Red Iguana has a veritable paint palette of moles. These complex blended sauces can be anything from spicy and chile-forward to sweet with mild heat. They range from dark, almost black, across the spectrum of greens, reds and oranges.
Mole recipes vary from region to region and family to family. Ingredients might include dried or fresh chilies, a plethora of spices, bananas, fruit, nuts or seeds and even chocolate. Mole recipes are assembled with layers of flavor, and the nuance tiptoes up on you as you eat each bite.
Unsure what will tempt the taste buds? Ask, and your Red Iguana server will bring you a flower-shaped plate of the eight/nine different sauces for sampling so you can pick your favorite. (Pictured in order, clockwise, starting with the darkest.)
Mole Negro (Black)
“The King of Moles” and the one the most people think of if they have tried mole before. This is the dark Mexican chocolate savory-sweet mole is has dried mulato and negro pasilla chilies which contribute to the dark color. But with raisins, peanuts, walnuts and bananas, this rich mole has a lovely and complex sweet heat. Get it with the turkey.
Mole Amarillo (Yellow)
This mole is the spiciest of the moles at Red Iguana due to fresh habanero chilies. It also tastes the most vibrant, with fresh, yellow vegetables tempering the heat as they cook down. You might not find them all on your palate, but they include golden raisins, yellow tomatoes, yellow zucchini, garlic and chilies. You can’t hide from the heat in this one. Served with chicken. Flour tortillas help temper the fiery flavors.
Red Iguana’s mole is world famous and gluten free. Photo by Lydia Martinez.
Mole Poblano
A recipe straight from the Pueblo region of Mexico, the burnished orange color hides more Mexican chocolate, with guajillo and ancho dried chiles, peanuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, raisins and bananas. The wealth of nuts makes for a smooth mole with a mid-range heat without being too sweet. Served tossed with turkey.
Mole Verde (Green)
Herbaceous and light on the tongue, the mole verde is made with all fresh chiles (compared to the dried chilies found in most recipes). Fresh chile poblano and fresh jalapeño blend with pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds, common in Mexican cooking) and sesame seeds, along with onions, zucchini and avocados. Fresh basil and lettuce are pureed and added for vibrancy and a bright finish. But don’t be fooled—it is the second spiciest mole in the house. It is typically served with chicken or turkey, but an off-menu secret is to ask for it with carnitas. The braised and griddled pork makes for a rich contrast to this spicy and light mole.
Red Pipian Mole
A pumpkin seed sauce rounded out with peanuts has spicy undertones that creep up on you with each bite. The red color comes from dried chile guajillo and tomatoes. It tastes almost peanut buttery, in a good way, thickly coats the dish and is mid-range heat-wise.
Mole Almendras (Almonds)
This is the brightest yellow mole on the plate. It is blanched almond-based and focuses on almonds. This mole is another nut-buttery sauce. It is mild and has a toasty flavor you can’t quite find in any of the other sauces. It is delicious with chicken.
Mole Coloradito
Unlike the other moles, this is served with pork carnitas as the richest mole on the menu. It is composed of nuts and seeds, including pine nuts, almonds, peanuts and sesame seeds. The heat comes from a mix of dried and fresh chilies, including dried ancho and guajillo chiles. Fresh chile poblano adds heat, and Mexican chocolate brings some sweetness.
Seasonal and Special Moles:
Red Iguana often has seasonal or weekly specials of sweeter moles. From mango to pumpkin, it is worth checking the special board to see what is on tap for the week.
Tip: Order family-style and enjoy a couple of moles and some fresh fajitas, along with rice, beans and lots of tortillas for making mini-tacos.
When you go:
Red Iguana “OG” location 736 W. North Temple, SLC, 801-322-1489 | rediguana.com
The Hitchcock classic Dial ‘M’ for Murder is a dark tale of betrayal, manipulation and murder claustrophobically set in one room. The theatrical version opened at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre on Jan. 13, 2025. The noir tale follows Tony Wendice (Dan Domingues), a former tennis pro with a sinister plan to dispatch his wealthy wife—Margot (Awesta Zarif)—and inherit her fortune. After learning of his wife’s affair with his friend Maxine Hadley (Lucy Lavely), Wendice hires an old college friend—Captain Lesgate Swan (Aaron Cammack)—to be his assassin. And of course, things don’t go exactly as planned. What follows is a tangled web of deceit, twists and a deft game of cat and mouse among Tony, Margot and an ever-curious police inspector (Peter Howard) determined to uncover the truth.
The set design, conceived by James Noone, is a standout element. The entire show takes place in one room, a daunting challenge for any production, yet this space is anything but static. Surrounded by an innovative glass structure, the is itself a character that can expand and contract to be both confining and expansive as the story unfolds. The glass panels—which under certain lighting cues appear to double as reflective metal—are a clever metaphor for the characters’ lack of transparency. Secrets bounce around the room just as light does, creating a visual representation of the play’s central theme: nothing is as it seems. Director Michael John Garces skillfully utilizes every inch of this dynamic space.
Because of this over-the-top interplay with the set the lighting design is a much a factor here as the set design and Tom Ontiveros’ work here is nothing short of masterful. The lighting not only enhances the mood but also aids in storytelling, shifting seamlessly between moments of levity and high-stakes drama. From the very first scene, the vibrant and period-accurate attire designed by Patrick Holt catches the eye and immediately sets the tone. Each character’s wardrobe not only reflects the 1950s era but also provides subtle hints about their personalities. (Costumes were a huge highlight in this production.)
Character choices throughout the production are sharp and deliberate, adding layers of foreshadowing that pay off beautifully. Every movement and glance seems loaded with meaning, creating an intricate dance of suspicion and revelation. The actors’ commitment to pantomime—acting without dialogue—adds a layer of depth. These moments, often quiet and understated, are as riveting as the play’s more dramatic exchanges.
Dial ‘M’ for Murder is a testament to the power of collaboration in theater. From the innovative set to the evocative lighting to the nuanced performances, every element works in harmony to create an unforgettable experience. It’s a show that proves murder mysteries aren’t just about whodunit—they’re about the thrill of watching secrets unravel one well-dressed layer at a time.
As you gear up for the Sundance Film Festival, don’t forget to include the kids. This year’s fest includes a family matinee of director Isaiah Saxon’s feature debut, “The Legend of Ochi.”
The film is about a girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) who is raised to fear the Ochi, a mysterious animal species. Despite this, she one day finds an injured baby Ochi and sets on a quest to return it to its home. Families can go in expecting adventure and magic in a tale for animal lovers. The film also stars Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”), Emily Watson and Willem Dafoe.
Screenings
Jan. 26, 12 p.m. Library Center Theatre, Park City
Jan. 27, 1:10 p.m. Redstone Cinemas – 2, Park City
While “Ochi” is an excellent opportunity to introduce the kids to independent film, fighting the Sundance traffic with littles in the backseat through Parleys Canyon isn’t for everyone. Here are some of our favorite family-friendly films from Sundance’s past and how you can see them at home.
“Whale Rider” (Sundance 2003)
Years after the intended future chief of a Maori village dies at birth, his twin sister, Pai, attempts to prove herself as the community’s rightful leader. However, the chief has always been a first-born son descended from the Whale Rider. Can Pai’s determination and resolve convince her village, and especially her grandfather, to break away from tradition?
Rent or Buy it on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Microsoft or Amazon. Stream it on Fubo, Hoopla or Kanopy.
“Ernest & Celestine” (Sundance 2014)
While she would prefer to make art, a mouse named Celestine is sent to collect teeth to prepare for her career in dentistry. When she meets a bear named Ernest, she convinces him not to eat her by helping him break into a candy shop. Thus begins Ernest and Celestine’s criminal career and unlikely friendship. Hand-drawn, funny and imaginative.
French and English versions are available. You can rent or buy the English version on Apple TV.
“Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang” (Sundance 2014) (Spanish language)
Twin brothers Zip and Zap are sent to a summer school run by Falconetti, an evil headmaster who forbids all recreation and entertainment. To get back at Falconetti, they form the “Marble Gang” and begin causing mischief. Soon, they come across a map leading to the school’s hidden treasure. “Zip and Zap” is a fun adventure for the family.
Rent or buy it on Apple TV. While screened in Spanish, English subtitles are available.
“Snowtime!” (Sundance 2016)
Two groups of kids in Quebec engage in an epic snowball war during their winter break from school. The big cast of characters experience crushes, friendships and betrayals as the battle grows increasingly sophisticated and fierce. While the film has a major tragedy that parents of sensitive kids should know about, the overall mood is charming and fun.
French and English versions are available. Rent or buy the English version on Apple TV, Fandango at Home or Microsoft. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock or The Roku Channel.
Before 2002, cross-country skier Luke Bodensteiner, who competed at the University of Utah and in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Games, remembers, “Utah had a strong sports community,” but, he says, “I wouldn’t say that, aside from Alpine skiing, that Utah was necessarily a ski town,” and sports like freestyle, cross-country and ski jumping didn’t meaningfully exist here before 2002.
Ski jumper of the Flying Ace All-Stars Freestyle Show at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. Photo Courtesy of Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
Bodensteiner worked for U.S. Ski and Nordic Team at the time, while they were pushing for the inclusion of new sports and events, like slopestyle and big air, that were oftentimes pioneered in the U.S., and they knew Americans could field good teams in those areas. It was an evolution of winter sports that started before 2002 but took off around the Salt Lake City Winter Games. “That was sort of the first big expansion in my mind, when places like the Utah Olympic Park were developed,” he says. “Just having those facilities provided the opportunity for people to participate, and that stimulated the growth of clubs around those sports.”
Now, Bodensteiner works as the Sport Development Director and General Manager of Soldier Hollow with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), which maintains Olympic facilities, including Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, the Utah Olympic Oval and Utah Olympic Park. “The [2002] organizing committee was pretty visionary in their desire to make sure that there was a lasting legacy after the Games,” he says, which was something that set Salt Lake City apart from many other Olympic host cities. “Before that, other Olympics, obviously, were really focused on making the Games happen, but there wasn’t a lot of forethought in terms of what’s going to happen to the facilities after.” The financially successful games left behind a legacy fund that kept Utah’s Olympic venues in “world-class” shape, where Olympians would train and compete.
Even then, the Olympic venues’ full potential had not yet been realized. “After the games, people were coming in and seeing the building [the Oval] but then leaving because there weren’t any real programs that were being run here,” says Derek Parra, a U.S. speedskater who won gold in the 2002 Games. He started doing youth outreach at UOLF after the Vancouver Games and is now the Director of Sports at the Utah Olympic Oval, but Parra gives credit for envisioning the venues as a place for youth sports to Colin Hilton, the president of the foundation. They hired coaches and created programs to engage kids and “teach them about life through sport” in hopes of creating long-term athletes. “If you look at every other Olympic venue in the world, there aren’t many that are doing this,” Parra says. “I think we are the best example of that.”
Hundreds of children participate in sports programs at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, in Midway, including cross-country skiing.Families enjoy Public Skate sesions at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.
At Soldier Hollow alone, Bodensteiner says they have some 500 kids participating in their programs. With all of the UOLF programs combined, nearly 3,000 kids participate. “The gravitational pull of the Legacy foundation and its ability to bring clubs together under one roof has just really allowed that whole thing to explode,” says Bodensteiner. And it doesn’t hurt to have elite athletes, and former Olympians like Bodensteiner and Parra, running the programs.
“When you have experience as an athlete, you have a certain level of intuition about what the next generation of athletes needs or what the programs need,” says Bodensteiner.
“It was easy for me to kind of pay that forward,” says Parra about his experience coaching. “I was bringing in kids who were kind of following my footsteps.”
Future Olympians
Emily Fisher, Executive Director of Youth Sports Alliance (ysausa.org).
Utah boasts dozens of former Olympians and Olympic athletes who claim Utah as their home because multiple U.S. Olympic teams have headquarters and train here. We saw a class of athletes, inspired by watching the 2002 Winter Games, compete in Turin, Vancouver, Sochi and Pyeongchang. Now, we have begun to see more Olympians, too young to remember 2002, emerge from Utah with the support of Utah’s enduring Olympic legacy.
The Youth Sports Alliance (YSA) was founded as a result of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games and has become a way to inspire future Olympians. Its goal is getting as many kids as possible—from all different backgrounds—out, active and using the Olympic venues, without the typical barriers to entry (like lots and lots of disposable income).
“Our afterschool programs are unique because we provide transportation, proper gear and proper clothing so all kids can participate,” says Emily Fisher, Executive Director of the Youth Sports Alliance, but no one group is singled out. “We don’t run programs just for specific parts of our community. All the kids get on the same bus. They have the same experience, share the same snacks, and talk about wipeouts together,” she says.
Olympic luger Ashley Farquharson
Last year, more than 2,500 kids from 23 local schools participated in more than 150 after-school programs. YSA also supports seven local winter sports teams in the Wasatch Back. If the young athletes can’t afford team participation, they can apply for a YSA scholarship to pay for fees, camps and competitions.
The YSA has a reciprocal relationship with the Legacy foundation, using the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow for after-school programs. The UOLF provides the coaching staff and at the end of the program, Fisher says, “[The UOLF] can reach out and say, ‘Hey, you just tried four weeks of biathlon. If you’d like to join our club, come try out for one night for free.’”
From the ranks of the YSA, the young careers of multiple Olympians and Olympic hopefuls have emerged. In 2022, three after-school program alumni qualified for the Olympics.
Among them, 25-year-old Ashley Farquharson first rode a sled down an Olympic track as part of a YSA after-school program. She competed in luge at the 2022 Winter Games. Nordic combined skier 25-year-old Jared Shumate started in the YSA after-school program as well. He had the strongest finish of any American in the large hill event in the Beijing Winter Games. Speedskater Casey Dawson, 25, has set a world record and won a bronze medal in team pursuit at the 2022 Winter Games.
And YSA alumni certainly have high hopes for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy. “We’ve had really great success with the Nordic jumping program,” says Fisher. Josie Johnson, 17, was an alpine skier in the after-school ski jumping program. Last year, she won a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center’s cross-country trails are open to pass holders year-round. Photo courtesy of Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation/Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.
The chance to “sample” activities, beyond Olympic dreams, is important, Fisher says. As a lifelong athlete and cross-country ski racer, she can speak personally to the difference it makes. “To be able to provide that for the community I’ve been in for 26 years, it’s definitely my dream job,” she says.
Bodensteiner adds, “It’s about offering people opportunities to engage in sports. The more people we can get involved, the more we are building up that culture in our communities.”
And those communities built around sport can become lifelines. Parra says, “Everything I learned in my life—the lessons that I learned through the people around me, the communities I was in, the sport that I was participating in, and all the failures and successes that I had, whether it’s budgeting, accountability, teamwork, treating people nice—all that came from my time in sports.”
Speedskaters Casey Dawson, Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman Olympic Ski jumper Jared Shumate
Countdown to 2034
When the International Olympic Committee visited Utah in April, they met with the Youth Sports Alliance, sharing the impact they have had with local kids since 2002. “And they just—they love that,” says Fisher. With the 2034 Winter Games returning to Utah, she hopes to see the YSA model spread to more communities across Utah, beyond the Wasatch Back. “When I look ahead at the next nine years, I think about how many lives we can change,” she says.
Bodensteiner expects excitement about the Games will only grow the closer we get to 2034. “Now we can really kind of take that to the next level, modernize what we’re doing at these facilities.” At Soldier Hollow, for example, they hope to invest in more efficient snowmaking that will allow for a longer ski season.
Just as the 2002 Winter Games helped grow new skiing events, Parra sees an opportunity for growth in other sports here in Utah. “I don’t feel like we are in a skating state just yet.” In Milwaukee, where he learned to ice skate, at the rink “everybody comes with their own skates,” he says. Utahns pass down skis and snowboards but, “There isn’t that generational passing on of the skates or the love of skating…But we have nine more years until the Games.”
In 2034, the Utah Olympic Park is slated to host events like ski jumping, luge, skeleton and bobsled. Photo courtesy of Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation/Soldier Hollow Nordic Center/Utah Olympic Park/Utah Olympic Oval
On Legacy
When Alma Richards competed in the 1912 Olympics, he was an oddity among the East Coast-bred, Ivy League members of the U.S. Olympic Team. Amateur sport competition was a game for the aristocracy. Richards’ Native American and Hawaiian teammates were also considered “exotic” by the press. The U.S. did not send a single woman to compete that year, even though women could participate. When Richards’ hopes for another Olympics dwindled, he turned his focus to the next generation, perhaps unknowingly establishing an Olympic tradition. Biographer Larry Gerlach observes, “As an athlete, he gained enduring recognition…[but] clearly, as an educator he made his most important and lasting contributions to his fellow humans.”
By 2002, 90 years later, the demographics of the Games had changed. Derek Parra became the first Mexican-American to win an Olympic gold medal, but, in Parra’s own words, he spent every coin he had to make the Olympic team. Former Olympians, like Parra, Bodensteiner and many others, turn their focus to the next generation and make these once restricted spaces—expensive club sports, elite competition, world-class venues—as accessible as possible.
If there is an Olympic legacy that Utah could carry into the best version of the 2034 Games, it would be the tradition of becoming more inclusive, more accessible, and leaving things better than we found them for the next generation.
Best friends animal society looking to make no-kill 2025 a reality
This year is a big one for Best Friends Animal Society. Julie Castle, the organization’s CEO, calls 2025 the group’s “Super Bowl year.”
Having made incredible progress over the last 20-plus years, Castle and Best Friends believe they’re right on the doorstep of a monumental milestone. They’re aiming to achieve no-kill status at animal shelters nationwide in 2025.
“We’re at a tipping point,” Castle says. “When you think about non-profits, they have a lot of great causes but they don’t always have a cure. We have a solution. We know exactly how to do this and we can do it in our lifetime.”
Over the last four decades, Best Friends and its influence has grown tremendously. Castle has had a front-row seat for a while now, coming on board as Best Friends’ 17th employee in 1996, after deciding to join the organization on a whim. Nearly 30 years later, Best Friends has become a national leader in its mission to “save them all” —making the United States and its many animal shelters no-kill, meaning that 90% of cats and dogs coming into a shelter must be saved or placed in their forever homes.
Even Castle can’t believe how far they’ve come.
“In 2000, we declared to take Utah no-kill, and when we did that, 45,000 animals were dying each year. Now it’s down to 1,600,” she says, adding that 48 of the 59 animal shelters in the state are no-kill. “If you had told me that 20 years ago, I would have laughed at you.”
We know Utahns love making a difference, so our 2025 Jan/Feb issue we are spotlighting some of the most impactful philanthropic endeavors from around our state. These are the folks that strengthen our communities, tackle tough issues and create lasting change. Find them all here.
University of Utah’s Merit and Need-based scholarships make an impact for hardworking students
The gift of a college education can make a world of difference for many students in our state. Just ask Corbin Child, a freshman studying computer science at the University of Utah. After graduating from Weber Innovations High School, Corbin earned the For Utah Scholarship, a merit- and need-based scholarship backed by a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation.
For Corbin, it was the ultimate reward for righting the ship on his academic journey. Previously a 2.4 GPA student as a ninth grader, he buckled down and started taking his studies seriously. It paid off. As a senior, he scored a 3.98 GPA to bring his overall grade point average up to 3.2.
That, and his federal student aid qualification, made him a perfect fit for the For Utah Scholarship.
“It was really amazing,” he says of earning his scholarship. “I felt like all my work, studying, focusing on homework, had all paid off.”
Corbin works a part-time job, just to have a little bit of extra spending money, but is grateful for the boost he’s gotten from the scholarship. Not having to take out loans has been a huge relief. He says had it not been for the scholarship, he likely wouldn’t be attending the University of Utah, which was his number one choice after high school due to its best-of-state Data Science and Computer Science programs.
Scholarship opportunities like the For Utah Scholarship Corbin received are made possible by the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations who direct their philanthropy to help students in their pursuit of higher education at the University of Utah.
Donors may establish a named scholarship at the University of Utah after themselves, a family member, or even their company. Scholarships may be endowed, which create a lasting legacy supporting students for years to come. Or, donors may provide annual scholarships that are awarded immediately to deserving students.
Contact Maria Mullahi at maria.mullahi@admin.utah.edu to discuss scholarship-giving opportunities.
We know Utahns love making a difference, so our 2025 Jan/Feb issue we are spotlighting some of the most impactful philanthropic endeavors from around our state. These are the folks that strengthen our communities, tackle tough issues and create lasting change. Find them all here.
A life fulfilled: Dr. Adib’s philanthropic work extends around the globe
Dr. Hamid Adib, who owns Adib’s Rug Gallery on Highland Drive in Salt Lake City, believes that a life lived with purpose, compassion, and service to others is a life fulfilled. For him, happiness is not found in material success alone but in the quiet impact, he leaves in the hearts of those he touches. He is a firm believer in the principle of “live and let live” and practices a philosophy rooted in balance, humanity, and empathy. Dr. Adib seeks to leave a footprint in the lives of others that speaks to kindness, honor, and a genuine desire to help those in need.
Salt Lake City, his home for over 37 years, is where Dr. Adib has built his family, businesses, and closest relationships. He feels a profound connection to this community, which has supported and shaped him. His commitment to giving back always starts locally, through partnerships with organizations that address pressing needs in Utah. From there, his humanitarian work expands globally, embodying his belief in our shared human responsibility to care for each other, wherever we may be.
For Dr. Adib, philanthropy is far more than a duty; it is an expression of compassion. He sees true compassion as not only understanding others’ struggles but also being moved to ease their burdens. His work in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation is fueled by this empathy, as well as his desire to leave a legacy that will uplift others long after he’s gone.
He believes philanthropy rewards in unexpected ways. It brings a sense of purpose, personal growth, and connection with like-minded individuals who share his vision. Dr. Adib hopes that through his life’s work, he can inspire others to embrace compassion, reach out to those in need, and make the world a kinder place for all.
We know Utahns love making a difference, so our 2025 Jan/Feb issue we are spotlighting some of the most impactful philanthropic endeavors from around our state. These are the folks that strengthen our communities, tackle tough issues and create lasting change. Find them all here.
American heart association teams up to tackle utah’s $3M school lunch debt
A healthy heart needs a nutritious diet, especially at a young age. That’s why the American Heart Association in Utah has partnered with Utahns Against Hunger and the School Nutrition Association of Utah to work on Healthy School Meals for All to help all children get a good lunch at school.
This is especially important in underserved communities where parents might not be able to afford school lunches. According to Utahns Against Hunger (UAH) and the School Nutrition Association of Utah (SNAU), the current student lunch school debt now exceeds $3 million.
To the American Heart Association in Utah, getting involved in this cause can have a rippling effect on an entire generation’s health and well-being. It establishes a foundation for lifelong health, helping reduce the risks of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Nutritious school meals are essential in promoting and supporting both physical and cognitive development.
“All children deserve access to healthy school meals,” says Noah Miterko, Government Relations Director, American Heart Association in Utah. “Let’s make sure schools can provide them with all the tools they need to be successful in class.”
A healthy lunch can make a world of difference for a young student. Making nutritious meals available to all students, particularly in underserved areas, improves academic performance and mental well-being while addressing health disparities across socioeconomic differences.
Working on Healthy School Meals for All, the Association joins UAH and SNAU to reduce school meal debt and foster healthier, more resilient communities all over the state, particularly where it’s needed the most.
It’s a cause with heart, fitting for the American Heart Association in Utah.
American Heart Association
230 S. 500 East, Ste. 435, SLC 801-702-4423 | heart.org/utah
We know Utahns love making a difference, so our 2025 Jan/Feb issue we are spotlighting some of the most impactful philanthropic endeavors from around our state. These are the folks that strengthen our communities, tackle tough issues and create lasting change. Find them all here.
America first charitable foundation: bringing hope to families in need
“People helping people.”
That core philosophy drives America First Credit Union’s mantra toward its members and employees. The credit union’s philanthropic arm, the America First Charitable Foundation, is much the same way.
Built upon four core pillars; Community First, Kids First, Education First and Service First, the America First Charitable Foundation delivers on its mission in meaningful ways. Donating diapers to disadvantaged families, providing weekend meal kits for children, distributing coats and shoes to kids in need and offering support to shelters and food banks through an annual food drive.
The goal is simple: to ensure that no one is left without the basics to survive. The America First Charitable Foundation brings hope to families that may be struggling within the community.
“Our foundation has provided hope and support to countless individuals, and we remain dedicated to continuing this meaningful change,” says Amber Greenwell, America First’s Charitable Foundation and Community Outreach Director. “Empowering positive change by providing essential resources to those in need will always be a top priority for us.”
Thousands of local families have experienced the impact of “people helping people,” through the America First Charitable Foundation, thanks to a shared commitment by America First Credit Union and its many long-standing partnerships with like-minded local organizations.
“Building strong communities is done by ensuring everyone has access to basic human needs, such as food, clothing, shelter and education and the belief that no child should ever go hungry,” Greenwell says. “‘People helping people’ is a direct representation of who our members and employees are.”
We know Utahns love making a difference, so our 2025 Jan/Feb issue we are spotlighting some of the most impactful philanthropic endeavors from around our state. These are the folks that strengthen our communities, tackle tough issues and create lasting change. Find them all here.
Make-A-Wish Utah and Burt Brothers Tire and Service Wish Proclamation
Aug. 23, 2024 • Smith’s Ballpark, SLC
It was a magical night at the Aug. 23 Salt Lake Bees Game, where 11-year-old Layton resident Kash, who has been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, threw out the first pitch. Immediately following, Burt Brothers Tire and Service CEO Brian Maciak and Make-A-Wish Utah Development Director Summer Ehrmann led a surprise wish proclamation ceremony to grant Kash’s wish to visit Atlantis in The Bahamas with his family. More than 500 Burt Brothers’ employees and family members attended to support Kash’s Make-A-Wish and fundraising continued through September at Burt Brothers locations. Make-A-Wish Utah creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Located in its facility in Murray, The Kahlert Foundation Wishing Place, Make-A-Wish Utah offers a life-affirming wish experience at a time of vital need to children throughout Utah. For more information, visit utah.wish.org.
Kash and Bumble, the Bees MascotKash throws the game’s ceremonial first pitch to Bumble the Bee at Smith’s Ballpark. Kash with his parents Clint and Cassie and sister Katie on the field before Kash threw the first pitch at Smith’s Ballpark.Kash receives his wish proclamation from Burt Brothers Tire and Service CEO Brian Maciak
Scion Cider’s Summer Soiree
Aug. 21, 2024 • Scion Cider Bar Photos by Jeremy Pugh
Scion Cider finished summer strong with its first-ever Summer Soiree. The event featured local cheeses, jams and meats on a 12-foot-long board created by The Board by Addie. The guests mingled and enjoyed specially designed pairings from Scion and other local and regional cider makers. For more information on future events, visit scionciderbar.com.
Jessica Barber (left), Kendra Crabbs and Tyler Kofoed of Market Street Grill and Oyster Bar. Bartenders (from left) Ian Parr and Tyler Zacher and GM and Cider maker Rio Connelly
Promontory Foundation’s Happiest Hour
Aug. 27, 2024 • Promontory Club, Park City
Park City’s most exclusive, private community foundation, Promontory Foundation, hosted its annual grant reception, The Happiest Hour on Aug. 27, 2024, awarding a record $400,000 in grants to 32 nonprofits that serve the Park City and Summit County area. Promontory Foundation raised the funds through generous donations from Promontory Club members during its annual summer fundraising events. This year’s $50,000 “Promontory Promise Grant” was awarded to PC Tots, a non-profit that provides high-quality early childhood education and care to children and their families regardless of financial barriers. The complete list of non-profit grant recipients can be seen at promontoryclub.com/promontory-foundation.
Robin Milne (left), Chief Brand Officer, Promontory; Helen Nadel, Executive Director, Summit Community Gardens – EATS; and Melissa Stock, Board President, Summit Community Gardens – EATS. The 2024 Promontory Foundation Grant Recipients following the presentation at The Happiest Hour Reception at Promontory Club in Park City
Utah Clean Energy Unveils the Climate Innovation Center
June 5, 2024 • Climate Innovation Center, SLC Photos by John Aldrich
Utah Clean Energy hosted the grand opening of the Climate Innovation Center with a press conference, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and tours. The Climate Innovation Center is one of the most high-performance buildings in the nation and raises the bar for buildings in Utah and beyond. A central goal of the state-of-the-art facility is highlighting the opportunity to modernize our homes and buildings to cut emissions and combat climate change. Find out more at utahcleanenergy.org.
Randy Nicklas from Huntsman Building Solutions talking with attendee Scott Jones, Drake Sulzer and Tom Mills from Creative Energies Solar Mayor Erin Mendenhall talking with attendee Drake Sulzer. (Left to right) Cat Rayney-Norman, SLC-UT Committee for the Games; Scott Anderson, Catalyst Committee Honorary Co-chair; and Sarah Wright, Utah Clean Energy CEO Event speakers (left to right): Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City Mayor; Vicki Bennett, Utah Clean Energy Board Chair; Sarah Wright, UCE Director Utah Clean Energy CEO; Scott Anderson, Catalyst Committee Honorary Co-chair; Catherine Raney Norman, OLY, CFRE, SLC-UT Committee for the Games; Joel Ferry, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director
Salt Lake City Department of Airports’ Blue Tie Gala
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2024 • SLC International Airport Photos by SLC International Airport
The Salt Lake City Department of Airports hosted a “Blue Tie Gala” event four years after opening Phase One of The New SLC. The pandemic prevented the airport from hosting a Black Tie Gala in the fall of 2020, so the event provided an opportunity for staff involved in the Airport Redevelopment Program along with community leaders to celebrate four years later.
The gala took place in the “The River Tunnel,” provided a preview of this large-scale art installation by artist Gordon Huether. The River Tunnel is one of many large-scale art pieces installed at The New SLC Airport that represent the beauty of Utah. Guests heard the music of the tunnel for the first time at the event. More than 100 songs were curated by artist Gordon Huether as part of The River Tunnel art installation and feature music that relates to travel and Utah.
