In an effort to honor her son Michael, who died of cancer when he was 9, Louise Thomas enlisted the aid of Jane Loew Sharples to help her find a way to improve the lives of Pima County's children.

It was 1982. Ninety-eight individuals joined Thomas and Sharples, deciding to take on the challenge of retiring the mortgage for the fledgling Ronald McDonald House.

That was the beginning of Angel Charity for Children.