“The Foundation helps us cover a lot of ground.”
Tom and Cheryl Kautz have been involved with a lot of community organizations throughout the years but when they were introduced to the Fountain Hills Community Foundation, they knew they’d found the most effective way to make a difference.
“The Foundation is a one-stop place we can put our efforts into,” Tom explained. “We still make individual donations to things we feel passionate about but the Foundation helps us cover a lot of ground.”
The Kautzs own Cheryl’s of Fountain Hills, a popular women’s clothing store on Avenue of the Fountains. The couple transitioned into the clothing business nearly 15 years ago after interest for their home staging business waned following the housing market crash in 1998. Originally located in the Basha’s shopping plaza, Cheryl’s moved to their Avenue of the Fountain location eight years ago.
“The store is a passion for both of us,” Tom said. “We like seeing our customers day-to-day, both in the store as well as around town. For us, it’s an important part of the community.”
The Kautzs contribute annually to the Foundation through Flutter at the Fountain, both monetarily and in-kind. Tom says the event is a fun way to meet like-minded community residents who are also passionate about giving.
“I think anytime you benefit from the community, it’s important to give back to that community,” Tom said. “From a business standpoint, it’s a good idea. From a humanitarian standpoint, it’s important to share with those who are less fortunate. When our contributions are combined with those of others, we can do more good.”