Have You Met?

“Children are our future; we need to prevent problems in their lives through character education.”—Tammy Amble Linn

Tammy Linn also believes that in Arizona there is a strong need for building responsible, respectful, trustworthy, fair, caring and good citizens, and that obviously the best time to instill a foundation of ethical values is when an individual is young. This energetic visionary is the founder of the Arizona Department of Education Character Education initiative. This program is estimated to impact between 5 and 6 hundred thousand teachers, students and citizens each year.

The initiative began with the establishment of the Arizona Character Education Commission appointed by Governor Jane Dee Hull in 1999 and the founding of the Arizona Character Education Foundation in 2000. In July , 2003, Superintendent Tom Horne re-established the Commission under a new name, “The Arizona Character Education Blue Ribbon Task Force.”

The goal of the initiative is to provide educators, parents, and youth leaders with character education training based on the “six pillars” of character--trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. The ultimate aim is to incorporate the curriculum into daily life.

Tammy also is a nonprofit volunteer to the City of Phoenix Youth Workforce Connection, the Junior League of Phoenix, Yavapai Education Foundation, America’s Promise, American Marketing Association, Business & Professional Women, and WISH. It was under Tammy’s leadership as President of the Junior League that the first official headquarters of the Junior League was built at Central and Thomas streets in Phoenix. At one of the dedication events, Sandra Day O’Connor, former Supreme Court Justice spearheaded the activity. She had also been a former president of the Junior League of Arizona.

Tammy is the proud mother of three children. Interestingly, she and her husband had no children for the first thirteen years of marriage, but now have sons 11, 6, and 4. She not only “preaches” character education, but practices it by vowing that her children will not be raised by others, that she and her husband will be deeply involved with their family. To further promote quality family time, Tammy’s husband drastically cut back his medical practice, and the family moved to a smaller community.

What Tammy likes best about the Phoenix area is “its variety; there are so many different types of people out here, and also so many opportunities.” She also enthuses, “I love what I do! Through Character Education I can impact thousands of people. My background in public relations and marketing are so useful in what I do for the Foundation.”

The AZ- CEF recently held its inaugural 6k run. “We had no idea what to expect from our first run,” says Tammy, “ but it turned out to be an impressive fundraiser! We had 850 runners who participated in our cause. And the East Valley Tribune and KTVK TV gave us and our sponsors a great amount of promotion.”

Because the Foundation is run out of Tammy’s home, the nonprofit is able to donate a phenomenal 97 cents out of every given dollar directly into the community. About the Arizona Character Education Foundation, Tammy Linn says, “We know we are making a difference in the lives of youth in Arizona.”

What are your volunteer activities? AZ Character Education Foundation, City of Phoenix Youth Workforce Connection, Jr. League of Phoenix, Yavapai Education Foundation, America’s Promise, American Marketing Association, Business & Professional Women, WISH

Which social event is your favorite? Beach Ball

Favorite Restaurant? Steamers

Who is your hero and why? Sandra Day O’Connor because she is a leader, a mom, grandma and a team player—all the things I aspire to be!

Who is the most interesting celebrity you have ever met? Louis Gonzales

If your life were a movie, whom would you want to play your part? Jody Foster

What gives a woman/man style? The way they treat people.

Do you have any pets? Yes! One dog, two cats.

When you move, what will your home tell its next owner, about you? The house is warm, comfortable and clean!

What words describe you best? Energetic, sincere, loving. A woman who loves being a mom and a professional.

What words would you like others to use to describe you? Professional, fun and dependable.

What was your first job? Working at a women's clothing store.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My stubbornness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Laziness.

What is your greatest indulgence? Wine at night.

What is the greatest gift you have ever given and received? The greatest gift I've ever given was to my husband after his medical residency. I threw him a party in which all of us dressed up like pregnant women (he's an obstetrician/gynecologist). The greatest gift I've ever received is my children.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband and children.

What is your current state of mind? Happy and visionary.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Speaking at a conference in Spain to all men from 20 different European, African and Asian countries. I was the first woman to speak to them.

What is your most treasured possession? My “anniversary” ring.

What is the quality you most like in a man? Honesty.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Honesty.

What one thing would you change about yourself? Like to be more “low key”

What is the best advice you have ever received? The best gift you can give your children is a strong marriage.