Hi, my name is… Raj Kapur.
I’ve lived in the Desert Ridge area for 14 years and I love it because… Everything I like to do is all so close.
A typical day in my life includes… Chauffeuring my kids to one of their activities (baseball, volleyball, golf, dance, lacrosse, basketball, etc.), walking the dogs, and grabbing a bite to eat around Desert Ridge. At work, I am a benefits consultant for Benefit Commerce Group.
My family… My wife Emily teaches fifth grade about 200 yards from our house in Fireside at Desert Ridge. My son Quinn is a sixth grader at Fireside Elementary School and my daughter Macie is a fourth grader at Fireside Elementary School. Lastly, our two dogs, Walter and Wilson, complete our family.
One thing I cannot live without is… Besides my family of course, Zipps’ wings! I love them “Golden Style,” and extra crispy.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… Shawshank Redemption. I pick up on something new every time I watch it.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…A shortstop for the New York Yankees.
The one person who motivates me is… I can’t think of just one, so both my parents. They both immigrated to the United States in their 20s and overcame so many obstacles and challenges in their lives.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… Anything our puppy Walter does!
The perfect day would be… A round of golf with my family, a walk with Wilson and Walter, and tacos.
My favorite local nonprofits are… Fiesta Bowl Charities and JDRF Arizona.
I joined Fiesta Bowl Charities because giving back to the community is something that was instilled in me at a very young age. I grew up loving sports and fell in love with college football at the University of Arizona. My wife is a teacher in the community and my children are very involved in extracurricular activities. Fiesta Bowl Charities gives back to the community in a manner that is very important to me and my family.
I am also on the board for JDRF Arizona, an organization leading the fight against type 1 diabetes (T1D) by funding research, advocating for policies that accelerate access to new therapies, and providing a support network for millions of people around the world impacted by T1D.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… The art my kids made for me when they were in preschool. I still keep those treasures in my office.
My dream vacation would be to… Colombia and India. I would like to show my kids where their grandparents came from.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is… Take chances! You will fail sometimes and that is okay. You can’t grow and succeed until you’ve failed.
