Community support can come across very personally throughout Arizona, but there are few groups that would represent the spirit of the community as comprehensively as The Singletons do. Being a local nonprofit, The Singletons predominantly works toward serving the needs of single-parent families in dealing with cancer-not just with assistance, but with dignity, stability, and happiness in life's toughest times.
The organization was founded in 2005 in memory of Michelle Singleton, a single parent who had lost her battle with cancer. Following Michelle's death, her friends, notably Jody Boyd Farley, banded together and founded The Singletons in Michelle's name, ensuring that no single parent battling cancer would ever experience this horror alone again. Today, the organization serves single parents and is a large organization serving families throughout the Phoenix Metro Area, as well as Tucson, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and Johnson Ranch.
The needs of the families that The Singletons cater to are indeed dire. When a person gets a cancer diagnosis, that is not in and of itself life-changing, but for a single parent, it can very well become near impossible to deal with. Sixty percent of the parents receiving services from the organization cannot work due to the diagnosis. Seventy-five percent of the families live below the poverty level, and seventy-three percent of these families do not receive any sort of child support. This is because more than half of these families are fighting stage 4 cancer, and in over a third of these families, a child is fighting cancer as well.
This is singularly unique because the Singletons take a "whole-family approach" in reaching families valley-wide. Providing consistent offerings to alleviate stress and bring together those important family units, the organization does not simply serve as a band-aid solution, offering relief for issues as they arise each day.
For example, Singleton Kitchen helps families with healthy dinners provided by the community and done in conjunction with Dream Dinners to help families spend quality time together and not struggle about what to make for dinner.
Singleton Seeds of Strength helps families for the long haul by teaching them necessary life skills such as gardening, cooking, and money management, among others, so they can develop a healthier future together.
Singleton Bare Necessities' assistance helps families meet some of their most basic needs. The organization ensures that adults or children with life-limiting illness get the necessary home supplies such as soaps, toilet tissue, and even products that many parents take for granted. The benefits of Singleton Pockets constitute limited financial assistance to meet home bill payments such as rent or utility costs. For children, life with serious illness gets more enjoyable with the assistance provided through the organization Singleton Kids.
At the heart of the organization is the HUB, a community center where families can put cancer aside, at least for some time. This sense of belonging is among the reasons this organization is so loved in the community. The families are reminded that there is more to life than cancer. The families can focus on laughter, jokes, and hope because they are not alone in this fight. Even though The Singletons has grown this much, the need for assistance keeps on increasing annually.
The Singletons have advanced their mission in one of the most meaningful ways possible through an annual charity event held at Blackstone Country Club in Peoria. For the past 15 years, Blackstone has been a dedicated partner, helping transform what began as a one-day golf tournament into a multi-sport fundraising event that now includes bocce ball, pickleball, and tennis, broadening participation and increasing support for the cause.
The event was inspired by an idea from Jane Dibbern, a Blackstone Country Club member who was introduced to the organization and was looking for a way to rally the community around it. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $1,000,000, including an impressive $91,000 last year alone. Organizers are currently seeking sponsors and donors, including residents and small business owners who have an opportunity to give back by sponsoring a hole in the tournament, with their support prominently recognized as a meaningful contribution to the community.
Community involvement isn't complete with this one generous act. Volunteering is key to the success of The Singletons, and those interested in getting involved can do so at thesingletonsofaz.com or by calling 480-818-5285. Itemized gifts and gift cards are welcomed donations.
Recently, Blackstone extended its holiday outreach through Singleton Santas. This has ensured that joy was brought in tremendous ways to dozens of families through financial assistance and gifts over the years. Many families who would otherwise not have been able to bring that magic Christmas joy to their families, were able to do so.
As a rule, with all the things they do and accomplish, The Singletons never forget their original mission: to be a support network of single-parent families coping with cancer, being there when they might need it most. By doing so, difficult experiences become treasured memories while reminding Arizona families that, at moments in which they count the most, they will never have to face their darkest hour alone.
The Singletons never forget their original mission: to be a support network of single-parent families coping with cancer, being there when they might need it most.
Today, the organization serves single parents and is a large organization serving families throughout the Phoenix Metro Area, as well as Tucson, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and Johnson Ranch.