Moms Making a Difference

Five women dedicated to family and philanthropy

By Kaylor Jones / Photos by Claudia Johnstone

Anyone will tell you that mothers are capable of changing the world. This month, we celebrate moms across the Valley who work around-the-clock to raise a family while supporting the community through education and empowerment. In honor of Mother’s Day, meet five local moms whose tireless work inspires change, encourages greatness, and sets an example at home and beyond.

Leslie McReynolds

CEO, National Kidney Foundation of Arizona

When Leslie McReynolds, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, first joined the nonprofit 15 years ago, she didn’t know a thing about kidneys.

“It didn’t take long to realize just how many lives are touched directly or indirectly by kidney disease. One in seven Arizonans has kidney disease, yet 90% of those who have it don’t know due to its silent symptoms. This means many individuals find out late and by surprise. When you’re suddenly on dialysis treatment three to four hours a day, three to four days a week, it can take an incredible toll on your ability to work and pay bills, on your energy, and time with your family.”

That’s where the National Kidney Foundation (www.azkidney.org) comes in. It offers statewide programs such as free community health screenings; eviction prevention; medication assistance; kidney transplant advocacy; and emergency patient aid services, including transportation to and from dialysis treatment – with 97,000 rides given last year alone.

McReynolds – who began her career in marketing before noticing that of all her clients, charities were doing the most essential community work with the smallest budgets – is beyond proud to have served as the foundation’s CEO for the past five years, a role she assumed just six months after the birth of her son.

“I’ve never committed to anything that I didn’t intend on giving 150% to, so when motherhood came around and I was balancing the newness of caring for a baby with the newness of a caring for a company, I was upset and naively surprised that I couldn’t give 24 hours to both,” says McReynolds, who eventually learned to slow down and appreciate the little things while watching her son experience the world for the very first time. “My advice to mothers is to give yourself grace. No one leaves the hospital with an instruction manual. We’re all just figuring out this crazy journey one messy, loud, Lego-sprinkled day at a time.”

Jill Peterson

Co-founder, Girls Mentorship

Mother of two Jill Peterson is on a mission to empower the next generation of strong women. Or, as she puts it, “I’m a boy mom by day, girl mentor by trade – truly the best of both worlds.”

Peterson co-founded Girls Mentorship (www.girlsmentorship.com) with her business partner and best friend Mary Frances in 2020. The coaching programs, summer camps and after-school enrichment support personal development in tween and teen girls, cheering on the next generation of confident, self-assured leaders.

“Mary and I saw a huge gap in emotional and social support for girls, especially in that tricky preteen and early teen window. We wanted to create a space that felt like a mix between a big sister and a life coach, where girls could learn real-life skills and feel truly seen, heard and supported for who they are.”

From the tricky business of starting up during the pandemic to now hosting sold-out summer camps, the journey has been full of highs and lows, but Peterson wouldn’t change it for the world. “Nothing compares to the transformation we see in the girls – watching someone walk in shy and unsure, and leave standing taller, speaking louder, and truly believing in herself. We’re creating a ripple effect – when a girl knows her worth, she shows up differently in every space she enters.”

The same can be said for being a mom. Nothing is more rewarding for Peterson than getting a front-row seat to the growth of her two boys, 11 and 9, from huge milestones to everyday moments like inside jokes and unprompted acts of kindness.

“Mentoring girls has made me a better, more intentional human and mom. The work I do is a daily reminder to parent with empathy and curiosity – to slow down, ask better questions, and really tune in. And maybe most importantly, it’s taught me to model the kind of self-talk, confidence and compassion I hope my boys grow up with.”

Michelle Moore

Founder and president, Mother’s Grace Charity

Michelle Moore has dedicated her life to helping women handle unexpected crises – something she’s had plenty of personal experience with, from losing her mother at age 5 to being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.

“The night before I was scheduled to begin a yearlong chemotherapy regimen, multiple surgeries and a clinical trial, my middle son was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes at just 7 years old. That year, I juggled being the primary breadwinner, undergoing grueling cancer treatments, teaching my son to manage his insulin dependency, and raising two other children. The stress, trauma and sheer weight of it all were insurmountable – I couldn’t manage it alone.”

It inspired Moore – now a 17-year cancer survivor – to start Mother’s Grace in 2009 to support mothers and children who have been blindsided by tragedy. Whether providing immediate assistance with rent, utilities and counseling or helping with meal deliveries, child care, transportation and yardwork, the organization (www.mothers-grace.org) strives to answer mothers’ prayers in their times of greatest need.

“I hope to leave a legacy that proves small acts of kindness can change lives,” Moore says. “Mothers – who are usually the ones providing care – often feel invisible when their own world is falling apart. Something as simple as a warm meal can shift the trajectory of their day, and, ultimately, their healing. The financial assistance we provide is vital, but what surprises me most is that two-thirds of the moms we help say the most meaningful gift we give them is the feeling of being cared for.”

Moore, a mother of three, plus two “beloved bonus children” with her husband Jeff, says that involving her kids in service projects has been instrumental in helping them experience firsthand the impact of giving.

“I want them to be the kind of people who lift others up – who recognize when someone else is struggling and step in to help, just as they’ve seen me do.”

Jodi Stoken

Chief Development Officer, Make-A-Wish Arizona

For Jodi Stoken, getting involved in the world of nonprofits was what she calls a “big happy accident.”

While working in media sales and marketing, an acquaintance serving on the board of Child Crisis Arizona, an emergency children’s shelter, asked if Stoken could provide marketing help.

“As I was touring the shelter, I knew immediately that I wanted to help this organization in any way I could and help the children in the foster care system. While I felt I knew very little about the nonprofit world and the child welfare system, I did know that I had transferable skills that were helping gain traction and I knew the mission owned my heart.”

After over 20 years with the shelter, working her way up from volunteer to board member to chief development officer – and earning her Certified Fundraising Executive and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy credentials – Stoken stepped into her current role as chief development officer for Make-A-Wish Arizona in 2023.

“Make-A-Wish started right here in Arizona in 1980. When the opportunity arose to become part of their team, I was thrilled,” Stoken says. “I’ve known several families whose children had wishes and it was always so uplifting for them during a stressful time. The best moments come when I see the resilience and grace of children overcoming tremendous adversity – their smiles mean everything.”

Stoken is also mom to a 28-year-old son, raised following the example of her own mother, a role model and a force for good in all of their lives. Stoken says her nonprofit work has guided her choices as a parent, emphasizing the importance of a spirit of kindness and generosity.

“Without a doubt, the most rewarding role of my life has been being a mom. Being a part of guiding a child’s journey from childhood to young adulthood has taught me so much about what’s truly important in life.”

Jane Caplan, M.D.

Founder, East West Global Healing

For psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Jane Caplan, starting a nonprofit was a family affair.

“As a single, divorced mom, I had a deep conversation with my kids a few years ago,” says Caplan, whose children are now 16 and 17 years old. “I wanted them to participate in the creation and development of a nonprofit so they could see not what money can buy, but what money can do for others. I told them that the initial investment would partially come out of their inheritance, but my hope is that the lessons in helping others will sustain them on a deeper level and give them hope for the future of humanity. Both of the kids said, ‘Mom, let’s do it.’”

As the founder of East West Global Healing (www.eastwestglobalhealing.org), Caplan combines her background in traditional mental health care with ancient healing practices that connect the earth, mind, body and spirit, including psychedelic medicines like ketamine and MDMA. The goal is to provide alternatives to those struggling with mental health issues, including veterans and first responders, who feel frustrated by a lack of profound changes to their wellbeing with traditional approaches to therapy.

For Caplan, this blending of Eastern and Western mental health techniques is a way to help not only those needing support today, but to break cycles of intergenerational trauma. As a mom, it’s her mission to inspire social, emotional and spiritual growth in her kids, a journey made all the more gratifying for its many challenges.

“This is how we learn resiliency and connection. Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable teaches children to appreciate having something to strive for, with the hope of finding deep meaning and purpose,” she says. “I hope that my children not only find their answers to the deepest questions in life, but that we all might come to enjoy the mystery and complexity of the journey and encourage one another along the way.”