Mesa, AZ – Thunderbirds Charities and A New Leaf are partnering in 2018 to combat domestic violence in Maricopa County. Devoted to helping people in need and improving the quality of life in our community, Thunderbirds Charities has awarded local nonprofit A New Leaf with a grant of $155,000 to provide immediate safety and shelter for domestic violence victims. Funding will support A New Leaf’s Faith House Women’s Crisis Shelter and Domestic Violence Safe Temporary Overflow Program (DVSTOP).
Faith House Women’s Crisis Shelter is the longest operating domestic violence shelter in the state of Arizona, providing safety, shelter, and basic needs for 240 women and children in need each year. A New Leaf’s innovative DVSTOP program provides immediate shelter to adults and children fleeing domestic violence, placing them in temporary overflow, or hotel space, when shelter is unavailable. This ensures that no one will be turned away in their greatest time of need.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Thunderbirds Charities,” said Michael Hughes, CEO of A New Leaf. “This gift of $155,000 will benefit survivors of domestic violence with critical resources to protect their safety and ensure that basic needs are met. The brave women and children who come to A New Leaf are in difficult circumstances due to abuse and violence. Through this gift A New Leaf is able to provide these survivors with a fresh new start. Thunderbirds Charities is truly making an impact in the lives of many people in our community.”
Funding shortfalls over the past year have been a challenge across Arizona, even as demand for shelter has risen. “The generosity of Thunderbird Charities is critical for Faith House and DVSTOP this year,” said Dana Martinez, Director of Shelter Services at A New Leaf. “Last year, Faith House received a $500,000 funding cut. While we continue working hard to recover those lost dollars, the support of Thunderbirds Charities will ensure our services are available to women and children in crisis”
“A New Leaf is making a positive life changing impact on children and adult victims of domestic abuse in our community and we are humbled to support such a great mission,” said Andy Markham, President of Thunderbirds Charities.
DVSTOP is the only program of its kind in the nation to provide safety and support services for the community when all shelters are full. “Last year, DVSTOP served more people than it ever has in its 18-year history, with less funding. As funding for this current year has been reallocated to create more housing opportunities, this has resulted in less shelter beds available which has had a critical impact on DVSTOP. Thunderbirds Charities’ funding will provide safe temporary shelter, food and other basic needs, case management, and crisis intervention,” said Martinez.
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Since 1971, A New Leaf has faithfully worked in service to the mission of “Helping Families…Changing Lives,” making a positive impact in the lives of more than 24,000 people each year in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Our services focus on Health, Housing, and Community Services for families and individuals struggling with poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and behavioral health challenges. For more information, visit www.turnanewleaf.org.
About Thunderbirds Charities
THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities. The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona. The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 250 “life” members. For more information on the Thunderbirds or the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on the Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.