Inspired by Mariah Devries’ passion to help others, especially children, and tenacity to make a difference, Mariah’s Miracle was founded after her passing in 2020 to enhance the lives of every Arizona pediatric patient. Here, Teri Roberts, founder, and Sharon McGarvey, director and Devries’ mom, discuss the nonprofit’s mission, goals and how readers can contribute to this incredible Goodyear-based organization.
What is the mission of Mariah’s Miracle? Mariah’s Miracle’s mission is to enhance the lives of every Arizona pediatric patient in critical need of costly equipment and therapy that insurance will not cover. Our nonprofit was created by Teri Roberts, owner of Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AzOPT), as a tribute to our daughter and dear friend, Mariah DeVries, who passed away at the age of 26 in 2020 from an aggressive form of cancer after the birth of her first child, Clara. Mariah worked as a pediatric therapist at AzOPT’s Kids Place and believed every child deserves the right to live joyfully and independently. She was devoted to helping as many children as she could reach their developmental milestones, especially those who were experiencing the financial strains of out-of-pocket costs or waiting to hear whether insurance would cover essential equipment at all.
Mariah had the keen ability to lift everyone up who surrounded her and it’s an honor for us to keep her passion and legacy for supporting others alive through our work at Mariah’s Miracle. It’s also paramount for Clara to know how special her mother truly was. While she is still really young (4 years old), Clara understands that “Mommy’s Miracle” helps babies and children, which we’re incredibly proud of, and believe Mariah would be too.
What prompted the start of the nonprofit? Mariah was born with the innate tenacity to make a difference. From Toys For Tots drives for her birthday parties to being a Big Sister to visiting Kenya to volunteer at a children’s hospital, making positive impacts for others was simply in her DNA. When she started working at AzOPT’s Kids Place and experienced firsthand how expensive pediatric medical equipment was, how often it was denied by insurance and how these obstacles could cause conditions to worsen both physically and emotionally for a child, it really became a passion of hers to help families navigate through these challenges. She would write countless letters to insurance companies vying for equipment for her patients that were often denied, and we would speak about creating an initiative like what is now Mariah’s Miracle that could more easily support children through their therapy journeys. It was something she looked forward to doing. When she was diagnosed with cancer and it was evident she may not recover, we knew that we had to take on this mission and carry out her dreams of helping pediatric patients who are in vital need for a better quality of life.
What is the greatest reward in being involved with Mariah’s Miracle? Mariah’s Miracle has raised over $280,000 and since 2022 has helped over 53 kids receive the resources and care they need for their therapy journey. It’s been incredibly rewarding knowing these children now have a fuller life with our help. But it’s also allowed us to grieve together as a community. Mariah believed people were born to serve others. And while we’ll never understand why she was taken from us so soon, the community coming together to grow Mariah’s Miracle with us has been a way of healing and choosing joy throughout this process.
What is the biggest challenge the nonprofit faces? Before starting Mariah’s Miracle, neither of us had ever led a nonprofit organization. We didn’t really know what to expect, and we’re learning lessons on how to be successful in real time. From fundraising to event planning, we wear many hats at once and it’s a lot of work. What has truly helped has been the unwavering support of our community who have become just as passionate about our mission as us, and our corporate partnerships who’ve bolstered our events and initiatives over the last few years. To say we’re enduringly grateful would be an understatement.
What are your goals for the remainder of the year? We have our inaugural Drive For Dreams: Mariah’s Miracle Golf Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 2, that we’re gearing up for. Our signature fundraising events in 2024 have been fortunately really successful thus far thanks to our community, and we’re really looking forward to closing out the year hitting those milestones we set out for ourselves.
It’s important for us to broaden our awareness and reach as many Arizonans as possible who are in need of resources and aid for pediatric medical equipment and therapy services. We’d like to expand our relationships with local partners as well as connect with other orthopedic therapy groups in Arizona who have patients that we could potentially aid. Our goal is to be top-of-mind for families who are facing these challenges, and we’re not going to stop spreading the word until we get there.
How can readers help? There are several opportunities to help Mariah’s Miracle and our future recipients. First and foremost, help us spread the word! If you know any pediatric therapists who are seeking to connect with an organization like ours or families in need of assistance, please encourage them to reach out as we’re always looking for recipients. We highly recommend taking part in or volunteering at one of our events, like our Drive For Dreams golf tournament in the fall. And while our events are always great opportunities to expand our community and raise funds, it’s really those incremental contributions throughout the year. Smaller, recurring donations that can be anywhere from $5 to $20 monthly can really make a difference in a child’s life. If you’re interested in donating or becoming more involved with Mariah’s Miracle, we ask that you visit our website at www.mariahsmiracle.org for more information.
Does the nonprofit have any events or fundraisers on the horizon? In addition to our Drive For Dreams golf tournament, we typically host three signature fundraising events. If you’re interested in attending or volunteering at one of these events like our 5K and Mile Fun Run or our 4th Annual Boots, Bags & BBQ Cornhole Tournament in 2025, stay up to date on details at www.mariahsmiracle.org.