Partners

Proceeds from the Saguaro Hill Festival directly benefit:

Since its incorporation in 1991 the Desert Foothills Land Trust (DFLT) has evolved into a committed and stable organization dedicated to protecting the special places unique to the Sonoran Desert foothills area of central Arizona. As a legacy for future desert residents to enjoy, DFLT has to date preserved 611.7 acres encompassing 15 properties of biologically diverse significance. These open spaces will be protected by DFLT in perpetuity ensuring that the land remains forever in its undisturbed, wild state while still offering recreation opportunities to all area residents and visitors of today and tomorrow.

At its conception DFLT was an all-volunteer organization. Presently, the organization consists of 15 volunteer members on the Board of Directors, a staff of three and dozens of other talented volunteers that serve in various ways. The DFLT conserved properties are overseen by trained Stewards, the organized hikes are lead by trained Docents and the majority of our events and projects are overseen and organized collectively by volunteers with a variety of background experience.

The Desert Foothills Library was formed on Valentine's Day in 1954, with Dorothy Smith serving as the first professional librarian and director. The circulation for that inaugural year was just over 1,000 items. After a number of additions on the building on Saguaro Hill, the library grew from 3,000 sq. ft. to almost 19,000 sq. ft. in 2008! The circulation statistics for 2008 were over 105,000 items. Desert Foothills Library incorporated as a 501(c) 3 non-profit in 1975, and as such, is uniquely and privately- funded with all donations tax deductible. Over 125 dedicated volunteers provide 20,000 hours of service.

The Library's mission is to "serve as a welcoming place to promote knowledge, ideas and cultural enrichment by providing diverse materials and resources which respond to community needs". Its vision is to be "at the heart of the community". This vision is achieved by the numerous creative programs for children and adults in state-of-the art spaces; the excellent collection of materials; Friends Used Bookstore; Art Gallery sponsored by the Sonoran Arts League; WI-FI throughout; passport processing service; coffee cart; and plasma news screen. The physical beauty of the library with its mountain views, waterfall feature, patios, and the Botanic Garden and nature trail of the adjacent Desert Foothills Land Trust make it truly "the heart of the community".