ICAN

Making time for what matters most.

With the school year back in full swing, our ICAN families have been pressing pause on busy schedules to enjoy a little quality time together at Me & My Family Nights across our five program sites!

These evenings are all about giving families space to reconnect, have fun, and make memories together. And judging by these smiles, we’d say they understood the assignment. 😊

A special thank-you to Sergio Cardenas, Trent Montague, The Prescott Family, The Amy Jones Real Estate Group, Community on Purpose, and GM Financial for helping make these evenings even more memorable for our families.

Tickets are on sale, partners! 🤠✨💎

dreamBIG 2026: Boots, Bling & Big Dreams rides into the Arizona Biltmore on Friday, November 20! Your support helps ICAN continue providing critical, no-cost out-of-school time programs for youth and families across our community.

Dust off your boots, add a little sparkle, and reserve your seat today. We can’t wait to see y’all there!

🎫 Individual tickets: $450
🔗 Purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/4h9d9T

And a BIG western thank you to the sponsors already helping bring this year’s dreamBIG to life:

💎 Diamond Trail Presenting Sponsor - Big Two Toyota of Chandler
✨ Gilded Spur After Party Sponsor - Off Five
⭐ Western Star Sponsors - Edward Jones & Commit Agency

Learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends. 📚🎒🚌

At ICAN, youth have opportunities to strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and get the extra support they need along the way.

Thanks to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, we’re able to continue providing no-cost academic enrichment that helps ICAN youth feel more prepared to succeed in the classroom.

Thank you for investing in our youth and helping make these learning opportunities possible! ❤️💙🤍💚

ICAN is grateful to receive a $5,000 grant from Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation!

This support will help strengthen the healthy habits already woven into ICAN programming, from recreational and fitness activities to nutritious meals and snacks that help youth feel their best.

Together, we're sowing the seeds for a healthier future for our kids and connecting generations to a healthier, more fulfilling way to live.

Thank you, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation and Sprouts Farmers Market, for investing in the health and well-being of ICAN youth!

ICAN Chief Operating Officer Kris Alexander is in the spotlight with Fabulous Arizona as part of its Fabulous People series!

With 20 years of experience in public education, Kris brings a deep belief in the difference the right support can make in a young person’s life. Today, that belief helps guide his work strengthening ICAN’s programs and systems so we can continue reaching more youth and families across the East Valley.

Thank you, Fabulous Arizona, for recognizing Kris and helping share the people behind ICAN’s mission.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/46AMoTA

Please join us in congratulating Becky Hinds on her promotion to Director of Community Partnerships! 🎉👏

Becky’s ability to build meaningful relationships and bring people together has made a lasting impact at ICAN. In her new role, she will help lead our community partnerships strategy, strengthen relationships across the community, and expand opportunities that support ICAN’s mission.

We’re excited to see Becky step into this next chapter and continue creating connections that help open doors for the youth and families we serve.

Congratulations, Becky! ❤️💙🤍💚

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of ICAN’s Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 Fiscal Year! ❤️💚💙

We’re thrilled to welcome these dedicated leaders, whose perspectives and passion will help strengthen ICAN’s work and deepen our impact for youth and families across our community.

❤️ DeAnna Mangum
💚 Sergio Cardenas
💙 Billy Hood

We’re also excited to recognize ICAN’s Executive Committee for the 2026–2027 Fiscal Year:

❤️ Preston Pilcher, CLCS | Chair
💚 Andi Fourlis | Vice Chair
💙 Pat Stevens | Secretary
🤍 Letty Kaufman | Treasurer
❤️ Heather Anguiano | Governance Co-Chair
💚 Ninette Vaz | Governance Co-Chair; Audit Chair

These leaders generously share their time and expertise to help advance ICAN’s mission and create meaningful opportunities for the youth and families we serve.

Thank you to our Board of Directors for your continued dedication to ICAN’s mission!

As ICAN continues to grow, we’re investing in the systems that help make our mission possible.

We’re excited to share that Aaron Harris, ICAN’s current Chief Financial Officer, will expand his role to become Chief Financial & Technology Officer (CFTO).

This change reflects an intentional step toward strengthening how ICAN uses technology to support our staff and build greater capacity for our mission. With a background in Computer Information Systems and years of leadership at ICAN, Aaron is uniquely positioned to guide this work.

Rooted in ICAN’s core value of Blaze Trails, this work is not about chasing the latest trend. It’s about giving our team better tools so more of their time can stay focused on what matters most: supporting youth and families.

We’re grateful to have Aaron’s trusted leadership guiding this next chapter as ICAN continues building a strong foundation for the future.

Thank You, Master Electronics! 🤖💙

What happens when a company takes knowledge it has invested in building within its own team and shares it with a community partner?

Recently, Master Electronics spent the day with ICAN staff doing just that! Their team shared their expertise in AI and worked alongside us to explore practical ways technology can reduce administrative work and give more time back to our mission.

Every efficiency we create means more time and resources can stay focused where they matter most: supporting ICAN youth and families.

A special thank-you to Billy Hood, ICAN Board Member and Vice President of Product at Master Electronics, for making this incredible partnership possible!

We’re grateful for Master Electronics’ time, talent, and commitment to helping ICAN innovate and strengthen our impact. Thank you for being a partner in our mission! 💙

Fabulous Arizona has selected ICAN as its Nonprofit of the Month! ❤️💙🤍💚

From a grassroots effort in Chandler to programs serving youth and families across the East Valley, ICAN’s story continues to grow.

Thank you, Fabulous Arizona, for helping shine a light on the critical role no-cost out-of-school time programs play for families in underserved communities.

ICAN is more than a place to go after school. It is a source of support families can count on, helping youth build confidence while giving working parents peace of mind.

Read the full article to learn more about the youth and families we serve and the community support behind ICAN’s impact: https://bit.ly/4wDYyq0