By Isabela Gamez
Primavera Foundation
When summer heat settles over Tucson, access to reliable cooling is a matter of safety, health, and human dignity. For the men staying at Primavera’s Men’s Shelter, having a cool place to sleep and recharge during Tucson’s hottest months is vital as they work toward long-term stability.
To meet the demands of rising desert temperatures, Primavera constantly works to keep our facilities operating at their best. Recognizing that our Men’s Shelter needed an upgraded, higher-capacity cooling system to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures through the peak of summer, longtime supporters Denice Blake and John Blackwell stepped forward with a gift of $14,500 to fully fund a brand-new, high-efficiency air conditioning system.
When Denice and John learned of the opportunity to upgrade the shelter’s cooling capacity before the hottest weeks hit, they stepped up to cover the entire cost. For John, the motivation was simple and heartfelt:
“We have to help our brothers,” John Blackwell said.
That deep sense of shared humanity has guided the couple throughout their lives. Both former public schoolteachers who moved to Tucson 27 years ago from Virginia, Denice and John built their lives around simple living and wise financial habits. Today, rather than retaining their required retirement distributions, they direct those funds straight back into the local community.
“We didn’t make a lot of money, but we handled the money well,” John reflects. “One thing I can say is to live off less than you make.”
A 20-Year Journey of Hands-On Care
Denice’s connection to Primavera began nearly two decades ago when she joined a volunteer meal team through a friend, preparing monthly dinners for residential participants. She later volunteered at Casa Paloma, gaining a firsthand view of how small acts of care build stronger communities.
That hands-on history informs her perspective on supporting shelter infrastructure today.
The Joy of “Giving While Living”
For Denice and John, funding physical facility enhancements allows them to see the immediate, tangible impact of their philanthropy during their lifetimes. John shared his perspective on giving back now rather than waiting:
“I can leave all of that when I’m dead and not know it, and I’d like to leave it while I’m living,” John said.
Because of Denice and John’s generosity, hundreds of men passing through our doors this year will find a truly cool, comfortable, and dignified space to rest as they rebuild their lives.