Our team
The people behind the promise
A family, a founder, and a circle of neighbors giving comfort and a love of reading to children across Southern Arizona.
Leadership
Founders & leadership
One mother’s bedtime tradition, carried forward by her daughters and the director who keeps the promise reaching every child.
Graciela "Nana" Lopez
Founder
Founded Angel Heart Pajama Project in 2013 as her way to pay it forward. A Cuban immigrant grateful for the kindness shown to her family, Nana remains active at 85 — preparing pajamas and joining the gifting at every event she can.
Maria Patterson
Co-Founder
A 36-year educator — teacher, principal, and supervisor of school principals — Maria advocates for underserved children and families in Tucson. She is a Kino Rotary Club member and a Horse Tales Literacy Project volunteer.
Marty Croissant
Co-Founder
Inspired by her own childhood in Cuba and Chicago — where warm Christmas pajamas were a cherished tradition — Marty co-founded Angel Heart with her mother and sister. Helping children is her passion and her heart.
John Quiroz
Executive Director
Executive Director of Angel Heart Pajama Project, leading day-to-day operations and community partnerships across Southern Arizona.
Read the fuller story of Nana and her daughters on our About page.
Board of directors
The neighbors who steward the mission
Educators, first responders, accountants, and community leaders from across Southern Arizona — volunteering their time so every gift reaches a child.
Joan Fawcett
Retired Non-Profit Director
Crystal Royce
The Royce CPA Firm, PLLC
Eli Chan
Law Enforcement
Shakeena Ellington
Casa de los Niños
Debra Haddock
Retired Educator
Kanita Olson
U of A Medical Student
Dora Taddey
The Giving Turtle
Andi Hammonds
PPEP, Inc.
Get involved
There’s a place for you on this team
Fold pajamas, sticker books, bag donations, or lend a professional skill. Our volunteers are the reason a child in crisis gets something new to call their own.