Libby Wright-Giovingo, 46, is the director and co-founder of the Giving Tree Outreach Program. The faith-based program started 15 years ago to meet the needs of poverty-stricken elderly folks. It has since expanded to aid the homeless, especially homeless children in Pima County. The all-volunteer organization currently operates the Grace Home for homeless children; Wright-Giovingo says it’s the only children’s home in the state that is not government-funded. Wright-Giovingo has lived in Tucson for 15 years. A native of Labrador, Canada, she’s a graduate of the University of Southern California and California State University at Santa Ana. She and Mollie Moody, the Giving Tree’s director of development, recently chatted with The Weekly.
Give me the Cliff’s Notes on the Giving Tree.
We provide food, referrals, case management, counseling, clothing, toiletries and social services for homeless and needy children and families. We also help elderly and disabled individuals.
How many people are you currently helping?
We’re helping 800 people a month who come to our feeding program on Thursday nights. Twelve children live at the Grace Home, with 10 of those there all the time. We do referrals and case management for another 40 or 50 people a week who call in for various things.
That sounds like a lot of work. How many people are with the organization?
There’s not one paid person with the Giving Tree, unless you count room and board for the house parents at the Grace Home, which I don’t, seeing as they have to watch 12 kids. There are more than 100 volunteers, and they range in age from 10 to 94. (The 94-year-old) comes to help at our feeding program.
How many homeless kids are there in Tucson?
According to a recent report, there are 2,100.
Wow. What causes a child to become homeless?
I’d say the No. 1 thing is domestic violence. No. 2 is eviction due to some kind of breaking in the family. Drugs are the other big cause.
What happens if these kids don’t get helped?
They go hungry. And it’s much worse in the summer months, when school’s out, because they don’t even get the two good meals they get in school (with the school lunch program).
Giving Tree is faith-based. What does that mean in terms of your services?
We do not discriminate against any type of person whatsoever in our programs. But our funding sources are primarily from private individuals who don’t believe the government has any business raising children. We allow total religious freedom for our children and our house parents. Nobody’s beating people over the head with a Bible. I really want to stress that. There is no one particular church or denomination helping us. We have the whole range of people. Most of the people who provide support have had a first-hand experience with poverty or homelessness.
You’ve just given me a bunch of ways that faith does not play a factor. How does faith become involved?
Well, at the Grace Home, we pray. We have sermons on our land, the same land we use for our feeding program Thursday night. We provide breakfast at those (Sunday) sermons. People call it “Church on the Lot” and it’s done by the Tucson Area Christian Fellowship. They also come on Thursday night, and if anybody needs prayer, they’re there. A lot of the people seem spiritually lost because of the failures of what we call “organized churches.” This doesn’t look like a church.
Has the faith element ever caused you any problems?
No, not ever, in all the years of the feeding program or the Grace Home, because we don’t push it on anybody. We’re giving unconditionally. People don’t have to sing hymns. We don’t do anything like that. I will say that’s not the case with most faith-based programs, however.
How much do you spend a year?
This part is gonna knock your socks off. Our annual budget is $13,000. The rest is donated. We have donated office space, a donated receptionist–all volunteers. We need to pay the utilities at the Grace Home and pay for stuff for the children. There’s also insurance and gas–that’s a big one right now. We also spend $100 a week buying food from the Food Bank.
Wait. You have to buy food from the Food Bank?
Mollie Moody, director of development: Yeah. They take donated food and sell it back for 22 cents a pound.
Wow. That’s weird. Well, if you could tell people one thing about homeless children in Tucson, what would it be?
Wright-Giovingo: I want them to know that there are children right here in our backyard going without food and clothing and shoes. At least five kids a month are coming to the feeding program needing shoes. Society’s so focused on helping children all around the world, but they don’t see what’s going on in their own backyard.
This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2003.
Thanks for a decent article about a decent pair of Ladies. Isn’t it interesting that the local food bank charges for food we have given them? I did not know that. DRW
The food bank has operating expenses so of course they should charge. They offer lots of good resources that increase food security in the community besides food boxes. The Community Food Resource Center located on the second floor of the building (3003 S country club rd) offers free seeds, compost and gardening instruction to the community. The also have demonstration gardens and free classes so people can create their own food stream rather than depending on donations exclusively. The work they do is outstanding and the gifts they give are abundant. 22 cents a pound is a small price to pay for that. If the giving tree would like to apply to some programs, they could get the food for free- but that would mean oversight- and they would not be able to readily get away with what they do to communities. For instance, overpopulating neighborhoods with homeless people without establishing neighborhood relation plans thereby driving down home prices. Also, they can afford to pay 22 cents a lb for food since they charge their tenants $10 a day for rent. I think their heart is in the right place but they neglect to consider the effect they are having on the home owners that live around them.
I have had the privelige to volunteer with my husband while on vacation in Tucson. This is an excellent model for what we could all do.
Libby is a lieing deceaving and only helps homeless for personal gain
She is not a native of Labrador Canada, eh! I am so bothered by her claiming to be. Military brat from the US. Do good things but no under false pretenses, eh.
Libby Wright is a fraud. I have observed her false Love for the homeless and children claims for the past 2 years. I have been a client of her new dubious organization called Cross Country Ministries, and Shop 4 A Cause. She is all about gain and is very deceptive. She is a snake who is very slippery. Her real name is Elisabeth Ann Wright Gionvingo. She owns her house at Property Information
Property Owner:
WRIGHT,ELIZABETH A
County:
Pima
State:
AZ
Parcel Number:
219240940
Site Address:
13369 N Vistoso Bluff PL
Oro Valley, AZ 85755
Latitude:
Longitude:
Most Recent County Assessor Information
Owner and Location Information
Physical Address:
13369 N Vistoso Bluff PL
Oro Valley, AZ 85755
Mailing Address:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
ORO VALLEY, AZ 85755
County Name:
Pima
State:
AZ
Owners:
N/A
Lot And Building Information
Lot-Size or Area:
N/A
Improved Square Feet:
N/A
Year Built:
2000
Number of Stories:
1
Number of Units:
1
Number of Buildings:
1
Number of Rooms:
6
Style:
N/A
Construction Type:
N/A
Building Class:
1
Building Area:
1265
Valuation
Assessed Land Value:
N/A
Assessed Improvements:
N/A
Total Assessed Value:
N/A
Assessment Year:
2014
Sales Price:
$240,000
Sales Price Description:
N/A
Prior Sale Price:
N/A
Sales Price Description:
N/A
Prior Sale Date:
N/A
Market Value
Land Value:
$125,642
Improvement Value:
$125,140
Total Value:
$125,642
Year:
N/A
Tax Information
Tax Year:
N/A
Tax Delinquent Year:
N/A
Taxes Mailed to:
N/A
Mailing Address:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
ORO VALLEY, AZ 85755
Tax Amount:
$1,751
Recording Information
Date Recorded:
10/28/2005
Document number:
0126695595
Book Number:
N/A
Page Number:
N/A
Document Type:
N/A
APN:
219240940
FIPS Number:
N/A
Legal Description
Lot Number:
313
Lot Code:
N/A
Land Lot:
N/A
Block:
N/A
Lot Code:
N/A
District:
N/A
Section:
29
Municipality:
14E
Map Reference:
N/A
Unit:
N/A
City:
N/A
Subdivision:
VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02
Phase Number:
N/A
Tract Number:
N/A
Brief Description:
RANCHO VISTOSO NEIGHBORHOOD 2 PHASE 2 LOT 313
County Information
County Land Use Description:
N/A
County Land Use Code:
0133
Standardized Land Use Code:
RSFR
Zoning:
N/A
Time Share Code:
N/A
NOTE: Assessor records are only updated by the county once a year. The above information may be superseded by a recorded transfer. See the deed history below.
09/28/2012 Deed Document
Date Recorded:
09/28/2012
APN-T:
N/A
FIPS:
N/A
County:
PIMA
State:
AZ
Document Number:
2721028
Book Number:
51
Page Number:
64
Document Type:
T
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N/A
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Seller Mailing Addresses:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
ORO VALLEY, AZ 85755
Buyer(s):
WRIGHT,ELIZABETH A
Buyer Mailing Address:
N/A
Lot Number:
N/A
Lot Code:
N/A
Land Lot:
313
Block:
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Section:
29
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Legal City:
11S
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Phase Number:
N/A
Tract Number:
N/A
Township:
N/A
Subdivision:
VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02
Legal Brief Description:
313 VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02 51 64 29 11S14E
Legal Complete Description:
N/A
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N/A
Sale Price Code:
N/A
Original Contract Date:
N/A
Physical Address:
N/A
Physical Address Carrier Route:
N/A
Census Tract and Block:
N/A
Mailing Address:
N/A
Mailing Address Carrier Route:
R114
Mailing Address FIPS:
N/A
10/01/2010 Deed Document
Date Recorded:
10/01/2010
APN-T:
N/A
FIPS:
N/A
County:
PIMA
State:
AZ
Document Number:
0139061539
Book Number:
51
Page Number:
64
Document Type:
Q
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N/A
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N/A
Seller(s):
WRIGHT,ELIZABETH A
Seller Mailing Addresses:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
ORO VALLEY, AZ 85755
Buyer(s):
WRIGHT,ELIZABETH A
Buyer Mailing Address:
N/A
Lot Number:
N/A
Lot Code:
N/A
Land Lot:
313
Block:
N/A
Section:
29
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N/A
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11S
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N/A
Phase Number:
N/A
Tract Number:
N/A
Township:
N/A
Subdivision:
VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02
Legal Brief Description:
313 VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02 51 64 29 11S14E
Legal Complete Description:
N/A
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N/A
Sale Price Code:
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Original Contract Date:
N/A
Physical Address:
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Mailing Address:
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Mailing Address Carrier Route:
R114
Mailing Address FIPS:
N/A
10/28/2005 Deed Document
Date Recorded:
10/28/2005
APN-T:
N/A
FIPS:
N/A
County:
PIMA
State:
AZ
Document Number:
0126695595
Book Number:
N/A
Page Number:
N/A
Document Type:
G
Property Use Code:
N/A
Time Share Flag:
N/A
Lot Size:
N/A
Planned Unit Dev Rider:
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Sale Price:
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City Transfer Tax:
N/A
County Transfer Tax:
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Total Transfer Tax:
$240
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N/A
Seller(s):
ROMONOSKY,THOMAS & DANA
Seller Mailing Addresses:
1473 W COOL DR
TUCSON, AZ 85704
Buyer(s):
WRIGHT,ELIZABETH A
Buyer Mailing Address:
N/A
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Legal Brief Description:
313 VISTOSO RHO NBRHD 02 PH 02 51 64 29 11S14E
Legal Complete Description:
N/A
Map Reference:
N/A
Sale Price Code:
N/A
Original Contract Date:
N/A
Physical Address:
N/A
Physical Address Carrier Route:
N/A
Census Tract and Block:
N/A
Mailing Address:
N/A
Mailing Address Carrier Route:
C017
Mailing Address FIPS:
N/A
10/21/2002 Deed Document
Date Recorded:
10/21/2002
APN-T:
N/A
FIPS:
N/A
County:
PIMA
State:
AZ
Document Number:
0119092142
Book Number:
N/A
Page Number:
N/A
Document Type:
G
Property Use Code:
N/A
Time Share Flag:
N/A
Lot Size:
N/A
Planned Unit Dev Rider:
N/A
Sale Price:
N/A
City Transfer Tax:
N/A
County Transfer Tax:
N/A
Total Transfer Tax:
$130
Excise Tax Number:
N/A
Tax ID:
N/A
Doc Number:
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Seller(s):
KELLY,ROBERTO F
Seller Mailing Addresses:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
TUCSON, AZ 85737
Buyer(s):
ROMONOSKY,THOMAS & DANA
Buyer Mailing Address:
N/A
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Physical Address:
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N/A
Census Tract and Block:
N/A
Mailing Address:
N/A
Mailing Address Carrier Route:
R114
Mailing Address FIPS:
N/A
01/03/2001 Deed Document
Date Recorded:
01/03/2001
APN-T:
N/A
FIPS:
N/A
County:
PIMA
State:
AZ
Document Number:
0114572178
Book Number:
N/A
Page Number:
N/A
Document Type:
N/A
Property Use Code:
N/A
Time Share Flag:
N/A
Lot Size:
N/A
Planned Unit Dev Rider:
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Sale Price:
N/A
City Transfer Tax:
N/A
County Transfer Tax:
N/A
Total Transfer Tax:
$115
Excise Tax Number:
N/A
Tax ID:
N/A
Doc Number:
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Seller(s):
FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INS TTEE
Seller Mailing Addresses:
13369 N VISTOSO BLUFF PL
TUCSON, AZ 85737
Buyer(s):
KELLY,ROBERTO F
Buyer Mailing Address:
N/A
There is no so-called religious freedom. Clients must attend a weak and spineless church that Ms. Wright has not set foot on or be ousted from the program if you do not comply. It’s called “Apostolic Christian Church of America.” A nondescript building with not a cross, candle, or organ in the chapel that is run by local businessmen. They resemble used car salesmen or game show hosts more than Pastors – even one that is particularly semi-literate and has to be corrected by the parishioners from time-to-time. He once referred to the Children Of Israel as the “Children Of Evil.” There is no tithing, and donations are to be taken privately after services. Interesting in that there is no visible change in the upkeep or appearance of this church.