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Meet the scholars of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona. BHGH finds academically capable, motivated kids, who have financial and other obstacles to their educations, and offers them, without charge, the opportunity for a comprehensive learning experience.  The kids are offered scholarships at the best private schools in Phoenix, as well as counseling, medical care, personal growth opportunities and, eventually, college counseling and assistance with college tuition.  Since 1989 when the Phoenix branch of BHGH was founded, every single kid that has graduated from the Arizona program has been admitted to college.  They are often the first in their family to go.  Schools they have attended include Arizona State University, Colgate, Dartmouth, Gonzaga, Pepperdine and others.  It is an amazing, amazing program.  Here are some of the current BHGH scholars:

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We just got back from a quick escape to Utah, where the daily high and low temperatures were at least 20 degrees below the inferno we left behind in Arizona.  It was nice to be able to work outside again without having to worry about heat stroke.  I took advantage of the beautiful weather and shot a bunch of images of my nieces and nephew, who generously indulged me.  They are sweet, beautiful children and it was fun to spend a couple of hours photographing them.  Here are a few of the resulting images:

Kylie

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Savannah

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Lexi

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Kylie, Zach, Savannah and Lexi

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My wife, Jennifer, posted an Erma Bombeck quotation this morning which points out one of the many reasons this is a great country. “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.”  This is how we began our Independence Day celebration.

We honored the flag…

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While our chefs finished cooking breakfast…

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Which we all enjoyed, from grandchildren…

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To grandparents.

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We honored our veterans from the greatest generation…

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And were moved by a letter written by a young soldier in Afghanistan and read by his dad.

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We gathered as husbands…

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and wives….

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as scout leaders…

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and neighbors…

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as mothers who love their sons…

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and dads who love their daughters…

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and as children, playful…

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observant…

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joyful…

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and patriotic.

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And then, with parents gathered in eager anticipation…

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We had a parade.

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It’s a tumultuous world and we live in trying times.  But some things remain constant. I’m grateful for family and friends, and for a great, blessed country that, despite her occasional stumbles, has a generous and courageous heart.

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