Ward III Neighbors was started in 1999 by Dave Fossdal, John Sawyer, Judi Stern and Paula Aboud, with the backing of then Ward 3 councilperson Jerry Anderson. These dedicated neighborhood leaders organized monthly presentations to inform Ward 3 residents and Neighborhood Associations about current issues involving the City, the County, and the State. By featuring speakers at monthly meetings to address topics of concern to the community, they provided resources and tools to foster collaboration among individuals, neighborhoods, and various public entities and agencies. They decided they wanted to be an informal organization -- non-partisan and non-political, with no bylaws, no elected officers, and no dues. They wanted to create a group to help each other with particular issues, problems and concerns facing all Ward 3 residents. Originally, the Ward 3 office supported Ward III Neighbors by copying, folding, stuffing into envelopes, and mailing approximately 100 agendas to Neighborhood Associations each month.
In 2003, they changed their name to Ward 3 Neighbors Alliance, in an effort to clarify that although they serve the residents of Ward 3, they were very separate from (but supported by) the Ward 3 Council Office.
In 2012, W3NA incorporated under the Arizona Corporation Commission and applied to the IRS for 501c3 non-profit status, which was approved in June 2013. 501c3 status provides an additional resource available to Neighborhood Associations and other groups within Ward 3, as many such groups do not have the depth of organization and involvement, or the funding required, to acquire this status on their own. 501c3 status makes W3NA a qualified fiscal agent that can be used for grant applications by member groups, and so that contributions, direct and in-kind, can be made through the Alliance and be tax deductible.
With this mission in mind, W3NA is striving to increase the interest and participation of Ward 3 neighborhoods, individuals and businesses in our efforts. The Alliance welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with neighborhoods as a presenter, and to listen and learn more about networking possibilities for our neighborhoods, businesses, churches, schools and residents.