How It All Started
In 1999, Flo Smithiger, a dedicated CASA advocate, experienced a moment that would change countless lives. While delivering a Christmas gift to a child in a group home at Sunshine Residential Homes, she was met with heartbreaking words from the other children in the group home: “Where is mine?”
Determined to make a difference, Flo shared this moment with her hair stylist, Sue Johnson. Moved by the story, Sue rallied her friends and clients, raising enough funds to provide Christmas gifts for not just those children, but several other group homes within Sunshine Residential Homes as well.
This single act of kindness sparked something greater. Flo, Sue, and a group of passionate women – Paula Johnson, Tanna Reschke, Phyllis Mizioch, Marilyn Michaelson, and Sandy Mitchell – joined forces to formally support children in foster care. Together, they launched fundraising efforts, including golf tournaments, Cowboy Bingo, and dinner auctions, to expand their reach and impact.
In March 2006, Arizona Sunshine Angels was officially recognized as a nonprofit charitable organization, solidifying its commitment to serving children in foster in need.
Flo Smithiger, Founder
Paula Johnson served as the organization’s first president until her retirement in 2013, when Sandra Hurst took over leadership. A pivotal moment came in 2014, when Arizona Sunshine Angels qualified as a charitable foster care organization under Arizona’s state tax donation program. This designation provided vital funding, allowing the organization to expand to a second group home agency that same year and continue growing each year thereafter.
In 2022, Sandra Hurst retired as president, and Amanda Dixon became executive director as the organization’s first paid employee, marking a new chapter of growth and sustainability.
What began as a simple act of generosity has blossomed into Arizona Sunshine Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children in foster care across Maricopa County. Today, their legacy lives on, ensuring that every child in foster care feels valued, celebrated, and never forgotten.
Our Founders
