Sisters Succeeding: Meghan Pearce

Photo Credit: Barbara Sullivan

Meet Meghan Pearce.  She's a 5^th generation Phoenician (from Scottsdale, Arizona) with a unique connection to family-- and to business.  Not only has Meghan's family lived in Arizona for 5 generations, but they also owned one of the oldest family run businesses in the state.  She was raised with the idea of working hard towards what you believe in, and going the extra mile whenever necessary.  It takes a strong family unit to run a successful business together; Meghan always valued the importance of family, in addition to a strong work ethic.  Not only does she hold herself to a high level of integrity; she's a lot of fun too.  Her warm and outgoing personality lights up a room.  Meghan found a way to utilize 3 of the things she loves most in life (entrepreneurship, family, and socializing) and tied them all together... creating her very own dream career.

Meghan attended the University of Arizona, where she joined Gamma Phi Beta.  Greek life provided her not only with lasting friendships, but also with the feeling of family while away at college.  She enjoyed holding positions such as social chair, living in the pretty "pink house" on campus (yes, their house is pink!), and loved meeting new people.  Shortly after graduation, Meghan began working at a public relations firm.  The firm marketed and put on events for the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, and the Lupus chapter of Arizona.  This was the beginning... she started to get her feet wet with nonprofits.  The feeling of gratitude that Meghan experienced after working these events left a significant impression; there was a deeper meaning.  The people, the lives, the impact it made.  Nonprofits were making a difference.  As a former social chair and a natural social butterfly, Meghan began to see the potential to connect the two.

Shortly after, Meghan began working for St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, which led to being asked to work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation.  Once she began working at the children’s hospital, Meghan knew that her life had been forever changed.   She was both inspired & compelled to give back, witnessing first hand the challenges that families who have a child suffering from a chronic or life threatening illness endure.  The need was there; and Meghan was determined to start her own company to help them.

We sat down with Meghan, to get the scoop on how she came to be the CEO of the Pearce Family Foundation, and created the Angels Around Us grant.

1. How long have you been involved with charitable work? 

I have been involved with charity work since I was a little girl. My father used to have my mom, sister and I help pick up trash on the highways every spring, which was a part of a recycling program he created. He also had us assist with passing out Thanksgiving turkeys to his employees who worked in the warehouse during the holiday season. I remember always feeling that warm and fuzzy feeling inside after hearing how grateful the employees were to be able to bring home a turkey to their family.

2. What sparked you to start your own 501(c)(3) public charity? 

I spent about two years coming up with the idea, but what motivated me to start was seeing how cancer affected a family friend close to me. Their whole life was turned upside down, and the only goal they now had was to go into battle with cancer and fight with all of their might. Life doesn’t stop when you're dealing with a chronic illness. They had two battles to focus all their energy and time on; their sick child, as well as surviving day-to-day struggles. I was also getting the entrepreneurial itch instilled by my family to start my own company. My great grandfather started his company on his own-- what once was a feed and grain store turned into the only Coors beer distributorship in the Southwest after Prohibition ended. Since I could not take over the family’s company, I wanted to create my own.

3. What is your dream goal or accomplishment? 

I dream of being a large foundation that not only helps families in Arizona who have a child suffering from a chronic or life threatening illness, but also being able to help families from all over the country. I hope to be able to grant more families the full grant amount every month. I want to be invited as the Pearce Family Foundation to the “Stand up to Cancer” event, as well as to be a recognizable name nationwide.

4. What are your 3 must-have beauty products?

• Mac Powerpoint eyeliner, in engrave
• Maybelline Volum’Express Colossal Mascara, in glam black
• CeraVe hydrating cleanser 

5. What is your schedule typically like day to day?

I get up in the morning and have two things: a cup of coffee, and a mini bagel from my favorite local bagel shop (they come in a dozen to a bag, I freeze one and have one in the fridge). I check my email from my bed, drink my coffee, and watch my favorite morning show... The Today Show! I have to start my morning off with Matt Lauer and Al Roker.  I've been watching them since I was little, it's tradition.  Then, I head into my office. I am normally doing a bunch of things; checking emails, entering checks into Quickbooks, making lunch appointments (with potential nonprofits or people I hope to be working with in the future).  I also do one of my favorite things, which is sending grant applications to families who are in need of our grant, Angels Around Us.

My day is also always different.  One day I'm practicing skeet shooting (we are having a skeet shooting fundraiser in October), others I'm helping garden at St. Vincent de Paul. I love ending the day with a Zumba class and a home cooked dinner. My mom is an amazing cook... I'm trying to practice every chance I get! I think it is important to know how to make yourself a healthy meal. Going out is great, but nothing beats looking in your fridge and coming up with some type of yummy (and free) meal!

6. What are the ups & downs of being in the philanthropic industry?

There are struggles for sure.  Being a “newbie” to this industry makes it tough because no one knows who you are. There are over 30,000 nonprofits in Arizona alone, which is why you have to make yours unique and your own. I feel with my history of working at St. Joe’s and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, I have a good start with where I want to take my foundation.  It's tough, there's a lot of competition. Every foundation wants to "do good,” so you have to think outside the box and separate yours from the rest. The up side though is that you are giving back to your community and helping those in need-- no matter what, you're making a difference. When I tell people what I am doing and for who, they are so intrigued.  I can tell I'm doing something unique, it will grow more in time.

7. If you can have anyone's closet- who's would it be?

Two people; my grandmother Charlotte Pearce, and Audrey Hepburn. Both of these women grew up in a time where dressing up was necessary, whether you were going to dinner or to the grocery store. My grandmother would wear her jewels while shopping for dinner. I respect a woman who acts like every day is an affair to remember. If she was still around today, I would beg to borrow from her closet. I am lucky to have a few of her treasures.

Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of classy; I can only imagine how organized and perfect her closet must have been! Every girl loves a simple yet flattering black dress, and Audrey put that on the fashion map. The LBD is still the go-to look when you "have nothing to wear".

8. How did your collegiate sorority experience make you the person you are today?

Being involved in Gamma Phi Beta gave me the confidence I needed to be able to talk to anyone, and to hold a conversation. Recruitment was great practice for learning how to talk to strangers, and be able to get to know someone in 2-3 minutes. I feel I have a good judge of character now, and can tell whether or not someone is who he or she says they are. I enjoyed every moment of being an active. Life is meant to be spent, not saved, which is why I try to live every day to the fullest and to do things that make me happy!

9. Name 3 things in your purse that you can't live without.

1. EOS chapstick in summer fruit
2. My iphone5s
3. My sunglasses {by Victoria Beckham or Karen Walter}
4. One more- I always, always, always have a water bottle with me! I probably drink 3-4 water bottles a day :)

10. You have helped many families and children through the Angels Around Us grant. Tell us about the moments that made the biggest impact on you.

A family that inspired me to start the grant program was struggling last December with bills and life stresses. I hadn’t fully come up with the grant system, so I did not have an application or anything in place yet. My mom and I decided it was time to introduce the grant idea to friends and family by holding a holiday party.  Everyone brought a gift card for the family. They have a 15-year-old girl who has bone cancer in her arm that has come back twice. The mom has also been sick, so she was only working part time, and her husband had been having a hard time finding work. The bills were piling up, and they did not know how they were going to have a Christmas for their family. I rallied behind them, and we ended up raising about $3,000 in gift cards for the family. The mom kept saying, “why would people help us who don’t know us?" After, she looked at me and said, “what you are doing is going to change people’s lives."  Right then, I knew I was on the right path for the foundation.

Another family we just recently helped were the Acosta’s. Their truck was in the shop because they needed a new transmission. They have a son who was born without a lower jaw, and I met them when I worked at the children's hospital. The mom got in touch with me and told me what was going on.  She came to my office with her son, and filled out the grant application. She was practically in tears the entire time. She told me she was just about ready to sell all her furniture in order to pay for her transmission. I immediately pushed the application through with my committee-- I went down to Sanderson Ford [a local dealership] and paid the remaining debt for the family.

Those moments are why Angels Around Us has been created. We aim to eliminate the extra stress life throws at you. I am so grateful to have this in motion, so I can step in when I am able to and give back to Arizona families in need.

11. What is your #1 advice for people that are interested in the public charity industry?

First off, if you want to start a nonprofit-- congratulations! Giving back to our community is life changing and worth every step of the way. Find people you trust, that you can rely on to stand by your side when you need advice. Being in the nonprofit world isn’t the most glamorous occupation. You’re the one setting up your events and cleaning up at the end. That's a small price to pay when you see the reward. I would never give up or go back to any other occupation; I find happiness and peace knowing I am helping those who have no where else to turn.

This is one of my favorite quotes, it's something I believe to be very true: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” -Muhammad Ali

 Thank you for sharing your story with us, Meghan! Connect with the Pearce Family Foundation by visiting their website.