JOE "ZEFF" HYDE & COMICARE
JANUARY 29, 2016
|
Jen's Editing Note: I've seen some really cool things in my day... and this has to be one of my favorites.
After a call for nominations, I got a tip on this organization. After a quick glance at the Comicare website, I was hooked! What a cool idea for a nonprofit! We thank Estrella residents Dawn and Joe Hyde. Comicare is our Estrella Mountain Residents 1st charity recipient for 2016! |
|
Q. Where are you from and how did you decide to move to Estrella?
A. My wife and I both grew up in West Phoenix. I helped a friend move into Estrella in the late 90’s. Because of my job, I travel throughout the entire valley and I get to see every available location to buy a home. When it came time for us to choose a neighborhood to raise our family in, we never looked anywhere but Estrella. Q. Can you please tell me a little about your family?
A. We moved to Estrella in 2001 with our three young children- shortly after, we added a forth. Our children have enjoined growing up here. We now have two college students, one in high school and one in junior high. |
|
We have gotten to see a lot of changes in the neighborhood. When the retail shops were announced to be built, my wife Dawn (just returning to the workforce, as our kids were then all in school), proactively pursued a position with Chase Bank as the word was out that they would be building out here. She has been an employee its since opening day.
One of my favorite moments was provided by someone who doesn’t even realize it. In the hospital, we often go room to room visiting with different kids and families. We had just finished visiting with a boy, probably eight years old, and as we moved on to the next room I overheard him talking to his mother. “This is the best day ever!” he shouted, excitedly. Now, this isn’t his birthday. This isn’t Christmas. This is a day I’m sure he wasn’t looking forward to.
|
Q. Please tell me about Comicare. How did this organization start and what are your accomplishments?
A. Comicare was an elegant idea that came up during a conversation with a friend. My friend spent time in the hospital as a child battling cancer, and found comic books to be a happy distraction. I had been a big collector of comic books as a teen and I knew that most collectors had big piles of books sitting around that they didn’t want any longer- and there was no good avenue to donate these books. The idea just seemed perfect- match these unwanted books with kids in the hospital in need of a distraction. It was a short time later that we decided to have “Superheroes” deliver the books. We have some of the best superheroes in the country working with us. Sometimes the books seem to take a back seat to the hero visits, but it is important for us to keep the comics a part of the experience. It is an opportunity for our donors to share their love of comic books with a generation that may have never been exposed to them otherwise. It also encourages a love of reading. The community has been amazingly supportive. We have a number of locations around the valley setup for dropping off comics or people can mail them to us. We recognize that we not only serve the hospitalized children we visit- but we also provide a service to the collecting community as they might not otherwise have an avenue for charity. We have a fantastic website set up where people can donate money or buy things from our shop. |
One of our biggest achievements was finalizing our 501(c)3 status with the government. It just gave us extra credibility and allowed us to offer tax receipts for people’s donations. We have been able to grow the organization into a well respected machine with a strong reputation of providing the highest quality service everywhere we go. We have relationships with nearly every children’s center in the valley and have even visited centers in Flagstaff, Tucson, and Las Vegas. We have plans for visiting more neighboring states in 2016.
My friend spent time in the hospital as a child battling cancer, and found comic books to be a happy distraction. I had been a big collector of comic books as a teen and I knew that most collectors had big piles of books sitting around that they didn’t want any longer- and there was no good avenue to donate these books. The idea just seemed perfect- match these unwanted books with kids in the hospital in need of a distraction.
Q. How often do you meet with children?
A. For the last couple of years we have been conducting about fifty visits a year. Sometimes it’s once a month, sometimes three times a day. Last year, we had a week when we challenged ourselves and visited a different facility every day of the week. Five visits in five days- that was fun! We generally are slow in December as there are many charity groups that ramp up for that month in particular. We lay back a bit, and pick it back up in January.. no problem!
A. For the last couple of years we have been conducting about fifty visits a year. Sometimes it’s once a month, sometimes three times a day. Last year, we had a week when we challenged ourselves and visited a different facility every day of the week. Five visits in five days- that was fun! We generally are slow in December as there are many charity groups that ramp up for that month in particular. We lay back a bit, and pick it back up in January.. no problem!
|
Q. What is your favorite moment with Comicare?
A. I’ve come to learn that the real magic is in “the change”. You can call it “the difference” or “the impact”. As a team, we can change a day for someone. We never worry about visiting ‘enough people’. When we walk into a hospital we are just as happy visiting two kids as two-hundred. One of my favorite moments was provided by someone who doesn’t even realize it. In the hospital, we often go room to room visiting with different kids and families. We had just finished visiting with a boy, probably eight years old, and as we moved on to the next room I overheard him talking to his mother. “This is the best day ever!” he shouted, excitedly. |
Now, this isn’t his birthday. This isn’t Christmas. This is a day I’m sure he wasn’t looking forward to. This is a day that probably started with fear and apprehension. I don’t think it was his first time in the unit. He may dread these visits and start his days in a sad place- but we were able to change that day for him! Not only make it “not so bad”, but change that miserable day into “THE BEST DAY EVER!” If we never get to visit another hospital- it has all been worth it. There are many versions of this story for us- but this in particular was one of my favorites.
I’ve come to learn that the real magic is in “the change”. You can call it “the difference” or “the impact”. As a team, we can change a day for someone.
Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
A. I have far too many hobbies! Aside from Comicare and spending time with my family, I like to play guitar and build muscle cars. Our whole family are big fans of Disneyland and go whenever we can. I am an animator and collector of animation art. No shortage of things to keep me busy!
A. I have far too many hobbies! Aside from Comicare and spending time with my family, I like to play guitar and build muscle cars. Our whole family are big fans of Disneyland and go whenever we can. I am an animator and collector of animation art. No shortage of things to keep me busy!
|
Q. What is your advice to new families moving to Estrella?
A. My advice would be to take advantage of what the neighborhood has to offer! Especially for a new resident who still has all of that excitement! Go to the functions, walk the parks, go to the club. You may become more complacent later but you will always be happy that you got to partake in what Estrella has to offer. An easier piece of advice is: change your attitude on commuting. It is a way of life here (although not quite as bad as when we had to pack a lunch just to drive to the grocery store!). The drive can be relaxing once you realize- everywhere is a trip and surrender to it. It just becomes comfortable. No need to stress and speed and fret about it. Give into it and enjoy the visiting time or music. |
|
Go to the functions, walk the parks, go to the club. You may become more complacent later but you will always be happy that you got to partake in what Estrella has to offer.
Q. What is one thing you'd like to see in Estrella over the next 5-10 years?
A. With the West valley continuing to grow, I guess I am looking for a boom of new young families rediscovering Estrella. Perhaps it is more localized to my particular neighborhood- but I don’t see as many kids and young families as we used to. I don’t necessarily think there is a need for us to overdevelop amenities as much as show pride in what we have and display an atmosphere of friendliness.
A. With the West valley continuing to grow, I guess I am looking for a boom of new young families rediscovering Estrella. Perhaps it is more localized to my particular neighborhood- but I don’t see as many kids and young families as we used to. I don’t necessarily think there is a need for us to overdevelop amenities as much as show pride in what we have and display an atmosphere of friendliness.
CONNECT
|
DROP OFF IN ESTRELLA FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
Monetary donations can be made at www.comicare.org where you can also find a map of drop off locations for any comic books you would like to donate.
Also, for the month of February, our neighborhood Chase Bank, located at 9846 S. Estrella Pkwy., will act as a comic book drop off location! Feel free to swing by and drop off comics- and pick up a COMICARE sticker!
Also, for the month of February, our neighborhood Chase Bank, located at 9846 S. Estrella Pkwy., will act as a comic book drop off location! Feel free to swing by and drop off comics- and pick up a COMICARE sticker!
