Kourtnie Martin
Get to know PFF’s Event Coordinator, Kourtnie Martin!
Name: Kourtnie Martin
Instagram handle: @kourtnie.renee
Profession/Title: Event Operations Manager
City you live in: Phoenix, AZ
How do you know of PFF: I started as an intern for Meghan about 2 years ago and have been working as the Event Operations Manager for about 9 months now!
What makes PFF special: The impact that it makes on the community. Hearing some of the stories of the families breaks my heart but being able to see the immediate impact the foundation makes is amazing!
If you have been to PFF events, tell us your favorite and why:I LOVE Runway of Hope! Everything about it is so fun and it has this incredible, high energy vibe the whole night.
What is your favorite thing about AZ? Definitely the food!
What is something on your bucket list? I have always loved traveling so my dream is to go to Australia and Greece.
What was your first job? I’ve been around volleyball for most of my life, so naturally my first job was as a youth volleyball referee.
Sunrise or sunset? There's nothing like an Arizona sunset!
Coffee or tea? Iced coffee.... even in the winter!
What/who inspires you? My parents inspire me with how hard working and supportive they are.
What is a motto you live by? Keep moving forward – it’s a reminder to not look back or dwell on the past.
What does a normal day look like for you? Everyday is so different but I can always count of staying busy!
What is one thing you can not live without? Music!... Or chocolate lol
One thing you think every one needs to try? Try to stay open minded and see situations from other people’s perspectives.
It Could Be Anyone, Even You
Take a moment to think about a time you had difficulties paying for something that was either a necessity or maybe something you just really liked.
Take a moment to think about a time you had difficulties paying for something that was either a necessity or maybe something you just really liked. Can you remember how you felt when you knew you could not afford it but still needed it? The fear of the credit card not going through or being declined. The embarrassment of being told your card was not approved. OH my gosh it is the worst feeling ever.
I can admit I have felt that way and it is humbling. I have lived paycheck to paycheck and remember hoping to not have my account be in the red. Thankfully I did not have any one else I was responsible for and could live off of soup for a few days.
But imagine having a child. Now imagine that child being sick. Not only sick but with a life threatening illness. Your child is so sick you have to stay at a hospital a few times a month.
Now what do you do?
Life throws us curves balls all the time and a lot of the families we help were not ready or prepared to have to dedicate their paycheck to a hospital or doctor visit. It was not in their budget to pay for their child to have surgery.
I was determined to be able to eliminate that fear and stress a family has when they cannot pay for their rent or utility bill.
Recently we had a mom (Ruth) apply for our grant who was 4 months late on her rent. Her bill was over $5,000! I spoke to her landlord and she confirmed to me that Ruth had never been late in the past and that her and her daughter have been living in her apartment for a few years now. I was able to work out a deal with the landlord and the foundation sent her a $2700 check to help. I know that was not the total amount but that is the most we have EVER helped one family.
Every family leaves an imprint on my heart but for some reason this one hit me differently. I spoke to her on the phone and she was walking me down the path her and her daughter have been on the last few years. She first told me that her daughter was not properly diagnosed and her doctors thought she had a urinary tract infection. They sent her home, and a few days later she went into a seizure. Her daughter has chronic kidney disease. She has been on the verge of death a few times and is fighting for her life. If it wasn’t for the persistence of her mother to fight for her she might not be alive.
So do you leave your child who is in the hospital to go to work? I wouldn’t think so.
I am not a mother yet but I am a “bonus mom” and I believe that when your child is this sick it is a moment of fight or flight. You fight for your family and continue until there is no fight left.
The impression I received from Ruth is that she will do anything for her daughter and will continue to fight for her and her health until she cannot anymore.
I wanted to write this post because it is important to focus on why The Pearce Family Foundation exists. Sure, we love throwing events and fun parties but at the end of the day it is for the families who have nowhere else to turn. We are trying to keep them from living in a shelter or on the streets.
With the money we bring in from events and individual supporters we can make these exceptions sometimes.
Do you think you could spare $5 or $10 a month to be a part of our Angel Club? It is one or two cups of coffee a month, that you won’t miss as much knowing you are helping a mom like Ruth.
If you are ever in this situation or know someone who is, wouldn’t you want to know that there is a place like PFF who can help them?
Think about it, be an angel.
Community Angels - Our Newest Initiative!
Community Angels, is a program that provides the family with physical needs to ensure a safe living environment in both the community and the home.
A peak into the Foundation's newest initiative!
Community Angels, is a program that provides the family with physical needs to ensure a safe living environment in both the community and the home.
When I first started the foundation I had NO idea how many different avenues we would be creating. People said that I shouldn’t call it “Pearce Family Foundation” because it was too broad- or that people would think we are a private nonprofit. I wanted to create something that wasn’t cause specific so that it would be the hub of all the different programs we assist with. And like they say, “trust your gut” and don’t let people talk you out of your dream.
Well, since that summer in 2013 we have created now 3 programs; Angels Around Us, Angel Pups and now (drumroll please) COMMUNITY ANGELS.
I am so excited to announce our brand new program, that helps families we have currently helped from our two grant programs with needs to make their home life better.
Home life meaning; new furniture or fixing a broken back porch, or even donating a new CAR to a family. The plan is to connect our donors with the families we have already helped who have additional needs. The foundation receives messages all the time about how people want to give back items they no longer need but do not know how. We have also been hearing how they want to help but they might not be able to afford to write a check to the foundation. So instead, now they can give their old bed frame or donate a car that is no longer being used to make a difference in a family’s life who has a child suffering from a chronic illness.
I have been blown away (well not really because we have amazing supporters) with the kindness our donors have shown our families again who still are having a tough time. Believe me, it is hard for me to not just go out and buy a new couch or new mattress for a family, which is why I believe our new initiative will help people connect even more to our family’s they have allowed us to pay a bill for.
I want the foundation to not just be a one stop shop for a family and for the families a part of our Angels Around Us or Angel Pups program, I want them to know that we truly care about them. Since the first family we have helped they are not just receiving a water bill payment or their rent paid for, they are becoming part of the family here at PFF.
Some things might need to change as we see what works and what doesn’t, but one thing I know for certain is that we won’t stop trying for these families.
We have already sent a survey out to our families and the most needs are; landscaping, car repair needs, cleaning services, and groceries. If you are a company that would be willing to help our families with a need like this with either the actual item or a donation to help us pay for a cleaning service please click here.