Tom and Maureen Callinan are officially rooted in the Valley after several years of being snow birds between Phoenix and Cincinnati – and a short stint living here when Tom was Editor of The Arizona Republic and azcentral. The Callinans have been active with SVP since 2011 – Tom was active with SVP Cincinnati and served on the International board. They officially transferred affiliations to Phoenix full-time this year.
Tom is a retired newspaper editor and founder of Charitable Words Scholars. Maureen practiced law.
More from Tom:
What led you to SVP? A career in news (including a stint as Editor of The Arizona Republic and azcentral) called for me to keep an arm’s length from political or even community involvement. When I retired, I wanted to be active and engaged in the nonprofit sector
My spouse and SVP Partner Maureen, who would not be retiring from her job leading an elder law firm for another six years, knew I would need a purpose in my retirement and introduced me to SVP. It opened up a new world.
We embraced engaged philanthropy with gusto and I continued to learn as volunteer, board member with SVP Cincinnati, SVP International and after meeting Dan Pallotta at an SVP conference, joined his Charity Defense Council as an advisory board member.
Learning from that experience prompted us to found Charitable Words Scholars, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides internships for students interested in the nonprofit sector.
SVP “rewired” this retired Editor.
What do you most look forward to / hope to accomplish as a Partner? While we are not necessarily new to town we have been away for a while and it is great to network with old and new SVP friends, who will introduce us to causes we care about and nonprofits doing important work in those areas.
When and where are you happiest? Retirement is a challenge for anyone who has spent a strenuous career surrounded by energy and intellectual engagement. I don’t relax well. I like golf but I love what SVP offers to keep me “rewired,” not retired.
Welcome back, Callinans! We’re glad you’re here.
If you wish to be featured, please reach to SVPAZ Communications Manager Meghan Leatherman.