Candace Geary is the proud and dedicated mother of two sons, Quincy and Wesley, and the loving and supportive wife of 26 years with her husband Reggie. Candace has profound empathy for those going through hardship, particularly young people. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a child, she deeply understands the impact of a life-changing diagnosis at a young age. In 2018, when Candace lost her mother, the grief was overwhelming for her and her boys who were in their first year of high school and middle school at the time. Candace made it her priority to help them process their grief in a healthy and supportive way as grief presented differently for each of them. Now, she draws on these experiences to connect and empathize with others facing similar struggles, offering support and guidance as needed.

As co-chair of the University of Arizona’s Parent and Family Association Advisory Board, she supports students and families in adjusting to college life, helps address their needs and concerns across campus, as well as foster a welcoming environment. Her commitment extends to serving on the board of the Father’s Day Council of Tucson, which partners with the Steele Children’s Research Center at the University of Arizona to raise awareness and funding for Type 1 Diabetes research. A passionate advocate for the performing arts, Candace works as the Front of House Manager for Saguaro City Music Theatre, volunteers with Arts Express Theatre, and is the founding president of the Catalina Foothills High School parent booster club for their outstanding theatre program. Candace’s kindness, community spirit, and dedication to uplifting those around her make her a model of integrity, empathy, and active citizenship.

Liz Rodriguez Miller is mother to three children, Andréa (51), Matthew (48) and Meredith (41), and Nana to ten grandchildren. Raised by her Mother and Nana, she is proud of her Mexican-American heritage. Her career in public service spans over 30 years, beginning in Tucson’s public libraries. She was Director of the City-County public library system before being appointed Tucson’s Assistant City Manager, and later Deputy City Manager. She is the first Latina to hold each of these leadership roles.

Liz and her beloved husband of 50 years, Marc A. Miller, together experienced many joys and confronted many challenges. In 2022, they dealt with Liz’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The following year, Marc died unexpectedly. Finding solace in her Catholic faith and with assistance from her children, family, friends and local professionals, Liz has been on a journey to process her grief. She in turn has helped loved ones with their sorrow. Her courage in the face of loss has strengthened the family’s bond.

Liz advocates for the well-being of children, women and those in need, with a special focus on information access and literacy. She’s volunteered, served on Boards and supported various local groups, including Literacy Connects and Catholic Community Services, looking to create opportunities and brighter futures for people across our community.

Michele Ordoñez is the proud mother of five children: Renee (24), Jazlyn (18), Mila (5), and twins Louie and Annabelle (7), who tragically passed away. Michele’s journey into motherhood began at the age of 16 when she had her first two daughters, Renee and Jazlyn, while finishing school and supporting her family as a single mom. After meeting her husband, Luis, and marrying in 2016, they eagerly wanted to expand their family.

After experiencing two complicated pregnancies, Michele was advised not to try for any more children. When her doctor suggested IVF, Michele and Luis were overjoyed to discover that they were expecting twins. Unfortunately, the twins were born prematurely at 23 weeks and 1 day. After 42 hours, Louie passed away, and after spending 7.5 months in the NICU, Annabelle also lost her battle. The family was devastated by their loss. Months later, their fertility doctor informed them that they still had a viable embryo. This led to the birth of their rainbow baby, Mila, in 2019.

Michele has channeled her grief into meaningful action. She volunteers at Ronald McDonald House, donates blood whenever possible, and, alongside Luis, established “Annabelle and Louie’s Loving Libraries” to support NICU families at Banner, St. Joe’s, and TMC hospitals. Michele works as a Project Administrator at McCarthy Building Companies and is a passionate mentor to women in the construction industry, serving as a member of The National Association of Women in Construction.

Rhonda Leinberger is mother to two children, Amanda (32) and Madison (27). She sacrificed everything for her daughters when her loving husband John died of colon cancer in 2009. She lost her mother in 1997 when she was a young mom and also lost her Dad to dementia a few years before losing her husband.

As Rhonda was experiencing all of this, she was determined to keep life on track for her two daughters. Throughout this journey, she continued to work, take care of John, and stay attentive to the needs of their daughters. The grief took a great toll on her, but she kept things together for her family through her strength and amazing support system in the community. Rhonda, Amanda and Maddie all attended group at Tu Nidito. Rhonda and Maddie attended Children-to-Children, and Amanda attended the Young Adult group. They were all touched by the connections they made at Tu Nidito and inspired through sharing their experience with others who also experienced loss.

Rhonda is a Senior Marketing Strategist at iHeart Media and has been with the company for almost 20 years.

Michelle Ruiz is mother to two children, Ashley (23) and Tyler (18). She is the CEO of TMCOne, the provider network of TMC Health.

Michelle has been a leader in the healthcare community for more than 20 years. She is focused on expanding access to care for adults and children alike, building an environment that is accessible and innovative. Michelle is viewed as a mentor by professional women starting a career in healthcare administration, providing support, guidance and inspiration.

Apart from raising her own children, Michelle has stepped up in the midst of a family tragedy. Her sister-in-law suddenly passed away in July 2021, leaving her brother-in-law alone to raise four children (Karsen, Kenna, Kamryn and Kaseten) under the age of eight, including one with special needs. Michelle helped coordinate the family’s move from Alabama to Tucson, where she could better assist the grieving family. Michelle did not hesitate to step up when her family needed her, and ensured that despite the tragedy, her brother-in-law and the four children would have the help and support they needed to move forward.

Bonita Allinder

Nancy and Burt Kinerk

Karen & Ron Hess