Cynthia Morgan looks baCk on 30-plus years in ... - InMaricopa.com

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Volunteers Profile Hardworking retiree makes a difference in Maricopa Therese Starkey passionate about serving her community and helping others By Becky Papp Therese Starkey would rather talk about others than talk about herself. An active and dedicated community member, Starkey likes to keep the attention on those who volunteer for the events she coordinates. “I love the people of this community who are so willing to give their time,” says Starkey. Retiring in Arizona from New York and moving to Maricopa in 2005, Starkey has done anything but slow down. A founding member of Maricopa Seniors, Inc., she has been involved in everything from the United Way to Hospice of the Valley to the home and garden show she founded in Maricopa. “I learned about the value of volunteering from my mother at a very young age,” Starkey says. “And I would get so bored if I wasn’t involved!” When she moved to Maricopa, Starkey noticed that people were having a hard time finding services they needed. Her first Maricopa event was dubbed Community Support Day, and it gathered various local service providers in one place. Attendance at the event was about 500 people. The next year, it attracted 2,000 people, further proving to Starkey the need for such a community event. She found her niche, however, serving her own peer group. Starkey and friend Helen Brown founded Maricopa Seniors, whose mission is to provide programs that will help create a safe and healthy environment for seniors, to create a business base for seniors to receive discounts on products and services, and to provide an online resource directory. One of the first projects the group tackled was creating a discount card for seniors, the Infinity Card. Starkey also led the development of the Pendant of Life program, an emergency call system for seniors unable to reach the telephone. Starkey also conceived and organized a “senior prom” that was held in April at Maricopa High School. “I have everything I need, but not everyone does. We need to reach out to those people in our community.” — Therese Starkey With the help of hardworking high school volunteers, prom goers were served a full meal and danced the night away after being escorted down a red carpet when they arrived. “There was so much help,” Starkey says, “it had to be successful. And it was.” Particularly close to Starkey’s heart is a day of remembrance program she is working on with the city of Maricopa. Having lost several people close to her, she can attest to the importance of having a place to share grief and celebrate the lives Photo by Cindy Price of people who have passed away. “It helps you to know you are not alone,” Starkey says.” Retirement means different things to different people, and for Starkey it signifies an opportunity to help others. “You work your whole life and then retire, but that doesn’t mean you just stop,” Starkey says. “I always knew I would do something when I retired. I have everything I need, but not everyone does. We need to reach out to those people in our community.” 20 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 5 Issue 3
Your home. Your schools. • Small class sizes • New facilities • Improved instruction • Comprehensive special ed services • Learning specialist in every school • Pinal County’s only Excelling elementary school www.MaricopaUSD.org Vol. 5 Issue 3 | InMaricopa.com 21
Page 1 and 2: The Magazine Vol. 5 Issue 3 3 Days
Page 4 and 5: Contents Vol. 5 Issue 3 DEPARTMENTS
Page 6 and 7: Editor’s Letter I just found out
Page 8 and 9: Community Gallery 2 1 Freshman golf
Page 10 and 11: Business Profile Performing arts sc
Page 12 and 13: DSPA’s Inspire students (clockwis
Page 14 and 15: Home Landscaping Tips 3 days to a r
Page 16 and 17: Food Dining Out Below: Shula’s up
Page 18 and 19: Cow College How to pick the best be
Page 20 and 21: ON SALE NOW FOR ONLY $ 119 Renewing
Page 24 and 25: Remembering Former actress and mode
Page 26 and 27: Cast members from “Much Ado About
Page 28 and 29: Cynthia Mo
Page 30 and 31: Nice work… if you can get it Phot
Page 32 and 33: Clockwise from above left: The big
Page 34 and 35: Above left to right: Thunderbird Fa
Page 36 and 37: Worley lived most of her life in Te
Page 38 and 39: Lacy was welcomed into the Hinners
Page 40 and 41: ON-SITE COMPUTER REPAIR We Come to
Page 42 and 43: BE EDUCATED GET ENGAGED HAVE A SAY
Page 44: P.O. Box 1018 Maricopa, AZ 85139 EC

Cynthia Morgan looks baCk on 30-plus years in ... - InMaricopa.com

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