LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – For the past three years, the Don’t Be Greedy nonprofit has helped many people residing in Lake Havasu City. Like all community that experiences uncertainties in medical circumstances, the charity has yet to turn anyone away. Founder of the Don’t Be Greedy nonprofit Heidi Greedy, is one resident who has lived through these challenges.
She explained that in just a few years ago, Havasu hospitals did not have available cancer treatments for her spouse Shane Greedy. Frequent commutes with her husband were ongoing for his chemo as well as costly. Fortunately, the couple had a home in California for the extended stays.
With the charity’s current director, Shane often shared his acknowledgements of their blessings of being equipped to get from point A to B. As a patient he pondered, what about those in similar situations? He realized that not all were financially able to make such trips.
Taking his concern a step further, he requested his wife to offer his travel points to a family in need of funds for visits to a loved one with a terminal illness. Greedy wanted to help others as well.
After carrying out this wish, Shane lost his fight with cancer in August of 2023. Greedy knew there had to be other residents facing the financial burdens on travel expenses to see loved ones at out of state facilities. Receiving assistance from family and friends, she extended help to local families and just weeks of her husband’s passing, the Don’t be Greedy nonprofit was born. Their first event was a local poker run that raised over $19,000. Almost two years ago, the nonprofit teamed up with Define Boutique for their first fundraising fashion show. Over the past couple of years, their ongoing capital campaign goals has exceeded to $20,000 and beyond. Don’t be Greedy has raised nearly $100,000 not just for visitation costs, but also for patients in need of making it to hospitals to receive care. According to Greedy, community organizations like Clothes Closet, Cancer Care Resource, Havasu Hospice, and Denise’s Day, are now recommending Greedy’s service to their clientele, which has been a great resource in extending services to those in need.
From the very young to the elderly, each recipient gets $2,000 in need of commutes to visit loved ones, or Havasu residents needing to cover commuting costs to hospitals in different states. Greedy is proud of the amount of their fundraising efforts that has helped many facing an array of illnesses. “We just gave out our US 34 check to more Lake Havasu families since we’ve started. Currently, our youngest patients are two years old and we also have a lady in her early eighties. We have seen a lot of different patients with many medical conditions that fortunately, we have been able to help. Our charity events have been doing really well,” Greedy commented.
Now that their fashion shows have become an annual gala, the creator shared that this year’s show will be different from the previous. “It’s going to be called Cirque de Masquerade. We have a group of performers coming for a variety act and a magician and some fun things like where people can watch the shows at dinner time. It’s going to be elevated and more of a gala style.” Greedy added.
Tickets are $125 per person and can be bought by visiting don’t be greedynonprofit.com.
Zelle transactions can be made by contacting the Don’t Be Greedy phone number of 928-490-1914. You can also buy tickets in person by visiting the Hello Darlin’ store at 2078 McCulloch Blvd. Admission holders will be provided with dinner, complimentary cocktail, various dessert selections, silent auctions, raffle drawings, and much more.
Formal attire and masks suggested as this year’s fundraiser will be on Friday, September 11 at the London Bridge Resort’s Convention Center at 1477 Queens Bay. Doors are scheduled to open at 6:15pm, and the elegant charity festivities will kick off at 7 pm, ending at 10 pm. For Greedy, each fundraiser is a reminder to her that Shane’s dream to help others has become a reality. “Every event is super touching to me. Because I lost my husband, this was his wish while he was in the hospital. He always said we should help people in similar situations like ours. Even though $2,000 isn’t a lot of money, every time we have an event, write a check, or someone calls to tell me they are cancer free, it just touches me because it’s a little part of him that still lives, Greedy said. The Don’t Be Greedy nonprofit offers funding to the people of Lake Havasu City in need of financial assistance for required medical care and for lodging costs for visitors traveling to see loved ones outside of Havasu.
Phaedra Veronique
