Beyond Brownie Points – A Genuine Dedication to Make a Difference
Sarah Rodriguez is a shining example of how we all can create our own roles in child abuse prevention and help children in need.
Sarah, who owns the Prescott Valley Crossroads Chick-fil-A, has made it her life’s mission to ensure that every individual she encounters feels seen, heard, and valued. Her passion is particularly devoted to empowering and supporting youth. To help the working-age teens she employs, she champions Chick-fil-A’s college scholarship program, opening doors for her staff to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.
In 2020, Sarah and her husband Aaron reached out to Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, expressing interest in the organization’s statewide efforts to help children by strengthening families. Their first initiative, the “Cookies for a Cause” campaign in October 2020, raised $1,520 for Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.
Wanting to make an even bigger impact, Sarah joined Chick-fil-A’s Marketing and Planning Board. Her vision was to launch a statewide charitable giving campaign that would unite all Arizona Chick-fil-A restaurants in a collective effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. Sarah’s dedication and perseverance led to the creation of the “Brownies for Benefit” campaign, held in October of 2022 and 2023, in which Chick-fil-A pledged to donate $1 for every brownie purchased.
The impact was profound, raising a remarkable $33,000 in 2022, and growing by 30% in 2023 to raise an astounding $44,039 for Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.
These funds will be used to help families build protective factors that prevent child abuse and neglect before it every happens.
Beyond her professional philanthropic pursuits, Sarah extends her reach as a volunteer mentor at the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention System. Each week, she visits the detention center to build one-on-one relationships with girls who have requested to be a part of the mentorship program. Sarah’s approach is rooted in getting to know these young women for who they are, and encouraging them to share at their own pace. Through consistency and time, she learns about their lives and the paths that brought them to the detention center, and gradually builds trust to provide encouragement and support.
“These young women often feel unseen and unheard. There is so much value to consistently showing up for them, listening, remembering details about them, and being a positive voice in their life. And maybe the only positive voice that isn’t paid to be that,” Sarah reflected.
Through this role, she has heard details about the childhoods that lacked the support and resources that all children deserve. This has only strengthened her resolve to create conditions in which families have the necessary resources and information to provide positive and nurturing childhoods.
At the core of Sarah’s mission is the belief that every youth possesses inherent worth that isn’t defined by their circumstances. Her innovative efforts are an inspiration to those who want to help shape a brighter future for Arizona’s youth. Together, we can build a community in which children innately know their abundant value, and thrive in positive environments that encourage growth and development.
Thank you, Sarah Rodriguez and Chick-fil-A, for modeling that we can all choose to play a role in ensuring kids have the happy, healthy childhoods they deserve.
Pictured: Jeanne Rohrer, CFA Area Marketing Director | Claire Louge, PCAAZ Executive Director | Sarah Rodriguez, CFA Owner/Operator- Prescott Valley Crossroads