History

From the Ground Up began at the breakfast table with Mike McQuaid and Ash Uss. With years of experience working to address homelessness, they saw a need and an opportunity to do more, differently, particularly for the most vulnerable. 

They started to build a vision for a unique housing community for people with serious mental illness and began meeting with community partners and potential funders. This was going to be an exciting new chapter for Mike, who had just left his position as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Human Services Campus and for Ash, who was preparing to leave her position at Andre House of Arizona. 

In July of 2020, their efforts were cut short when Mike McQuaid unexpectedly passed away from the COVID-19 virus. Shortly after his passing, several partners, funders and friends of Mike McQuaid reached out to Ash. Thanks to the generosity of Jon Ehlinger and dozens of colleagues of Mike McQuaid, From the Ground Up was born. From the Ground Up will work tirelessly to provide specialized love and support to efforts and projects working to alleviate homelessness in a dignified way. We will remember Mike McQuaid’s legacy each day, in each project we take on.