A DREAM IS BORN
Sam Nollette, a 10-year-old boy, symbolizes “The Promise of Anthem.” This is not about the petty affairs and daily concerns of a small, Phoenix suburb. This is about the realization of a vision - the vision that brought many to this lovely community. Sam and his nine teammates on the Sonoran Black Sox Baseball Team joined with their rivals, the High Desert Rattlers, to organize, promote, and run the first Water 4 Kids Baseball Classic, which they hope will become an annual event.

Their goal: raise $10,000 to drill a well that will bring water to kids in a small Ugandan village half-way around the world - a well that will provide water for thousands of needy people. All proceeds benefit Water 4 Kids International, with the aim of supporting an entire village of over 4,400 people and five area schools with nearly 7,750 students. A local source of potable drinking water means that the daily struggle of women and children, who spend hours each day walking miles to collect water from unprotected, polluted sources, will end. They will finally have a reliable source of safe, drinkable water in their own village. The generations’ long scourge of dysentery will finally be defeated.

Anthem citizens understand that citizenship carries with it rights and responsibilities that demand greater commitment to the community. It is incumbent upon a citizen to participate in governmental and/or service activities. A citizen must contribute to the greater good. A citizen is involved in the evolution of his or her community. Sam is living up to that standard; he is not only proving himself a citizen of his community but a citizen of the world.

Sam is modeling, not only the way a citizen thinks, reacts, and contributes, but also how a citizen leads. A citizen leads by example, and Anthem is full of examples. Take just one, the founder of We Care In Anthem, Eric Kilstrom. In 2002, learning of a seven-year-old suffering from cancer, Eric, encouraged by his wife, Sara, reached out to his associates in the Business Network of Anthem, which he also founded. The result was $27,000 raised for the youngster and his family. We Care In Anthem continues to raise money for seriously ill children and their families. Eric demonstrates leadership and citizenship through example.

A DREAM IS INSTILLED
Sam had heard a lot about the struggles of the children in Africa for fresh drinking water from his mother, Jamie, who traveled with Hope 4 Kids International in April 2007.  He was aware of the need, but it became a call to action when his parents told him the story of a 13-year-old Arizona boy who raised $80,000 to build an entire village. They heard the story during a Sunday morning service at the Fellowship Church. Tom Eggum from Hope 4 Kids International was a guest speaker that morning. 

Sam sat down with his parents after the presentation and announced that he wanted to do something for kids in need. Sam's parents were supportive and knew they were up for the challenge. Jamie suggested, “Well, you love baseball. Why not create a tournament to raise money?”  Baseball is Sam's passion, and she knew it would be an easy way to connect to his friends and other baseball players across the valley. He first “pitched” it to his own baseball team, the Black Sox, and then asked their hometown rivals, the High Desert Rattlers. Both teams immediately stepped up, and the project was launched.

Sam helped his parents do all the work.  He helped write a letter requesting that the Anthem Community Council donate community ball fields. He spoke at team meetings, asking for their support and help, handed out flyers to coaches at other tournaments to gain interest, personally called coaches asking them to play, and during the tournament, volunteered to play two games for another team that didn't have enough players. Sam was committed!

According to his mother, Jamie, “What Sam learned the most is that he could have never accomplished this without the help of others.  His teammates and their parents, along with the Rattlers’ players and parents, were instrumental in making everything happen.  The Anthem community residents poured out their support. Over 100 volunteers worked and participated at the event (concessions, field maintenance, scheduling, etc.) We are so proud to live in this community!!!!”

In the end, eight Anthem teams and seventeen more from around the valley (Kingman, Gilbert, Litchfield, Mesa, Phoenix, Chandler, Peoria, Scottsdale, and Buckeye) paid the $400 entry fee to participate in this charitable event in Anthem.

A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY
Sam Nollette, Anthem’s youth-citizen-leader, supported by his family, teammates, and a cadre of volunteers brought the 25 teams to Anthem on January 30-31 for the first annual Water 4 Kids Baseball Classic. Field sponsors included: Todd Ninneman with RE/MAX, Sweat, RVI Team Sports, Quiznos, and Inside Pitch; additional sponsors included: In & Out Magazine, Webster Construction, AirTite Art, Smith Pipe & Steel, The Arabian Horse Association of AZ, and other private donors

When the Anthem Community Council was unable to donate its fields for this charitable cause, one Anthem business, In & Out Magazine, immediately stepped up to support Sam and his teammates and absorb the cost. By instinctively modeling the generosity for which Anthem business leaders are distinguished, Nadine Shaalan, owner/editor, demonstrated the attributes that Thelda Williams recognizes in Anthem’s citizen-leaders. Nadine’s example and support, along with the other Anthem businesses, civic leaders, and dedicated youngsters, mean that ALL of the monies raised will go to an impoverished Ugandan community for a new well- a steady, reliable source of clean, healthy, drinking water.

In one two-day event, Sam and his support team managed to raise approximately $9,000 towards their goal. With $1,150 still to go, Jamie is remembering her two weeks in a Ugandan village. “Even though the Africans fight for survival, they understand what it is like to live in a community. Regardless of their needs, they want to help their neighbors. I thought I'd never see that type of unselfishness back at home, but this weekend proved me wrong.  We do have people who are willing to give their time and money to help others, right here in Anthem!”

Eric Kilstrom reinforced Jamie’s sentiments. “Anthem continues to amaze me on a daily basis,” he said. “I have never seen a place with so many people willing to help; they just want and need the vehicle to do so. Sam’s Tournament will not only help bring water to those in need, but it kept Anthem’s restaurants and shops busy. The business community, in turn, consistently steps-up and supports great causes like this. It is a win-win-win for this community!”

Sam has obviously learned from examples like Eric, his mother, and Nadine - Anthem’s citizen-leaders, leading by example. Sam is learning by emulation. He not only felt a need to contribute to Water 4 Kids International, but stepped up to make a real and substantial difference. Age doesn’t factor into citizenship; good role-models do - the kind of role-models that embody the “Promise of Anthem.”

BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION OF A DREAM
A better way needs to be found for the Anthem Community to support Anthem volunteers when they dream a dream of helping others. The Anthem Community Council (ACC) is calling all Anthem citizens to a “brainstorming session” on February 18. It is looking for a way to establish protocol in evaluating the merits of the many requests it receives annually for donations or in-kind contributions in support of worthy causes like Sam’s. It is imperative that Anthem citizens join in this session.