East Valley Women's League is the realization of a vision of three East Valley women. Recognizing there were many underprivileged women and children in our community with unmet needs, they set forth to establish a service organization to assist those who were in need of a helping hand. Knowing the best way to make a real difference is to combine the efforts of a group of many; they invited other East Valley women to join them. As a result, forty women from varied backgrounds, with varied talents, and a common goal were brought together for the first time in 2001. This vision is still the essence of East Valley Women's League today.The group spent the next year organizing itself into a formal non-profit organization and delving into the unanswered needs of women and children in the East Valley. It wasn't long before the members were ready to make a strong commitment to women and children's issues within the community. Wanting to act immediately, the group began providing   volunteers  to   area   charities  such  as  Tempe's Thomas J Pappas School for Children of the Homeless and the Ronald McDonald House. When two local  high   school   students requested EVWL's help in the development of a new philanthropic effort there was no hesitation. Cinderella Affair was born from these students' efforts and remains a major beneficiary of EVWL's financial and volunteer service support in collaboration with the Tempe Community Council. Cinderella Affair, EVWL and TCC have helped hundreds of young women and men participate in this very important teenage milestone over the past four years. 

Fundraising began with the 1st Annual EVWL Kentucky Derby Day in May 2002. With funds raised from that event, new possibilities blossomed. The EVWL Scholarship Fund was established. Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation assists in granting these scholarships based on EVWL's selection criteria and the fund continues to grow every year. It is  EVWL's hope that with this support, single mothers will have the opportunity to realize their potential and thereby end a cycle of poverty.  

Wanting to do more, the members gave birth to another program of their own. In the spring of 2003, the members of EVWL began organizing "Packing for Success", a school supplies program for Kyrene District Middle and High School and Tempe Union High School students. Today the program has reached over 1000 students in the East Valley and helps to ensure their success in the classroom. 

The Annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser has grown from a back yard event with 60 participants to a resort venue fundraiser for over 300 attendees, including a golf tournament. As the Derby has grown so have the monies raised and the group's level of commitment to the community. EVWL has successfully partnered with the corporate community through the Derby Sponsorship Program. Notably, the first Derby title sponsor was PetSmart, donating $10,000 to support the efforts of EVWL.

The East Valley Women's League takes seriously the confidence placed in it by our sponsors and donors, and approaches our work in the community in a professional and heartfelt manner. EVWL views our relationship with our sponsors as one based upon the mutual desire to lend a hand to those in need in the communities where we all live and work. We will continue to nurture these important relationships and we will remain committed to following the vision of community service set forth by EVWL's original founding members. We are certain that together we can positively impact the lives of many and, as a result, make our community stronger and more vibrant.