Arizona’s most heartwarming news stories of 2025

As the year comes to a close, let’s choose to focus on the positives, with these 12 heartwarming stories of 2025. 

“It’s mere memory marred many moments of joy,” is a line from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray that rings true for many of us scanning through the rolodex of memory. One bad instance—be it political, weather-related, financial, etc.—can prevent the memory banks from recalling all the good that has happened. This year, 2025, has definitely had its fair share of ups and downs, with plenty of downs to quickly draw upon, but taking a moment to reflect on the good can offer peace of mind and a more joy-filled existence. Many Arizonans stood out this year for their kindness, just as these 12 heartwarming stories stand out for hope. From scientific breakthroughs to second chances and helping hands, these stories all added good to the world. As 2025 comes to a close, let’s focus on those good feelings and bring some of that positive energy into 2026. Here are the 12 most heartwarming stories of 2025.

1. Options for the elderly 

Unexpectedly heartwarming, an article put out by Newsweek listed 10 nursing homes in Arizona that are among the nation’s best. With a large population of seniors and retirees within State 48, it is beautiful to note that there are top-tier options for the beloved seniors who may need to trade in independence for high-quality care.

2. Food is medicine, a way to give back

One man, John Benendict, went from waiting in food bank lines to growing food for those same food banks, all over a four-year span. Since then, he has been working with rural hospitals on creating an Rx plan for food. This plan allows patients to receive structured meals, particularly for those with chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, which can be reversible through diet. He hopes to expand this program throughout the state and nation, helping more people have easy access to healthy food. His story is a true picture of success, from needing assistance to giving it right back.

3. A cleansing community cry

In June, near the original site of the Phoenix Indian School, indigenous people gathered around for the Phoenix Indian Center’s first “Wiping of Tears” ceremony. This ceremony offered people the chance to work through traumas as a group, including community traumas such as colonization, MMIW, missing indigenous people in centers, as well as personal traumas such as the loss of loved ones. This community cleansing honors the pain and grief felt while honoring the need for cultural practices and traditions. This ceremony meant many things to many people, allowing a chance to let go of some of the heaviness while in the midst of a like-minded community. The warmth and acceptance present at this (hopefully annual) event were part of the healing that many attendees found.

4. When rare orchids bloom

Life is precious, and that extends to life that is helpless on its own. Conservationists gathered together to bring back a nearly extinct orchid, the Canelo Hills Ladies’ Tresses orchid. Found natively in Southern Arizona, this orchid is by nature considered rare, as the majority of orchids come from humid, tropical areas. Discovered as a new species in 1990, it was quickly listed as endangered in 1997. After years of studying the germination and propagation of similar varieties, scientists this year were able to successfully grow one of these orchids to a flowering stage, a promising step toward moving from the endangered list and back to being bountiful in nature. This advancement offers hope for native species everywhere, a promise that extinction is not a sure route for delicate plant lives, but that blooming once more is a realistic possibility.

5. Juveniles get a fresh perspective with music

Many youth who end up in juvenile hall come from an at-risk background, reacting to a set of circumstances outside of their control. This also translates to children who don’t have the opportunity to experience new approaches to life through hobbies and skills. A collaboration between Arizona State University, Maricopa County’s Juvenile Detention Department, and Free Guitars 4 Kids has given young people in the detention center a chance to experience something they otherwise may not have considered: music. The idea, brought about by a couple of detention officers, has given the young people a new approach to good behavior and confidence, a vital step towards reintegration into their families and communities. With guitars in hand, these young people have a chance to gain a whole new tune on life.

6. School student body president highlights inclusion

The younger generations have largely created a culture of inclusion and acceptance, and this year’s class president at Red Mountain High School is proof of that. What was once viewed as a popularity contest, student body leadership is a sought-after role by many, and Milton Renshaw won the role as co-student body president. Inspired by similar stories of nearby schools, Renshaw decided to run and became a part of history when he became Red Mountain High’s first student body president with special needs. His story is not unique, but reaffirms the theme of inclusivity that has been highlighted this year, and with the younger generation as a whole. This next generation holds the promise of a great future of leadership.

7. Police force and puppies

As dismal as it is, some people view pets as disposable, abandoning cats and dogs on the roadside. These stories usually don’t have happy endings, but for one dog named Benji, life took a turn for the better. Brought in by a good Samaritan to the Surprise Police Department, officers cared for the abandoned dog before bringing Benji over to the Arizona Humane Society, where he received some much-needed care. Shortly after, one of the officers decided to adopt Benji, giving the pup a forever home and community. Welcome at the station every day, Benji is officially the cutest part of the department, loving and living life to his fullest, tail a waggin’.

8. The power of the LDS community

The flooding in late September was catastrophic, especially in the small mining community of Globe. Like any disaster, though, there was a silver lining. More than ever, people witnessed the community gathering together, ushering in volunteer help from all over Arizona, including thousands of helping hands from the Latter-Day Saints. Thousands of helping hands assisted businesses vital to the small community make a quick recovery, opening doors merely days or weeks after the disaster. “I didn’t know what we were going to do, our furniture was floating down the road, and then I saw this large group marching from around the corner,” shared the owner of the 1916 Train Depot. “They were from the Mormon church. A few of them approached me, asking what they could do to help. There were thousands of them, broken down into groups, helping out everyone that they could. It was amazing, I don’t know what we would have done without their help.” Thankfully, the 1916 Train Depot was able to reopen in time to host annual Christmas traditions.

9. A boy’s spirit lives on through 300 

No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child, especially a child as young as 12 years old. On Halloween of this year, Dylan Skalina suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. With nothing left to do to keep him alive, his parents decided to honor Dylan’s spirit by choosing organ donation. He was known as a giving and joyful person; this final act reflects the same spirit. This generous choice has helped over 300 individuals through organ and tissue donation, offering fresh starts and life-saving options for other families. Dylan’s legacy will live on through the hundreds of lives his donations were able to sustain.

10. Veteran helping veterans

Charles Reeves had a rough go transitioning from serving in the Navy back into civilian life, finding himself living out of his car—a tougher return than any veteran can anticipate. After seeking help from the VA, Reeves was able to find stability through MANA House. While there, he began repairing donated bikes for residents of the transitional house, offering transportation to the roughly 70 percent of residents who would otherwise rely on light rail and buses to get around. A bike, at the very least, provides transportation even when a bus is missed. He continues this act of kindness, helping others who have found themselves in similar situations. With only a desire to sustain himself and help others through a rough patch, Reeves’ story is enough to inspire the warming of even the iciest of hearts.

11. Phoenix bar boycotts hunger

A Phoenix establishment, Boycott Bar, used a network of people to gather nonperishable food donations for those facing food shortages. Amidst the pause on SNAP benefits during the damagingly long government shutdown, owner Audrey Corley announced the drive on social media. While the turnout was vast, it did not come as a surprise for Corley, who knows her community to be “a people of love.” This story is one of community care, empathy, and using resources to share what is needed. Who said good things can’t happen at the bar?

12. Mootilda’s escape to freedom

In August, a cow escaped from a slaughterhouse days before she was scheduled to become ground beef. Later named Mootilda, her story went viral. After she was recaptured, a San Tan animal sanctuary raised $2,500 via crowdfunding to buy Mootilda from the meat processing plant. She now spends her days grazing in peace at Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary, where she doesn’t need to escape to experience the legen-dairy freedom of life.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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