Joanne Grady

Chicago girl, born and raised, Joanne Grady left the midwest after raising her own children in the suburbs of the Windy City. She followed the sunshine and found her way to the "land of the sun," Phoenix, Arizona. And... she also followed her oldest child, who attended college in AZ! ...Her youngest eventually headed west after completing college, however, not as far south as Phoenix. They wholeheartedly agree that there is much to love about the western side of the country.

Upon graduation from Illinois State University (go Redbirds!), with a degree in Child Development & Family Relations, Joanne pursued non-profit work for a short time before switching her skills into the private business sector for many years. Eventually, after volunteering for a few years with an organization she admired, she joined their staff and entered the non-profit world, once again, in 2008.

The importance of encouraging children to find 'the good' in their world, to find reasons for joy, to seek opportunities to show love and kindness were impressed upon her in college, and remains to this day. "Positivity breeds positivity" and "healthy words build healthy-minded people" are still powerful lessons to share.