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At Friends of the Verde River, we know that stories have the power to inspire curiosity, spark a love of nature, and help readers of all ages understand why the Verde River matters. Our children’s books, On the Verde River and Otter Spotter, were created with that purpose in mind. Thanks to the support, encouragement, and generosity of three remarkable women, these books are now reaching families across our region and beyond.
This year, we are honored to present three River Steward Heron Awards to Dawn Bershader, Tanya Murray Heath, and Mary Jane Rynd—three leaders whose dedication helped bring our books from idea to reality. Their belief in the importance of educating children about our river reflects the heart of our mission: building a future where the Verde River remains healthy, vibrant, and free-flowing for generations to come.
Our books are more than bedtime stories. They are invitations for families to explore the beauty, wildlife, and wonder of the Verde River. On the Verde River was even recognized nationally in 2024 as part of the United States Library of Congress’ “Great Reads from Great Places” collection, shining a spotlight on our river and our community.
As you read the bios below, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating Dawn, Tanya, and Mary Jane for the incredible roles they’ve played in supporting this work and helping us inspire the next generation of river stewards.
About Dawn Bershader
As a Director of the Rosenbluth Family Charitable Foundation and the Gerald Rosenbluth Family Fund, Dawn has been able to assure that some nonprofits in the Verde Valley have benefitted from Jerry Rosenbluth’s generosity. Special emphasis on education, especially for children, is one of the Foundation goals. Dawn is especially concerned about the threatening Arizona water shortages, and sees education of children on the Verde River’s value benefitting the state’s water supply as a worthwhile cause to support. We have been happy to sponsor the two children’s books put out by the Friends of the Verde River and look forward to further associations with Friends.
About Tanya Murray Heath
Tanya is a Phoenix native and graduate of Arizona State University and has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2003. Professionally she has been honored with the Hall of Fame for the Top 25 Women in Real Estate, ranks in the top 1.5% of all Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, holds the highest residential sales record for 2008-2011, selected for Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and numerous production awards. In 2016 she was a “Vegas Gives” honoree, In Business Magazine Top 40 under 40. She has served on the Board of Directors for JDRF, the Nevada Ballet Theater, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. Tanya was nominated by Forbes Magazine “Most Dependable Luxury Real Estate Professional’. Tanya is also the Chairman of the Board and Co-President of the Rosenbluth Family Charitable Foundation. Tanya values the importance of philanthropy and is proud to share this commitment with her husband, Michael Heath, and their children and grandchildren and the legacy established by her father Gerald Rosenbluth, may his memory be a blessing.
About Mary Jane Rynd
Mary Jane Rynd had the great fortune to work with Virginia Galvin Piper, serving as her tax advisor and helping to establish the charitable legacy and Trust that bears her name. In 2001, Mary Jane joined Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust as its first CFO and then became Executive Vice President overseeing all financial and operational aspects of the foundation. In 2018, she was appointed by Trustees as President and CEO of Piper Trust and served in this role for nearly five years, retiring in April 2023. The Trust reached more than $700 million in grantmaking during her tenure.
Prior to joining the Trust, she was a partner with KPMG and also, Rynd, Carneal & Ewing. A CPA (retired) she was a long-time member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants. She currently serves on the Board of Rosenbluth Family Charitable Foundation, the Board of The Phoenix Symphony, and the Audit and Investment Committees for Piper Trust. Throughout her career she served on the boards of several nonprofit and for-profit organizations such as the board and audit committee of Foundation Financial Officers Group, and the boards of Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Camelback Community Bank, Arizona Women’s Forum, Valley Leadership, and Central Arizona Estate Planning Council.
Mary Jane holds a BA in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.
The Heron Awards
Each Heron Award is a beautiful, glass-blown work of art crafted by local artists at The Melting Point. These one-of-a-kind pieces symbolize our deep appreciation for those who help Friends of the Verde River protect and restore one of the Southwest’s last free-flowing rivers. They embody creativity, dedication, and the river’s enduring resilience.
We also take great pride in recognizing our partners and supporters during our annual gala, Fiesta de la Garza, where the community comes together to celebrate the people who make our work possible.
