When Business Gets Personal

YATES BUICK GMC

In honor of a brother’s battle with leukemia, the Yates family channels their automotive dealership into a fundraising movement.

When Whitney Yates took over the family business, Yates Buick GMC, continued support for Phoenix Children’s was a no-brainer. “Our personal family connection to the hospital is that my brother had childhood leukemia,” Whitney says. “He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 6 and went to Camp Rainbow every summer for about 20 years.”

Camp Rainbow is an annual summer camp designed especially for children who have cancer or a chronic blood disorder. Whitney’s brother attended Camp Rainbow as both a camper and then a counselor. “That camp was such a saving grace for my parents,” Whitney says. “[My brother] still has friends he talks to regularly that he met at camp. So it’s pretty cool.”

The family’s experience is what inspired Whitney’s dad, Mike Yates, to become an advocate and donor for Phoenix Children’s. When he passed away in 2021, Whitney knew she had to continue her dad’s legacy.

“My dad was super-involved in Phoenix Children’s pretty much his whole career,” Whitney says. “He served as a founding member of the West Valley Mavericks and helped raise the money needed to get the Avondale urgent care built.”

Today, Whitney serves in her dad’s place, advocating and fundraising for Phoenix Children’s as co-chair of the Phoenix Children’s West Valley Council. Yates Buick GMC has continued to support with monetary gifts and by sponsoring events such as the Shindig, Off the Record and Layton Golf Tournament. They even donated a vehicle to be auctioned off by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

 “Diamondbacks Charities approached me about donating a vehicle, and I initially told them no, that we were focusing on Phoenix Children’s,” Whitney says. “Then, they came back and said, ‘Well, what if we donate all the money we raise from the car to the hospital?’ And I said that sounds great. Let’s do it!” This raised $100,000 for pediatric cancer.

ON TRACK GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

The Golinskis leverage their garage door business to raise funds, turning their daughter’s kyphosis journey into a support system for orthopedic care.

When Courtney and Michael Golinski spoke at the Phoenix Children’s Foundation Orthopedics Advisory Council in spring 2024, their goal was to inspire the council with their daughter’s story. They didn’t expect to be inspired themselves.

About three years earlier, the couple’s daughter, Grace, had been diagnosed with kyphosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine similar to scoliosis, except the curve is to the front. Grace was 11, and her pediatrician referred the family to an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation. That doctor, not affiliated with Phoenix Children’s, “immediately said Grace would need surgery, and we just weren’t comfortable with that,” Courtney says.

The Golinskis got a second opinion from David M. Bennett, MD, an orthopedic and spine surgeon at the Herbert J. Louis Center for Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Phoenix Children’s. “It was like night and day,” Courtney says. “Dr. Bennett’s overall approach was so caring and reassuring.”

 Instead of jumping to surgery, Dr. Bennett recommended bracing first. When Grace worried about playing softball, Dr. Bennett considered her quality of life. “He said, ‘Take it off when you play,’” Courtney says. “It was so refreshing because the other doctor insisted she wear it 23 hours a day. Dr. Bennett really saw her as a child who needs to enjoy what she loves.”

After sharing their story at the council meeting, the Golinskis launched a fundraising campaign benefiting Phoenix Children’s Foundation through their business, On Track Garage Door Service. Their campaign, Opening Doors to Brighter Tomorrows, aims to raise $1 million through a donation for every garage door sold over five years, supporting the Center for Spine Care.

“We let our customers know we donate a portion of their purchase to Phoenix Children’s and invite them to add a gift on their invoice,” Michael says. “We also incentivize our vendors to donate.”

The Golinskis haven’t questioned supporting Phoenix Children’s as the right move for their family—and business. “Everybody at the hospital has been amazing,” Michael says. “It cements how happy we are to give back.”

DEMERS GLASS

The Demers family harnesses their glass business to mobilize the community, raising funds through dynamic outdoor events.

Demers Glass is another family business with a personal connection to Phoenix Children’s. Founder Pierre Demers credits a Phoenix Children’s doctor with keeping his niece alive for nine years even though when she was born, doctors told Pierre’s family she wouldn’t live more than a week.

Prior to his experience with the hospital, Demers says he had no idea how special a place it was. “I always thought it was just a normal hospital,” he says. “But once you go in and you see everything that they’re doing and it’s explained to you in detail, you get the concept of why those funds need to be raised and how much is really needed.”

In 2019, Demers, alongside a group of friends who share a love for off-road adventures in Arizona, founded AZ Kidz Experience, a nonprofit organization that raises money exclusively for Phoenix Children’s Foundation through off-road and outdoor events.

“We’re not solely based around the UTV off-road lifestyle, but that community is where we started and so we try to incorporate that into a lot of our events,” he says. “We also have carnival games, raffles and music. Our events are a lot of fun for all ages.”

This inclusive approach contributed to a significant milestone in 2023, when AZ Kidz Experience raised $90,000 for Phoenix Children’s. This is the largest amount raised in a year by the group since its inception.