BIO ~ Bonnie Faircloth
Executive Director, Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation
Arrived in Tucson in 1978 from Wisconsin. Graduated from Rincon H.S., Graduated from University of Phoenix with Bachelor of Science/Business Administration in 2002. Married to Jessie Faircloth for 30 years this August. Jessie was a Deputy with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for 25 years, retired and is now an Detective/investigator in the county attorney’s office.
Daughter, Jordan attends University in Oregon double majoring in Bio-Chem and Criminal Justice.
Previous work includes: U of A Medical Center – Banner, Executive Assistant to Department Head of Medical Imaging/Radiology. 2011-2013 MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, Tucson Spring Training Operations Manager. 13 years. 1997-2010
I am Honored to be in a position working daily to support and help protect our police. The Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation – SALEF is a 501c3 nonprofit, established in 2003 under the name Tucson Police Foundation. Our mission is to raise money for critical life-saving equipment, advanced technology items, officer safety training opportunities and department mental health and wellness & nutrition initiatives. In 2017, we changed our name to SALEF to better define the multiple agencies we now support. SALEF partners with and supports seven local police agencies including Tucson PD, Marana PD, U of A PD, Pima County Sheriff’s Dept., Oro Valley PD, Tucson Airport PD and Pima College PD. Each year SALEF grants approximately $50 – 75K in funding assistance to our partnering agencies for their greatest needs that fall within our funding mission.
SALEF does not aim to replace the responsibility of the City/County to provide proper budgets for our police. However, SALEF will provide funding for urgently needed items not covered in the department budget or will fill the gaps. SALEF raises money by presenting annual events and programs which invite the community to participate and engage in a positive atmosphere with our police partners. Some of our events include our Annual Thank A Cop Golf Tournament (which is taking place this Saturday actually at AZ National), the 7 Badges Poker Run, Cops & Rodders Car Show and bi-annually the Unsung Heroes Awards Celebration. SALEF also works in conjunction with TPD since 2004 to present the Safe Teen Accident Reduction Training (START) program to help save our teen drivers lives and the 5-hour, hands-on, behind-the-wheel class is offered for free (donations requested).
SALEF raises money with event sponsorships, corporate and private donations, grants and endowments. Classes run during the traditional school year (Aug-April). Two Saturdays a month. Each Saturday will have 2 classes – a morning class and an afternoon class. During the 9 months of classes, approximately 700 teens complete the class. Over the 20 years of START classes, more than 12,000 teens have completed the class (classes were suspended during Covid). Classes are taught by professional driving instructors, mainly TPD driving instructors along with other local agency guest instructors. Vehicles are provided.
Company Name: Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation aka: SALEF
Company Phone: (520) 207-2878
BIO ~ Julie Festerling
Co-founder/President of “Phones Down, Just Drive!”
Born & raised in beautiful Southern Arizona, Julie Festerling is truly committed to making our community safer. Growing up, daily life consisted of helping on the ranch & going with Dad to construction sites. With a degree in Communications from a college in Wisconsin, Julie has taught school & worked in sales and management roles. A mother of 3 beautiful children is her biggest reward. Life experiences led Julie to develop a passion for helping others and confounding Phones Down, Just Drive!
I’ve had the honor and privilege to build great experiences in the construction industry. Working with small, startup companies and helping to grow them to the next level has been my specialty. The construction world has been my passion. I’ve done everything from selling construction components such as BBQs, fireplaces, garage doors and other building materials to being the general manager of a high-end landscape company to doing what I call now the cherry on the sundae… the solar system on the rooftop.
Slinging sunshine is my income producing activity. My philanthropic passion is protecting our community by raising awareness on the dangers of distracted driving with Phones Down, Just Drive!
Phones Down, Just Drive! Is a local non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness on the dangers of distracted driving. We came into being 3 years ago after Julie’s eldest daughter and boyfriend were tragically killed in a car crash caused by a distracted driver. Feeling lost, frustrated and sad, it was decided that we needed to turn our pain into purpose. So many people are either not aware of the Hands-free Arizona law that reminds us to not manipulate any electronic devises while driving, or just selfishly ignore this law. Too many people are being injured or killed because of distracted driving.
By raising awareness on the Hands-free law and raising awareness on the dangers of distracted driving, we are saving lives… one cell phone down while driving at a time. Phones Down, Just Drive! Is a local nonprofit organization that goes into schools to talk with students who are just learning how to drive.
We encourage healthy driving habits from the start. Car meets, home shows, parades and so many other community events are also places that you will see our volunteers distributing informative life-saving materials. Law enforcement also helps to distribute our flyers with information on the Hands-free law. Watch for signs and public service announcements on television, on the radio and in our community. Together, we will make a difference and make our roads safer for everybody.
Company Website: Www.phonesdownjustdrive.org
Company Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072496035981
Barbara McClure, Executive Director 
IMPACT of Southern Arizona
3535 E Hawser Street
Tucson, AZ 85739
Phone: 520-825-0009
barbara@impactsoaz.org
www.impactsoaz.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter |
Barbara McClure wakes up each morning passionate about going to work at a place that improves lives and inspires futures every day! She has been the Executive Director of a Tucson social service nonprofit called IMPACT of Southern Arizona, for ten years. What is it that keeps you passionate about your role Barbara?
Barbara has been a visionary and planner with decades of experience as a small business owner and in nonprofit leadership; her innovative ideas and strategic thinking, along with a talent for bringing the community together, has helped grow IMPACT five-fold in a very short time. Her talents and interests are diverse but all center around helping people, improving the community, bolstering education, building capacity and sustainability, being vocal about the rights and conditions of others, experiencing art, nurturing all inhabitants of your garden, and enjoying life to the fullest.
And now Barbara is about to experience another exciting chapter in her life with hosting a brand-new Radio Show Podcast here on the Tucson Business RadioX Network starting in November.
IMPACT of Southern Arizona is a 20 – year old social service nonprofit stabilizing families and seniors, and moving people out of poverty. IMPACT’s programs are designed to stretch household budgets so earned income can be spent on necessities such as improved housing conditions, fuel to get to work, utilizes, and needed medical attention and prescriptions. Its clients are your neighbors! People come to IMPACT because it is a welcoming place where they are always treated with dignity and respect, and where they find resources, referrals, coaching, and help to attain the skills that can move them forward into self-sufficiency.
Barbara grew up in Pasadena CA, moved to Long Beach for college, got married and started our family then moved to Seattle area ten years later. Took our youngest son on an 11-month motorhome trip to get to Tucson – Homeschooled for 10th grade.
We vacationed at a rustic cabin when I was growing up, where we had no phone or television; and spent all our time outside fishing, hiking, horseback riding, listening to old radio shows, playing pool, reading comic books from the local small grocer, and using our imaginations all day long. I always admired the superheroes who defended people and cities like Gotham and Metropolis, so when our three boys were born, we named them after familiar character: Colin (Bryce for an overlay of Bruce Wayne, Kent, and Parker. Our first grandchild was born last year, and as in the family tradition, named Logan, after the Wolverine. I used to always tell them they were my superheroes – and they still are today!
Barbara loves working with numbers and has always loved math and the organization of things, so accounting seemed perfect, but I soon realized that I if I became a CPA I would have to spend many months inside doing tax returns, and that did not appeal to me as a long–term career! I have a great imagination and enjoy creating things, so thought I should find a better path that might nurture that side of my personality. I was working in the shipping industry in SoCal at the time and fell in love with import and export, so shifted my majors to Marketing and International Business. Those were wonderful fits, and I imagined graduating and moving to the largest port on the planet, in Germany; then, I met my future husband and things took a different turn.
A little bit about how Barbara got into Nonprofit work:
All along with my husband and I were always involved in nonprofits and community volunteer opportunities, and often said it was too bad we could not make a living doing those things we loved so much. Leadership roles in PTO, Boy Scouts, Historical Societies, Junior League, Elks, Rotary and more. Then when we moved to Tucson I looked for a local opportunity to impact my community. A Board position was about to open at IMPACT, and my local bank branch manager, Peggy Smoot, suggested I would be very passionate about getting involved in the mission work there. I worked in the Food Bank.
There are thousands of nonprofits in Tucson. What makes IMPACT Unique is that they bring the community together to stabilize families and move people out of poverty. Our true success lies in partnering with a large number of businesses, agencies, social clubs and other nonprofits. We invest $2.5 million in the community each year, and we do it all with a lean staff of amazing professionals supported by more than 170 volunteer shifts each week! We have put great systems in place to run efficiently, effectively and with a commitment to sustainability and integrity, protecting the community’s investment in our work, striving for perfect audits, being innovative, building capacity and most importantly – treating everyone with dignity and respect. We are an award-winning nonprofit with numerous nods to incredible customer service. Our clients are your neighbors… We improve lives and inspire futures of people living in Southern AZ.
So, IMPACT is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and you have been at the helm half that time. Share with me the things IMPACT has accomplished over the years, and the things you have planned for this celebratory year.
