birthdays and Biscuits is now a favorite pancakes-and-mimosas spot. And being nestled in the foothills of South Mountain makes Ahwatukee feel like its own beautiful pocket of the Valley.
AZKidney.org
I love the little corner of the world that Ahwatukee has made for itself...