HI, MY NAME IS… Alison Betts.
I’VE LIVED IN PHOENIX SINCE 2006 AND I LOVE IT BECAUSE… it is a major metropolitan area with the benefits of mountains and beautiful outdoor spaces…plus it has a great climate (most of the year)!
A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE IS… highly productive! I have a full-time job with American Express (19 years and counting) and a busy household to run. My husband and I have two young boys with busy schedules, and I am also committed to making time for philanthropic work in our community. For all those women out there juggling the excitement of a household, family, volunteering, career, and more – I SEE YOU and you are my inspiration!
ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IS… my morning walks with my dog, Finnegan. Getting up early to get moving helps me prepare for the busy day ahead.
MY FAVORITE MOVIE I COULD NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING AND WHY IS… “Cinema Paradiso.” It is a wonderful story with a beautiful movie score and if you have not seen it, you are really missing out!
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO BE… I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up! In fact, I am amazed with young people who do know the direction in which they are heading!
THE SONG I WOULD SING AT KARAOKE NIGHT IS… “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra. It is so fun and upbeat…you just cannot be in a bad mood if you are listening to that song (or singing it). But, be warned, nobody wants to hear me sing.
THE ONE PERSON WHO MOTIVATES ME IS… myself. I am a big believer in self-motivation because it helps me manage my stress and I get more satisfaction out of my accomplishments when I have pushed myself to achieve something.
THE LAST THING THAT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD WAS… watching the show “Only Murders in The Building” on Hulu. It is hilarious and the scene with Steve Martin in the elevator at the end of season one was just the medicine I needed after a long day.
THE PERFECT DAY IS… anything with my family. They are truly my favorite people to spend time with whether we are traveling somewhere new or just hanging out at home playing a board game. I love to spend time with them.
MY FAVORITE LOCAL NONPROFIT IS… the Center for Jewish Philanthropy (CJP) of Greater Phoenix, where I am proud to be a board member. The CJP impacts a variety of organizations that support Jewish values including caring for our senior citizens, mental health programs, and youth philanthropy. One program supported by the CJP that is very close to my heart is PJ Library, a global program that sends books to children, age 6 months to 12 years, every month at no cost to their families. Here in Phoenix, there are more than 2,000 kids that receive books each month!
As our Jewish community becomes more and more diverse, it is important that we continue to understand and teach our traditions and values, and PJ Library gives parents and grandparents the tools they need to share these traditions with their children.
THE BEST GIFT I’VE EVER RECEIVED IS… friendship. The gift of friendship is often the most lasting gift any of us will ever receive.
MY DREAM VACATION WOULD BE… anywhere new! I love to travel and discover unfamiliar places, so the specific destination matters less than the opportunity to explore a new country or culture!
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED IS… to think about how I spend my time because time creates more memories than money, and I can always make more money, but I can never make more time.
