'a_z_of_services', 'orderBy' => 'service_desc', )); //create array $recordsByFirstLetter = array('A' => array(),'B' => array(), 'C' => array(), 'D' => array(),'E' => array(), 'F' => array(), 'G' => array(),'H' => array(), 'I' => array(),'J' => array(),'K' => array(), 'L' => array(), 'M' => array(),'N' => array(), 'O' => array(),'P' => array(),'Q' => array(), 'R' => array(), 'S' => array(),'T' => array(), 'U' => array(),'V' => array(),'W' => array(), 'X' => array(), 'Y' => array(),'Z' => array()); //populate array foreach($a_z_of_servicesRecords as $record){ //get the first letter of the service_desc $firstLetter = strtoupper(substr(trim($record['service_desc']),0,1)); //add record to the array based on it's first letter $recordsByFirstLetter[$firstLetter][]=$record; } ?> A to Z Services