When I was just 6 years old, my life took an unfortunate turn. I remember being in class when I heard the news. My mother had taken her own life. Having my mother stolen from me at such a young age wasn't fair. To add to my struggle, my Vietnam War veteran father was battling drug and alcohol addictions. But I didn't go through this heartbreaking time in my life alone. My teacher, Mrs. Overley, was there for me. When I cried in class, she held me. When I went to my mother's funeral, she came for me. Her impact on me during such a difficult time in my young life was undeniable and would ultimately shape my mission in life. Every one of us has the ability to make a positive impact on a person in need. It's why I firmly believe in creating a culture of good through your personal and professional ventures. With my wife Katara, I co-founded the Center for Success, an afterschool program for at-risk children. This charitable program provides youth in need with food, mentors, tutoring services and athletic programs.

The first Center for Success was in my hometown of Marion, Ind., and has since expanded to Pontiac, Mich. and Zambia, Africa. It's rewarding to make a difference in the lives of these deserving children, just as my elementary school teacher did for me in my time of need. While I never thought my career path would stray from nonprofit organizations, nearly two years ago, I was presented with an opportunity to join the corporate world and help their employees make a difference. Through the creation and implementation of the Culture of Good corporate social responsibility program, I'm now able to help others make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and people. The Culture of Good has empowered 1,400 employees in 550 stores to do the most good in their communities. Through our annual backpack giveaway that has donated 160,000 backpacks to kids in need over the past two years to a contest that awarded 300 college scholarships to children, we've truly created a "culture of good" in these communities and among employees.

By identifying what matters most to you, either from a personal experience or a cause that speaks to you, you can create a culture of good in your life. My childhood experiences have helped to shape who I am today, and from those experiences, I've found that giving back to children and leading charitable initiatives really moves me.ddrum backpack For the largely Millennial employee base at my company, working for an organization that shares their values of social responsibility and supporting local initiatives is what drives them to wholeheartedly participate in our Culture of Good movement. ftb backpack slotIn fact, the tremendous sense of fulfillment employees have gained by giving back to their local communities through this program has inspired many to ask how they could become even more involved in the Culture of Good. backpack nomad batura

The program currently has two designated Champions of Good employees in each region, for a total of 300 employees leading the company's charitable initiatives. They foster new ideas, communicate Culture of Good opportunities to fellow employees and ensure philanthropy remains a significant part of our company culture.pelican u105 laptop backpack Creating a culture of good in your personal and professional life will make a lasting impact on others and yourself. bubbles aiden backpack diaper bagThere's no better feeling than to find your calling in life and to be able to share it with others.nicole fazio backpack I'm happy to say my father has been addiction free since 1983 and that Mrs. Overley, the elementary school teacher who was there for me when I needed someone the most, still keeps in touch to this day.

Here's a quote she recently shared with me in a Facebook message: "Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe it's about un-becoming everything that isn't really you so that you can be who you were meant to be in the first place." If I can offer that understanding to others, then I have accomplished part of my calling in life. Culture Of Good Well-being-committee Vietnam War Teachers Center For SuccessTMC Lovin’ Life After 50 8:00AM - 12:00PM Featuring entertainment, products and display booths showcasing products and services for people 50+/DoubleTree Hotel-Reid Park 445 S. Alvernon Way 800-959-1566 for more info Birding Canoa Ranch 8:30AM - 10:00AM Join birding expert Jeff Babson at Canoa Ranch to see a wide variety of sparrows, raptors, and other desert and grassland birds-All ages welcome/Free with Membership, Non-Member $5 fee/Raul M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park 5375 S. I-19 Frontage Rd-Green Valley 724-5220 for registration info

Plant and Bird Walk 8:30AM - 11:30AM Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center 5900 N. Sabino Canyon Rd. 749-2861 NW Medical Center Farmers' Market 9:00AM - 1:00PM /farmersmarkets/nw-medical-center () (Free visitor parking is located at the parking garage) Art at TMC for Seniors: New Year’s Collage 9:30AM - 11:00AM Join Tucson artist Carolyn King for multi-media art activities-Each month you will learn about a new art form and create a piece of art-No experience needed/all materials provided, $15 per person/TMC Senior Services El Dorado Health Campus 1400 N. Wilmot Rd. 324-1960 (Pre-registration Required) Tour of Hacienda de la Canoa 10:00AM 2 Times: 10AM OR Noon/Free/Join a walking tour of the Canoa Ranch headquarters to gain insights into the fascinating stories of the people that lived and worked on the ranch-Visit the historic ranch buildings and corrals, and enjoy scenic views of the Santa Cruz River Valley/Raul M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park 5375 S. I-19 Frontage Rd-Green Valley 724-5220 for registration info

Story Time � Music Hour 10:00AM - 11:00AM Sing, Dance, Read, Snack and Craft-all in one! Bookmans-Speedway 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. 748-9555 Wound Care 10:00AM - 11:30AM Have you noticed your skin changing as you age-getting thinner, taking longer to heal? Common cuts and scrapes and also hard to heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers sometimes need extra help to heal/Join Michael Levor, MD, TMC Wound Care Center as he shares information on how to protect your skin, when to consult a specialist and the healing power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy/TMC Senior Services El Dorado Health Campus 1400 N. Wilmot Rd. 324-4345 (Pre-registration Required) Canyon Geology: Rocks & Minerals Table 10:00AM - 12:00PM Front Ramada/Sabino Canyon Visitors Center 5900 N. Sabino Canyon Rd. 749-2861 Mexican Train Dominoes - Fun for Seniors! Seniors get together on the 3rd & 4th Tuesday of the month to play dominoes/Come join in the fun! It's easy to learn/Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr Library 7800 N. Schisler Dr. 594-5200

Basic Meditation Instruction 11:00AM - 12:00PM Basic meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to be beneficial in a wide array of daily situations that affect our lives-This instruction may be secular or religious/This session led by Ruth Pancoast will be tailored to the needs and level of the participants/Individual instruction may be available/Free(donations to support our temple gratefully accepted) Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute 3400 E Speedway Blvd #204 622-8460 Master Gardener Presentation: When Things Go Wrong 12:00PM - 1:30PM Is it a bug? Does it need more water or fertilizer? How to identify problems in your landscape and vegetable garden, and what to do about them-Please note: The talk takes place from 12-1PM with time for Q & A from 1-1:30PM/Joel D Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone Ave. 594-5500 Super Mega Open Play! Come join us for some fun! We’ll have playtime, crafts, and story time! Ages 0-9 Years/Members Not in Classes: $10 for the first child, $5 per sibling/Members in Classes: First Hour Free for enrolled child, $5 per sibling;

$5 per child for 2 additional hours/Drop off for $10/hr, must be potty-trained/Max of 5 drop-offs per SMOP; first come, first served/Children under 1 years of age are FREE! You must be a member to attend SMOP-Ask us how easy it is to join TODAY! Bear Canyon Knitters 1:00PM - 3:00PM Adults & Teens/Bring your knitting and join other knitters to share projects and problems-All are welcome/Kirk-Bear Canyon Library 8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 594-5275 Local Author Series with Richard Rosenthal 2:00PM - 3:00PM The Third Nation is a short history of how our southernmost border came into being/Author Richard Rosenthal shares his research about the "fence" now separating the nations of Mexico and the United States and how we might best resolve the issues this border presents to both nations/Joyner-Green Valley Library 601 N. La Canada Dr-Green Valley 594-5295 Armchair Adventures 2:00PM - 3:00PM Adults/Have chair, will travel. Join us as world travelers share slides, videos, and stories of their adventures/The 1967 Joseph Wilcox Expedition Tragedy on Mount McKinley remains a topic of controversy, even today/Murphy-Wilmot Library 530 N. Wilmot 594-5420

Master Gardener Presentation: Roses in the Spring 2:00PM - 3:30PM January is the time to prune your roses and to perform other must-do maintenance/Learn how to do it right from our Master Gardener rose experts/Dusenberry-River Library 5605 E. River Rd. 594-5345 APDA Parkinson Support Group 2:00PM - 3:30PM Those with Parkinson meet in Wellness Center & care partners meet in the JVP Room/TMC Senior Services El Dorado Health Campus 1400 N. Wilmot Rd. 324-4345 (Pre-registration Required) Who Loves You: A Tribute to Frankie Valli 3:00PM $10 & up/The greatest songs of the �50s, �60s, and �70s can still be experienced live/Desert Diamond Casino 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd-Sahuarita 866-332-9467 Say Hello to Opera 3:00PM - 4:00PM The Opera Guild of Southern Arizona will present a preview of the Arizona Opera Company's upcoming production Madama Butterfly/Oro Valley Library 1305 W. Naranja Dr. 594-5580 Italian Conversation Group 4:30PM - 6:30PMAll skill levels welcome/Practice the Italian language;

share your love of Italian culture at Beyond Bread 3026 N Campbell Ave/Contact Matt 624-9145 Tucson Tuesday Laughter Yoga 6:00PM - 7:00PMLaughter as a form of exercise for peace and healing/Quaker meeting House 931 N. 5th Ave (Enter on Arizona Ave between 5th & 6th Ave. just North of 2nd St. (Everyone is welcome, Drop-in or call 490-5500) River Readers Book Club 6:30PM - 7:45PM Adult Fiction/The Harder They Come by T. Coraghessan Boyle/Dusenberry-River Library 5605 E. River Rd. 594-5345 Papa Doo Run Run 7:00PM $36-$42/Formed in 1965, the now legendary California band, Papa Doo Run Run, quickly discovered their forte � they sounded like the Beach Boys! Their act encompasses all the great Classic Rock hits of the 60s and 70s, with a special emphasis on their award-winning re-creation of Beach Boys hits/Green Valley Recreation-West Center 1111 Gvr Dr-Green Valley 625-0288 Quality Assurance Feedback Mic 7:00PM open mic for the up and coming standup comic.

Get feedback on your jokes and maybe learn a thing or two from others/Nick Cerami and Leland Long are going to host and provide feedback, along with other suggestions from other comics, if you ask for it/This is going to be a way to try out new material in front of your loving comic peers-Its a great space to grind out new jokes/The Screening Room 127 E Congress St. 882-0204 3 Times: Noon, 3PM & 6PM/ Reynaldo and Paco, circus performers who bill themselves as "The Two Amigos", have agreed to appear at a fiesta in the sleepy village of Santa Feliz/While performing their routines, they accidently become involved in the affairs of the townspeople/The helpless citizens of Santa Feliz are at the mercy of the evil Comandante Maximo and there is no one who can thwart his plans to secure his grip on the local government! Join the escapades of the bumbling Two Amigos as they laugh, love and fight their way into the hearts of the people of Santa Feliz! Buddhist Book Club 7:00PM - 9:00PM

This is a non-denominational group and our purpose will be to sample the many different flavors of Buddhism without espousing any particular style or lineage as �the best� Our practice will only be to read and discuss the dharma teachings/Bookmans-Grant 1930 E. Grant Rd. 325-5767 Fox Jazz Ensemble opening for Howard Alden and Anat Cohen 7:30PM Eric Johnson Solo - An Evening of Acoustic Guitar & Piano 8:00PM $24-$30, All Ages/The Rialto Theatre 318 E Congress St. 740-1000 Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz 8:00PM Free, 21+/Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St-On the Plaza 622-8848 The Switch Comedy Show 8:00PM Free/Join hosts Pauly Casillas and Alex Kack for a fun interactive comedic experience/It's comedy on the fly as local comedians try to make up a show based off audience suggestions/The Screening Room 127 E Congress St. 882-0204 Music by Back 2 Back 8:00PM No cover/The Maverick Country Club 6622 E. Tanque Verde 298-0430 Open Mic 8:00PM - 11:00PM