Saving Amy was founded with a mission to Create Community, Transform Lives and Resolve Homelessness. Saving Amy takes a holistic approach to ending the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. We transform lives through mentoring, teaching life skills, educational advancement, and financial stability through employment. Saving Amy’s Rise Up Program provides everything needed to make each family’s house a home. Rise Up is a two-part program that includes supporting families as they transition out of the homeless shelter, and as they progress to live in better neighborhoods. Saving Amy first provides financial support for families as they transition out of the homeless shelter, including coverage for first and last month’s rent, moving expenses, and other home-related necessities. As the family progresses and finds stability with a secure job, they are then able to pay their bills without government assistance and can afford an apartment in a better neighborhood. Employment, income, education, and physical health are significantly improved when families live in high-quality neighborhoods. Saving Amy families move forward with the realization that they will never be back on the street or in a homeless shelter again. In turn, the families help to support others […] More

Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, has awarded a $61,000 grant to Southwest Human Development to support young children with disabilities that are served by the early childhood nonprofit’s Children’s Developmental Center. Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development, provides more than 40 programs and services to 140,000 children, their families and professionals each year. Among those, its Children’s Developmental Center provides services focused on the health and well-being of children from birth to age 5 who have complex developmental disabilities, such as autism, feeding disorders and other delays due to abuse and trauma. Through state-of-the-art, comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and intervention services, Southwest Human Development’s integrated service model blends medical, developmental and behavioral/mental health approaches. The funding provided by Thunderbirds Charities will allow children and their families to receive care from a transdisciplinary team of specialists including a pediatrician, psychologist, care coordinators, occupational and speech therapists who work collaboratively with families to help children reach their full potential. Southwest Human Development This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Four more people will receive a second chance at life through our Changing Smiles, Changing Lives Program because of the generosity of Thunderbirds Charities. The grant will mean a change in the trajectory of their lives and of those all around them forever. “Smiles looked at me and only saw the good in me. My life is totally different today,“ says Brittany. It is nearly impossible to develop in our society with very damaged teeth hampering a person’s opportunities. While an employer may try to look past damaged teeth to see the real person, often teeth are the one obstacle to employment that cannot be overcome. The rejection and despair caused by being unable to support yourself and your family is immense. The oral health care intervention made possible by the Thunderbirds helps to address community related health issues, provide a pathway to employment, and reduce community costs associated with the lack of healthcare, mental health care and unemployment. Program participants are reuniting with families, buying homes, attending school, and building careers. Homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence are no longer part of their stories. Smiles and Beyond is proud to be part of their new stories. “I had lost everything, […] More

It is ‘Back-to-School’ and thanks to the generous financial support of Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, hundreds of teachers and students from Title 1 schools in metro Phoenix will benefit with a delivery of essential school supplies from Treasures 4 Teachers – T4T on Wheels. Supporting teachers is critical. “Teaching is the one profession that teaches all others” says Barbara Blalock, Executive Director of Treasures 4 Teachers. “Where would we be if we didn’t have a teacher to educate and inspire us?” Barbara expands by saying, “Treasures 4 Teachers has always been available to educators all over the state, but we often hear that they cannot access the essential supplies they need because of time, money or distance.” Back-to-School is the perfect time to take school supplies to the teachers and students who need them the most. Thunderbirds Charities has continued their commitment to assist students and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities by providing a $45,000 grant to Treasures 4 Teachers for their T4T on Wheels Program. This year truckloads of free school supplies will be delivered directly to […] More

Billy’s Place is a free Children’s Grief Support Center in the West Valley. There are very few programs that cater to children when it comes to grief and loss. Billy’s Place is serving that need by offering ongoing support and education groups each month. Support groups include loss of a parent, loss of a sibling, YA Grief (Young Adult), TLG (Traumatic Loss Group which includes losses of suicide, homicide, and overdose) as well as a kicking back night for children only. The children participate in activities that are designed to help them discuss death through their play, art, storytelling, music, and talking. With assistance from Thunderbirds Charities, this investment will assist with expanding the outreach with local schools. Resources, training, and support are provided so educators are better equipped to understand and offer much-needed support during this mental health crisis. “Local educators have been so supportive in the partnership with Billy’s Place in learning how to better equip their kiddos who have lost a significant person. Because of support from organizations like Thunderbirds Charities, we are able to help train educators and offer support to families free of charge as they navigate their grief journey. The children of our community […] More

POP-Prostate On-Site Project provides free and low cost prostate cancer screenings to men 40 and over or younger if prostate cancer is in their family. The screenings consist of a PSA blood draw, a DRE exam and consultation by a Board Certified Urologist. This is done in mobile medical units to allow these screenings to be convenient, reduce downtime from work and the benefit of traveling to various locations. Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer death. 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life time. The funds that are donated to POP help to support this project and improve the lives of men with early detection. CEO Marla Zimmerman said, “We are so appreciative of the $12,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. Their support to POP is providing funding for prevention of this silent killing disease. 15 minutes could save a life! We are saving lives, one screening at a time.” POP- Prostate On-Site Project is a non-profit organization formed in 1998 by Gene Felker founder, prostate cancer survivors, business men in the community and athletes. The mission of POP: “We improve the quality of […] More

The extraordinary, multifaceted obstacles of the 2020 world health crisis have struck at every American, fostering uncertainty and distress in everyone’s lives. As Gabriel’s Angels’ CEO, Melissa Steimer, explains there is still much to do to meet the current need in our community, “the pet therapy teams have worked through so many challenges in this past year to continue meeting the needs of children in our State as safely as possible,” Steimer said.It is with profound appreciation for the support from our dedicated volunteers, partners, donors, and, of course, generous supporters like Thunderbirds Charities, that have helped drive the passion for the mission of Gabriel’s Angels to new heights, especially in the unprecedented times of 2020. Steimer elaborates, “as the new CEO of Gabriel’s Angels, I have seen Thunderbirds Charities step up and support so many community organizations in need of program support, even in times where we all have been challenged and have had to weather the storm of change or through crisis, like this past year. This ongoing support of our mission to help over 186,000 at-risk youths through pet therapy in the last 20 years has been extraordinary and has helped us continue to provide this needed […] More

Phoenix Indian Center announces a contribution of $25,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to provide emergency rental assistance to families in need across the valley. Low-income urban American Indian families continue to struggle after being adversely affected by the pandemic over the last year. Many have suffered loss of employment and reduced hours, leaving them unable to pay rent in addition to life’s other daily challenges. “Thank you, Thunderbirds Charities, for your thoughtful support of the community during this time of need!” said Patricia Hibbeler, CEO of the Phoenix Indian Center. “The families supported through rental assistance will make a difference in the lives of adults and youth, maintaining their residence. Your partnership and trust matters.” With these funds, the Phoenix Indian Center has been able to provide emergency rental assistance to over 30 families in just two months, preventing homelessness for more than 120 people. This organization continues to fight the critical issue of housing security focusing on its vision of a healthy and thriving Indian Country. Phoenix Indian Center This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Homeless ID Project received a grant in the amount of $75,000 from Thunderbirds Charities in support of the “ID Empowers Our Community” Program. Thunderbirds Charities’ support will help individuals and families end their homelessness and rebuild their lives by providing the critical first step of identification replacement services. With offices in the Brian Garcia Welcome Center, Homeless ID Project does much of its work on the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. They also participate in outreach programs intended to reach the homeless and those at risk across Maricopa and Pima Counties. “Homeless ID Project is honored to receive this grant.” said Executive Director Rick Mitchell. “With this ongoing support from Thunderbirds Charities, we are able to help those seeking to end or prevent their homelessness. An ID provides real, direct help for the individual but it also provides measurable value to the community by reducing resources spent on homelessness and by empowering an individual to contribute to the community.” According to Mitchell, “Our mission is to help people end and prevent homelessness by providing access to replacement documents. While it is not something many of us think about, it is impossible to get a job, housing, healthcare, or enroll […] More

Treasure House, an active living community where young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) grow, develop and thrive, is pleased to announce that it received a $20,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities in support of its Employment and Life Skills Training Program. Through the program, Life Coaches work one-on-one with residents to set individual goals for employment and education. Job and volunteer opportunities in the community empower residents to gain independence, purpose and inclusion as active members of society. There are 40,000 adults in Arizona who live with IDD 200,000 students with IDD age out of special education programs each year According to The Arc, 72% of adults with IDD continue to live with their parents after high school graduation, and more than half remain unemployed and unenrolled in higher education in the first two years after high school. Treasure House serves as the solution to the post-high school ‘now what?’ question that families impacted by disabilities face. Currently, 20 of the 29 residents (70 percent) have secured jobs at establishments that partner with Treasure House, including the Arizona Humane Society, Banner Thunderbird Hospital, Barrio Queen, Inspira Senior Living, POPEYES and Spencer’s Place. Inclusion as a productive member of the […] More

Maggie’s Place was recently awarded $40,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to directly support the work of the Maggie’s Place Family Success Center at 30th St and Indian School. The Family Success Center opened its doors in 2014 and is committed to providing vital support services, resources and engagement opportunities for all Maggie’s Place moms. It not only welcomes moms who are currently living in Maggie’s Place homes, but also invites the entire network of more than 1,000 alumni moms to stay connected through on site family coaching, resource support, social events and community. “With the challenges of the last year, we could not have continued to remain open, serve our mission, our moms and their children without the continued support and investment of partners like Thunderbirds Charities,” said Maggie’s Place CEO, Laura Magruder. “With hundreds of current and alumni moms visiting and connecting with the Family Success Center each month, it is a central pillar of our Maggie’s Place community and we are so grateful for the support of the Board of Directors at Thunderbirds Charities.” Thunderbirds Charities, a long time Maggie’s Place partner, recognizes the need for continued support for Maggie’s Place moms to receive the highest quality continuum as […] More

Thunderbirds Charities has granted $50,000 to Junior Achievement Arizona (JA) to support JA Biz Town during the 2021-22 school year. The additional funds will allow 556 low-income students to visit JA BizTown and take part in hands-on learning designed to prepare them for their futures. “JA’s real-word education is needed today more than ever, particularly because of the pandemic,” said Katherine Cecala, president of Junior Achievement of Arizona. “A recent study by the Federal Reserve Board found that 40 percent of Americans were unable to cover a $400 emergency expense, let alone survive a job loss or salary reduction. Making it more critical for low-income students to learn skills at home or school to carry them into the future workforce and prepare them to navigate the realities they will face in adulthood.” JA BizTown will re-open to schools this fall. It begins with teachers leading their students through 14-20 hours of preparatory lessons. During these lessons, students learn about STEM and other high growth careers, paychecks, budgeting, taxes, economics, city government, resume writing, bank loans, teamwork, leadership, and how their skills and interests correlate to careers. After these lessons, students put their new knowledge to the test in a 4.5-hour […] More

With safeguarding the health and safety of performers, coaches, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as top priority, Detour Company Theatre created the Virtual Academy in Winter/Spring 2021, to continue to provide performance opportunities to people with disabilities despite the new challenges presented by the pandemic. With the help of a $10,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, all 2021 programming is professionally delivered through Detour’s qualified directing team and coaches, ASL interpreters, and the music director who adapts arrangements as needed. This allows individuals of all capabilities and experience to learn and perform renowned musical numbers. While Virtual Academy was inspired by necessity, it effectively enables Detour to expand the geographic reach of its programs, to inspire, educate, and engage an entirely new population of adults with disabilities. Depending on the status of the health crisis, as well as feedback from participants, Detour may make Virtual Academy a permanent offering. Through the Summer Skills Workshops & Intensives, Detour offers life-long learning opportunities for a community often excluded from traditional arts spaces. Detour upholds an organization-wide “radical inclusion” model, aiming to unleash the capacity for creativity, collaboration, and confidence in every actor. As such, our Summer Skills Workshops & Intensives provides arts […] More

Thunderbirds Charities recently awarded Desert Voices a $25,000 grant to support the installation of a Phonak/Roger wireless digital system at the school. “We are thrilled with this gift,” said DeeAnn Chapman, Executive Director of the school. “We will now be able to, by August when school opens, equip the classrooms with the most effective Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) that enhances significantly the ability of the children to hear more clearly what the teacher is saying,” she added. The system features wireless microphones on a lanyard worn by the teacher and tiny receivers that simply click onto a child’s existing hearing aids, bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) or cochlear implants. The child hears the speaker’s words directly in their ears, without any distracting background noise. Hearing assisted technology helps them sort through all the noise around them to focus on the key signal where their attention should be directed—the teacher. Chapman expects that during the 2021-2022 school year 27 children will be using this technology. “We are so very thankful for the extraordinary generosity of Thunderbirds Charities, they have been a supporter of Desert Voices for 20 years ,“ Chapman said. “They have helped give voices to hundreds of children.” Desert […] More

Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds, hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, awarded $25,000 to Aster Aging, Inc. (Aster). This generous award supports the Aster Neighbors Program. Through this program, volunteers are matched with homebound seniors in the East Valley, providing assistance with essential daily activities such as transportation to medical appointments, prescription pick-up, help with grocery shopping, and friendly visits and phone calls. The program became even more essential during the COVID pandemic, and is seeking additional volunteers who are willing to offer companionship and support to isolated seniors. “We are very grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for their support,” said Deborah Schaus, Chief Executive Officer of Aster. “Our Neighbors program enables local homebound residents to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible, empowering these individuals and strengthening our community.” “Aster Aging has such a positive impact on so many homebound seniors in our East Valley community and we excited to support such a great mission,” said Scott Jenkins, President of Thunderbirds Charities. Aster Aging This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

The Leadership Academy is a 3-day camp designed to help low-income, high-risk middle school boys develop personal life skills that lead to positive decision making and avoidance of high-risk behaviors. Using the power of sports, challenging activities, group discussion, and well-known guest speakers, the Academy encourages young boys to achieve academic excellence, develop personal skills, and make positive decisions to avoid risky behaviors. Students are nominated by a teacher or counselor at the start of the school year. In their applicationthey commit to themselves, their teachers, parents, and peers that they will uphold a formal Code ofConduct during the year. If the code is followed, students are invited to attend the Leadership Academy at no cost. The MVP Code of Conduct. I will:• Be courteous toward my classmates—both girls and boys.• Agree to value and respect the ideas and opinions of others even if I disagree.• Not use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco as I will be a role model to others.• Respect my teachers and exhibit positive, participative behavior in the classroom.• Attend all classes regularly and on time.• Prepare for each class and bring appropriate materials and assignments. The $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities will allow us to fund […] More

Thunderbirds Charities has announced an award of $20,000 to Assistance League of East Valley for its signature program, Operation School Bell. Through Operation School Bell, Assistance League of East Valley provides new school clothes, shoes and hygiene kits to elementary school children in need in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe and Kyrene School Districts. In the 2019-2020 school year, the organization provided a record 10,466 children with new clothing, uniforms, shoes, hygiene kits and other essential items. The children are recommended by school resource officers. “Assistance League of East Valley is changing the lives of our vulnerable youth in the East Valley by supplying school clothing and essential items needed to attend school,” said Scott Jenkins, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We believe in strengthening our local communities, and the best way to do that is to empower our young people through education. We’re honored to have a small part in helping our youth succeed.” Assistance League of East Valley is an all-volunteer group that raises funds through its thrift shop in Chandler and through various events through the year. It is a chapter of a national nonprofit organization. “The donation from Thunderbirds Charities makes a huge difference for the families of […] More

This grant will fund two sessions of Camp Catanese in July 2021 – an intensive science, math, and college preparatory camp for low-income high school students to gain support and information on how to access college in a fun and engaging setting. Thunderbirds Charities’ grant will fund Covid-safe, in-person and virtual camp options for up to 350 9th through 12th grade campers, the majority of whom will be first-generation college students. After a year of supporting campers remotely, we are incredibly grateful to get back to in-person programming, which would not have been possible without Thunderbirds Charities! “Camp Catanese has been a second home for me and my friends where we have felt safe, are happy to be there, and are surrounded by so many people we look up to. It is such an incredible feeling when I get to reunite with people who I haven’t seen in a long time. Camp helps me to free myself from any problems and stress I have had, overcome obstacles, and the counselors offer advice to help become a better person. Their advice has motivated both me and my friends to continue on in life and have helped with many things such as […] More

Healthy LifeStars has been awarded a $20,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support the Virtual Lesson Expansion and our hybrid model for After School programs in schools for our underserved communities. This project will help create additional “At Home” Resources for families and help translate our parent guides into Spanish as an initial project for additional language resources for parents. The grant funds will also allow us to launch a pilot project expanding our Older Child (9-12) resources. According to the CDC, childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health, which often continues into adulthood. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. The CDC reported that obesity is a risk factor for severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19. Obesity greatly impacts health and well-being of individuals and taxes the healthcare system. “The Board of Healthy LifeStars® is honored to receive this grant from Thunderbirds Charities to help reduce health disparities in children in Maricopa County. It couldn’t have come at a more important time,” said Melanie Campbell, Healthy LifeStars, Executive Director. […] More

The grant from Thunderbirds Charities will increase access to and help meet demand for more complex oral health care to a disadvantaged population of low-income older adults, homeless individuals, and veterans through the Brighter Way Institute Downtown Center. In 2020, this clinic had 13,997 active patients with 85.6% receiving on-going follow-up and 14.4% new patients receiving a range of complex services. Over 12 months, the grant will enable us to serve 320 patients, provide over 590 services, and focus on implant/restorative procedures that may include regular maintenance, crowns, composite fillings, extractions, removal of bone/tooth sectioning, surgical bone replacement grafts, and tissue regeneration procedures for implant placement. Funding from a previous Thunderbirds Charities grant enabled us to complete a major renovation of the Downtown Center, adding 7 fully equipped dental suites. Celebrating 20 years of “Transforming More Than Smiles,” Brighter Way Institute (BWI) has a mission to provide comprehensive oral health services to individuals living in poverty in Maricopa County. Brighter Way Institute This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

The Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) is thrilled to receive a $25,000 grant award from Thunderbirds Charities. The funds will be used to finance AFFCF’s efforts to provide a normal childhood as possible for children living in foster care. “These funds are crucial for us to continue to ‘fund the fun’ for Arizona’s foster youth and we are so grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for helping us with this mission,” says Kris Jacober, Executive Director of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation. “Our organization is dedicated to helping youth in foster care experience the kind of childhood everyone deserves through extracurricular activities that build social skills in fun environments such as dance classes or joining a soccer league.” Through the AFFCF’s “We Fund Fun” programs, youth in foster care can experience these important social, athletic and educational opportunities they might not otherwise have been able to enjoy as part of their upbringing. For nearly 40 years, the AFFCF has been dedicated to promoting the self-esteem of youth in foster care and enriching their lives by funding activities, education and other services to provide them with quality experiences. To date, the AFFCF has made nearly 70,000 awards totaling more […] More

The Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children (ACFC) Improving Lives Impacted by Pediatric Cancer Program includes Assistance (resources, financial and other support), Sunshine (comforting items for children entering chemotherapy and respite activities), Therapy (therapy dog visit, individual or family counseling), and End of Life services (financial assistance for the funeral services and end of life expenses). ACFC collaborates with social workers from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Cardon Children’s Medical Center, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, and Diamond Children’s Medical Center to refer families for our services. The hospital social worker verifies the family’s eligibility for services (they have a child receiving treatment for pediatric cancer and are in need), helps the family complete the application, and then submits the application to ACFC on behalf of the family. ACFC strives to provide assistance within 24 hours of receiving the application. ACFC believes the overall financial and emotional stability of a family will determine the state of health and hope for their loved one battling cancer and that by providing support, we can improve the lives of children diagnosed with cancer and their families. ACFC plans to support 200 Arizona families battling pediatric cancer in 2021. Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children This grant is part […] More

Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology (AZ StRUT) is honored to announce that we have been awarded a $25,000 grant by Thunderbirds Charities to support the expansion of our Techie Camps. With this generous grant, we plan to reach more high need families and students in our hands-on computer training Techie Camps in Maricopa and Pinal counties. Each student will receive a refurbished computer to take home once they complete the Techie Camp. Techie Camps were started to facilitate hardware education and to distribute refurbished computers to Title I students in a meaningful, hands-on approach. Most students get their first home computer from AZ StRUT and know how to troubleshoot and maintain it. Tom Mehlert, AZ StRUT Executive Director adds, “We continue to expand our Techie Camps. Last year we added virtual camps and this year we are adding community events. “AZ StRUT is grateful for this critical support at a time when the digital divide has become another barrier to equity in education and daily life. AZ StRUT This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Generous support from Thunderbirds Charities will support ICAN’s Positive Youth Development Program – a prevention-focused out-of-school time program with carefully structured activities that teach youth empathy, communication, emotion-management, coping skills, decision-making, social competence, self-regulation, and positive goal setting. Youth also benefit from academic assistance, mentoring, computer skills, STEAM activities, sports and recreation. ICAN expanded to serve more youth in the midst of the pandemic, opening two new sites at Galveston Elementary and Hartford Elementary. The expansion allows the opportunity for ICAN to bring the program directly to youth, at their schools. This also frees up much valued space at ICAN’s main facility to allow more youth to enroll in the high-demand program. Future plans include a fourth site and adding transportation service from additional title 1 schools to the main campus. “The pandemic brought to light the critical need for free, quality childcare for working families,” stated Shelby Pedersen, ICAN CEO. “Our program is keeping parents employed and is supporting the academic and social emotional needs of a vulnerable youth population. Thunderbirds Charities commitment is essential in helping us grow to reach more youth.” ICAN This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent […] More

Mental health issues have increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing protocols that have been in place for the past year. Hope Women’s Center is responding to this problem with their “Hope Heals” program, and thanks to a grant award from Thunderbirds Charities, HWC can provide mental health support to women and teen girls in Arizona’s underserved communities. “Isolation, abuse, and job loss have led to increased anxiety, depression, and distress in the women we serve. We launched our ‘Hope Heals’ program last October to provide free crisis counseling, trauma assessment and support,” says Tammy Abernethy, CEO of Hope Women’s Center. “We are so grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for this grant allowing us to provide a therapeutic level of care within the safety and familiarity of Hope Women’s Center.” Women are referred to the Hope Heals program by center staff. All crisis counseling and crisis counseling support groups are provided to clients without cost or restriction. Gaps between community need and community care are large in underserved neighborhoods, particularly in the areas of mental and emotional health. By providing care for free through the “Hope Heals” program, Hope Women’s Center is bridging those gaps. Hope Women’s Center This […] More

Kids Need to Read was the fortunate recipient of a generous $25,000 grant award from Thunderbirds Charities. The funds will be used to provide over 60,000 disadvantaged children and their families with vital access to books, interactive literacy events, bilingual educational materials, and family reading relief packages via the Page Coach, Kids Need to Read’s mobile conveyor of literary treasure. The Page Coach was selected for funding because of its ability to reach areas throughout Arizona traditionally overlooked by many literacy programs, including low socioeconomic and remote areas where children sometimes live in so-called “book deserts”: neighborhoods and school systems so severely devoid of books and other reading materials that, without intervention, the cycle of illiteracy stands little chance of being broken. “Ensuring that children have access to books is vital to breaking the cycle of generational illiteracy that exists in many impoverished areas of the state,” said Kids Need to Read co-founder Denise Gary. “The Page Coach makes it possible to deliver books to children living in areas where the need is greatest. We believe that books can provide children with the ability to dream of a life beyond their current challenges and to follow those dreams.” Together, Kids […] More

In Arizona, more than 64,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren as kinship caregivers. Of these grandparents, 41.6% are of Hispanic/Latino origin and English is not their primary language, according to Grandfamilies.org. For years, Duet has provided grandparents with resources, respite, and support to care for these “grandfamilies.” Now, thanks to a generous $37,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, Duet will be able to serve even more grandfamilies through a new pilot program and the hiring of a bilingual social worker to help families stay together and keep children out of the foster care system. “The pandemic has been hard on all of us, especially grandparents raising grandchildren, many of whom are vulnerable seniors that must juggle their own health and wellness while also taking care of the needs of the children in their care,” says Patricia Dominguez, kinship care services director at Duet. “Many of these grandparents are underserved and Spanish speaking—and may have a hard time accessing resources—so we are thankful for the grant from Thunderbirds Charities as it will allow us to help more grandfamilies in need.” Duet’s grandparents raising grandchildren program offers support for grandparents raising grandchildren through free-of-charge support groups, legal guidance and assistance, funds for extracurricular […] More

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is excited to announce that Thunderbirds Charities has awarded the Museum $35,000 in support of the Museum’s Children’s Garden and KIDchen Programming. The programs are designed to provide nutrition and healthy food education to children from an early age, incorporating fun and educational activities to teach youth how to grow and cook fresh produce. The Museum provides engaging projects, exhibits, and programming for young children and their families, while educating parents and caregivers about child development and parenting techniques. Programs crafted to instill healthy and nutritious living are fundamental to this holistic approach, equipping children and families with the knowledge and tools for improved wellbeing throughout life. During 15-20-minute classes in the Garden, children learn about various plants, fruits, and vegetables, the life cycles of a seed, the process of maintaining a garden, what plants need to grow, and the farm-to-table process. The Garden curriculum educates youth about STEAM topics, teaching the science behind successful gardens and how to be a steward of sustainability. Children can participate in guided play through these classes or experiment in the Garden independently. Harvested produce from the Garden is used in the KIDchen, where guided nutrition and cooking classes […] More

The Harvest Compassion Center (HCC) is pleased to announce it has received a $30,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. These funds will support the mission of the Harvest Compassion Center West Phoenix to provide free food, clothing, hygiene, and baby items to local families who live in the Valley. In partnership with Thunderbirds Charities, Harvest Compassion Center West Phoenix welcomes anyone living in Arizona to visit once every 30 days to receive a free shopping trip in their one-stop shops. Families receive recyclable grocery bags, shopping carts and personal shoppers as they are welcome to choose their needed and desired grocery and clothing items. HCC locations provide choice and dignity as well as, fun kids play-corners for families to enjoy while shopping in what they call “Food Banking Reimagined.” HCC, serving the Valley for the past 11 years, currently has three locations in West Phoenix, North Phoenix and Maryvale and has served over 60,000 families! HCC first opened its’ doors to the public in memory of one 23-year-old brother and son, Mitch Swaback. Through one family’s loss, the desire and mission to serve the underserved in Phoenix was born. If the HCC can continue showing guests love through service, our hope […] More

Be A Leader Foundation is proud to announce that it has been selected as a 2021 Thunderbirds Charities grantee. The Foundation was awarded a $50,000 grant to help support its Pipeline of College Access and Postsecondary Success programming making the dream of higher education a reality for thousands of Arizona students. “We’re heavily invested in the continued success of young people in our communities,” said Scott Jenkins, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide the necessary tools young adults need to explore higher education and the life-long benefits it affords.” Be A Leader is delighted to be included in the charitable donations Thunderbirds Charities have made to organizations across the Valley over the years. “We are honored to partner with Thunderbirds Charities again this year,” said Melissa Trujillo, President/CEO and Co- Founder of the Be A Leader Foundation. “This investment will continue to allow us to provide thousands of Arizona students with the tools, resources and mentoring to pursue a higher education.” Be A Leader Foundation This grant is part of the Spring 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More