Keep Phoenix Beautiful is honored to be among many local non-profit organizations that have received support from The Thunderbirds Charities, an outstanding philanthropy partnership. Our grant award will be put to great use providing shade, storage and equipment needs at our Mountain View Park Community Garden. “The Thunderbirds have been incredibly generous to Keep Phoenix Beautiful over the years,” says Tom Waldeck, President/CEO of Keep Phoenix Beautiful. “The funds received this year will be used to purchase and install a storage container and a shade sail at our beautiful garden in Sunnyslope.” The storage container will be built to City Parks standards and provide a needed and well-organized way to store all the garden tools, supplies and equipment. The shade sail will provide a much needed and welcome respite for the After-School Program students that come to the garden during the later afternoon to tend to their garden bed. It will also serve as lovely shaded sitting area for community gardeners as well as park visitors who want to just take a moment to enjoy the garden and the beautiful view.     “We are so thankful to the Thunderbird Charities for supporting local initiatives,” Tom continued. “There is no […] More

It’s rare that our military service men and women would ever reach out for help, but when they do, as a community it is our responsibility to lend our support. Military Assistance Mission (MAM) was awarded $100,000 from Thunderbirds Charities so that the nonprofit can continue its mission of providing financial and morale aid to Arizona’s active duty military, their families and post 9/11 Purple Heart Recipients. On average, through donations such as these, MAM provides support to more than 4,500 Military members and families who benefit financially, as well as take part in MAM’s morale programs and event programs annually. “Receiving this grant from Thunderbirds Charities is a game changer for MAM,” said Trey Vineyard, MAM Board President. “I am excited to see how this funding will help us respond even more effectively to the needs of military families. This support will most certainly change the trajectory of their lives and we are humbled by the opportunity to offer programs to those who have given and continue to sacrifice so much for the American way of life we all cherish.” MAM programs include, but are not limited to: Work for Warriors, Seats for Soldiers, GI Gap Grant, Baby Bundle […] More

The crisis of worldwide pandemic, social distancing, and financial strain are affecting the mind and emotions. This isn’t just a feeling, it’s research. According to the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index, 28 percent of Americans are experiencing a decline in their mental health, and 34 percent report a drop in their sense of emotional well-being. 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. “We know the pandemic has greatly increased the mental health needs of the women we serve, as isolation and job losses have led to increased anxiety, depression, and abuse. We’ve spent 36 years helping women enjoy the best holistic outcomes for their well being. Our ‘Hope Heals’ program expands upon our existing mentoring program to include 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.” Abernethy, CEO of Hope Women’s Center, says the funding and support […] More

The Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation will use these funds to improve the lives of youth in foster care through educational support and financial awards for social, athletic and educational opportunities to help give them the childhood they deserve. “We are so grateful to have been awarded this generous grant from the Thunderbird Charities,” says Kris Jacober, executive director of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation. “It has always been our mission to support youth in foster care and help them have as normal a childhood as possible despite the very difficult circumstances of foster care — and these funds will help us continue to serve that mission.” Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Thunderbirds Charities has awarded the Human Services Campus (HSC, Inc.) a $300,000 grant for critical client services to help individuals experiencing homelessness remove barriers leading to permanent housing. The grant is in addition to a donation earlier this year to use in reacting to the coronavirus pandemic. “Thunderbirds Charities has been a vital partner with the Human Services Campus in our ongoing efforts to provide shelter and critical services to individuals experiencing homelessness at a time that is even more challenging because of the COVID pandemic,” said HSC Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender. “We are incredibly grateful for this generous support.” The Human Services Campus opened in 2005 as a compassionate response to a community problem as well as an economic response to an increase in homelessness in the downtown Phoenix area. HSC, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit agency, owns and operates a 13-acre campus at 12th Avenue and Madison that is home to 16 nonprofit organizations providing services and resources to people experiencing homelessness. “The services, programs and resources at the Human Services Campus are a collective lifeline for individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Tim Woods, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “Thunderbirds Charities is proud to work alongside the dedicated staff and volunteers […] More

There is nothing more frightening for a parent than hearing, “Your child has cancer.” These were the words spoken to Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children’s Founder, Chrisie Funari. Her experience of losing her daughter, Ava, to Stage IV Neuroblastoma left her with the following undaunted words, “I knew my story wasn’t unique; all cancer families face the same struggles.” Since 2014, ACFC has provided continuous support to 700 families affected by pediatric cancer. The generous support from the Thunderbirds Charities will empower an estimated 50 children with cancer and their entire family. We believe the overall financial and emotional stability of a family will determine the state of health and hope for their child battling cancer. The Thunderbirds Charities’ gift to support our Improving Lives Impacted by Pediatric Cancer program ensures families continue to receive individualized support they need and deserve. A diagnosis of pediatric cancer devastatingly impacts families as a whole – socially, emotionally and financially. Our Improving Lives Impacted by Pediatric Cancer Program provides families with financial assistance to cover living and medical expenses associated with a child’s diagnoses, respite support, care packages, canine therapy and mental health counseling. Together we are extending tailored support during a time […] More

Benevilla extends sincere appreciation to Thunderbirds Charities for their generous support to their organization and the people they serve especially during the current COVID-19 crisis. Thunderbirds Charities commitment to serving and improving our communities – backed by a $60,000 grant – will enable Benevilla to continue their Home Services program and provide much needed services to older adults challenged with the daily routine of independent living and staying safe with extra precautions during COVID-19. During the COVID-19 crisis, CDC guidelines advise older adults to stay home as they are at high-risk of serious complications/death from the virus. According to the Census 2018 population estimates, there are 254,000 West Valley residents that are seniors or adults with disabilities and many of them do not have a support network that enables them to stay home. Benevilla has received a surge of requests from older adults in the West Valley in need of assistance with grocery shopping or transportation. Concurrently, Benevilla experienced a drop in volunteers for the program as many of them are retirees that need to take similar precautions for their health. The Benevilla Home Services program provides essential care services helping your neighbors in need maintain their independence. All services […] More

The Veterans Furniture Center is a veteran run, volunteer-based, organization dedicated to assisting formerly homeless veterans’ transition to permanent housing by providing them, free of charge, the furniture and household goods they need to establish a home and successfully return to society. The VFC focus is on transitioning veterans who are moving into permanent housing under the HUD-VASH program.  The Veterans Furniture Center (VFC) is honored to have the support of Thunderbirds Charities. 100% of this donation will go toward purchasing the furniture and household goods the transitioning veterans so desperately need to start a new life and stay off the streets. During this unusual time, the homeless veterans are especially vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19. It is essential to get them off the streets and safely into permanent housing. Veterans Furniture Center This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Funded by Thunderbirds Charities, VOICES will be able to upgrade the quality and access of virtual training and education provided to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a specially trained citizen-volunteer that advocates for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the courtroom and within the community. Advocates report that on-going education provides them with critical tools and understanding needed for them to be more effective with the children they serve. Advancing the Education Center with enhanced technology systems, more CASA volunteers will have access to high-quality, live-streaming education from experts in the fields of trauma, child-welfare, justice issues, and so forth. CASAs are appointed by a judge to look out for their best interests, monitor their progress, and address their needs. To ensure advocates are equipped with leading information and insights from within the field of child welfare, VOICES remains committed to providing on-going education and the tools that allow them to be more effective with the children they serve. The Thunderbirds Charities is enabling Voices for CASA Children to invest in the specific technology needed to allow CASAs to continue their educational journey regardless of their geographic location. […] More

Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open–recently awarded Desert Voices a $60,000 grant to build capacity. “We could not be more thrilled with the Thunderbird’s extraordinary support of our program that helps children who are born deaf speak oral language,” said Tim Louis, Board Chairman. Thunderbirds Charities has been a supporter of Desert Voices for 20 years. Their generosity has helped Arizona’s only non-profit, private, listening and spoken language program, give voices to hundreds of children. Desert Voices offers two programs: Early Intervention for children 0 to 3 years of age, where a child learns to hear and speak one sound at a time; and Early Education that takes the child from 3 to 5 or 6 when they mainstream to traditional schools speaking about 3,000 words and having experienced a pre-school environment where they learn to read and write. The funding will be used to increase capacity creating more flexibility for the school when scheduling teachers of the deaf and speech language pathologists to most effectively maintain the low teacher/student ratio and therefore the best outcomes for each child.  Desert Voices This grant is part of the Spring […] More

The project funded is for “Angels Among Us” – an outreach program that starts as soon as a need is identified. Our team visits new birth and/or adoptive parents at the hospital, in the home, or (during the pandemic) online to celebrate their newest family member(s) with Down syndrome. We supply gifts, resources and support for the new family to help them navigate becoming a new Proud Parent of a child with Down syndrome.  Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Despite Phoenix Conservatory of Music (PCM) closing its doors temporarily due to COVID-19 and not re-opening its facilities until this summer, PCM’s music education lessons and classes haven’t missed a beat. PCM staff and teaching artists got to work immediately setting up and using Zoom for all students enrolled in private lessons and College Prep Program classes, with no disruption in services. Thunderbirds Charities has helped make it possible for these students to continue their learning online, thanks to a $10,000 grant to support PCM’s College Prep Program during the 2019-2020 school year.  In the last two months, PCM provided students in the College Prep Program over 300 hours of online ensembles, music theory classes and enrichment classes, as well as over 200 hours of private music lessons; all online. PCM serves more than 2,000 students annually, mostly from low-income families and Title 1 schools. Music lessons are typically up close and personal, with teaching artists and students sitting in close proximity. Offering professional development to teaching artists so they can continue to provide high-quality music education using new technology and embrace remote learning was the first step. Nearly 90 percent of families have remained enrolled in PCM music lessons […] More

The Thunderbirds – Hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – are no strangers to charities like St. Mary’s Food Bank and United Food Bank and their mission to alleviate hunger through the gathering and distribution of food. In fact, The Thunderbirds routinely donate to these community-based organizations that improve the quality of life for Arizonans in need. They are one of hundreds of Valley charities that have had to change their business operations to combat the effects of the current health crisis here in the United States and across the world. To lend a hand, 50 Thunderbirds visited St. Mary’s Food Bank and United Food Bank over the weekend to help the staff pack boxes of food to feed hungry Arizonans and people in need. “These vital organizations do an amazing job helping hungry people in our community regardless of the circumstances,” said Thunderbirds Big Chief Chance Cozby. “Obviously, the current health crisis has impacted their ability to serve the community in the same ways they have in the past, but through volunteer support and the backing of the community at large, we know we can come together and provide aid and assistance to these as much as we […] More

It’s rare that our military service men and women would ever reach out for help, but when they do, as a community it is our responsibility to lend our support. Military Assistance Mission (MAM) has recently been awarded $100,000 from Thunderbirds Charities, so that they can continue their mission to provide financial and morale aid to Arizona’s active duty military, their families and post 9/11 Purple Heart Recipients. On average, through donations such as these, MAM provides support to more than 4,500 Military members and families who benefit financially, as well as take part in MAM’s morale programs and event programs annually. “Receiving this grant from Thunderbirds Charities is a game changer for MAM,” said Trey Vineyard, MAM Board President. “I am excited to see how this funding will help us respond even more effectively to the needs of military families. This support will most certainly change the trajectory of their lives and we are humbled by the opportunity to offer programs to those who have given and continue to sacrifice so much for the American way of life we all cherish.” MAM’s financial assistance program is at the heart of their mission of giving back. When the men and […] More

Community Alliance Against Family Abuse (CAAFA) has received a $10,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. The grant will be used to provide music therapy for children impacted by domestic and sexual violence.  CAAFA operates a domestic and sexual violence crisis shelter, where, in 2020, they expect to serve 25 children from Maricopa County. For the second year in a row, the funding from Thunderbirds Charities will allow children at CAAFA to participate in music therapy at Higher Octave Healing in Tempe. “CAAFA provides trauma-informed care to adults and their children in our Safe House. While they stay with us, we can help them begin to heal and learn coping skills that they can carry for the rest of their lives,” CAAFA Executive Director, Ray Villa said. “Music therapy is a key feature of our children’s programming, and we are thankful for support from the Thunderbirds Charities support, which enables us to continue this important service.” Studies show that music therapy can help children who have experienced horrific events overcome their post-traumatic stress. CAAFA parents who attend sessions with their children also learn how to engage with them in new ways, and make new memories that will hopefully overshadow the darker ones. […] More

Thunderbirds Charities recently awarded the Assistance League® of Phoenix $50,000 grant to support their Operation School Bell. The Delivering Dreams Bus is the mobile unit of Operation School Bell®, the signature program of Assistance League® of Phoenix, and serves over 8,500 students each school year both through the bus and the satellite dressing center located in Sunnyslope. “Thunderbirds Charities has been a longstanding partner of ours,” said Aimee Runyon, Chief Executive Officer, Assistance League® of Phoenix. “Their generous donation provided much needed support to fill our new buses with shoes & clothing. We are thrilled to add the Thunderbirds Charities to our two new buses, as one of our greatest supporters.” The Assistance League of Phoenix recently launched two new buses sponsored with Rotary 100/BHHS Legacy Foundation and Fiesta Bowl Charities/BHHS Legacy Foundation. Thunderbird Charities helped support the clothing & shoes to fill these buses. Assistance League of Phoenix partners with more than 90 Title I schools throughout the year. Each school can select up to 100 children who qualify for the program (students on the free or reduced lunch program). Once on board the Delivering Dream Bus, students work with volunteers to select correct sizes. Each student receives a […] More

Stand for Children Leadership Center, a parent engagement group, is pleased to announce they have recently received a $25,000 grant from Thunderbirds. Stand for Children Leadership Center is a leadership development and training organization. They train ordinary people to be effective citizen leaders capable of solving problems facing children, both locally and statewide, by convincing elected officials and voters to invest in and reform vital children’s programs. They provide parents and others concerned about children’s issues with tools to achieve long-lasting improvements for children by joining together in a unified, grassroots voice. “We are honored to receive this award,” Stand for Children Executive Director Rebecca Gau said. “It will enable us to have a greater impact by reaching and empowering more parents. It is our aim to identify and address early literacy issues through our Every Child Reads initiative, and we are excited about the increased opportunities available for the families we serve thanks to this award.” To reach even more families, Stand for Children Leadership Center launched Every Child Reads (ECR), a research-based family engagement program that empowers parents with the skills and knowledge they need to support their child’s learning and prepare them to succeed after graduation. Currently, […] More

Since 1995, Arizona Housing Inc (AHI) has worked toward its mission to assist individuals and families in attaining self-sufficiency through the provision of dignified, comprehensive housing and services. AHI serves extremely low income, disadvantaged individuals and families; 85% of all tenants are living at or below 30% of area median income ($15,300 or less), and the majority are behaviorally/physically disabled, elderly, veterans, or families with children. Thunderbirds Charities support for the Comforts of Home Project has provided assistance in supplying furniture, fixtures and equipment to 90 individuals at their newly refurbished Steele Commons site and will be used to increase healthy engagement of families and prosocial development of children through play at their North 17 site by enhancing the current outdoor space through installation of a shade structure for the playground and the purchase of indoor/outdoor equipment, toys and games. AHI has a unique long history and expertise in serving extremely low-income individuals with additional challenges such as serious mental illness, physical disabilities, and substance abuse issues. They seek the most difficult to serve with the goal of providing them with a home, supportive services, and a community of support. Through their community-building strategies, AHI helps this diverse and vulnerable […] More

Thunderbird Charities has recently awarded $25,000 to Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) to improve outcomes for foster children who have been removed from their home and placed with a kinship caregiver. More than 5,500 of the nearly 14,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system are placed with relatives – grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings. These kinship foster families take immediate placement of children, but don’t get full state support until they become licensed foster parents – a process that can take six months or longer. The goal of the AASK Kinship Care Program is to support kinship foster families as they care for the children of relatives, with a special focus on the first six months of care as the entire family responds to the crisis of children being brought into foster care. This grant makes it possible for AASK to provide support to families before they become licensed. AASK has a unit dedicated to the unique needs of kinship foster families. Each family is assigned a family support specialist who serves as a guide for dealing with the Arizona Department of Child Safety, the courts, the schools and other organizations involved in the life of a child […] More

Thunderbirds Charities recently awarded a $50,000 grant to Act One to support transportation costs for field trips. Act One works with schools that serve a high percentage of students from households that qualify for free or reduced lunch and are part of the Federal Title 1 Schoolwide program. “Act One’s biggest field trip expense is transportation to get students to the arts venues,” said Juliet Martin, vice president of strategies and programs. “Thunderbirds Charities is such an important community partner, and the gift helps Act One meet the incredible demand from schools for arts field trips.” Act One reimburses schools for the cost of using district buses or books and pays for charted buses if district buses are unavailable. Act One also pays the arts organizations for tickets to attend field trips. Each school’s only cost for Act One field trips is a $1 per participant program partnership fee. Thunderbirds Charities is proud to support Act One’s goal to serve students whose families and schools are unlikely to have the means to bring them on educational arts field trips. Act One This grant is part of the Fall 2019 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

The Be A Leader Foundation is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $50,000 grant to help support its PIPELINE of College Access, Postsecondary Success and Postsecondary Transition programs which serve over 8,000 students a year. “We are honored to partner with The Thunderbirds 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.” The Be A Leader Foundation’s (BALF) mission is to increase the number of students who are prepared for and succeed in higher education by empowering them with tools, leadership skills and consistent support, transforming lives and creating life-long opportunities for success. Their vision is a community where all students have the opportunity to succeed in higher education and have the skills and resources to ensure personal success. BALF believes that Arizona’s future is linked to the state’s ability to produce a robust educated workforce; college graduates earn, on average, one and a half times more than high school graduates, adding more revenue back into the economy. “We’re thrilled and so proud to give these grants […] More

The Children’s Developmental Center at Southwest Human Development recently received a $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support intake coordination services that help families avoid visits to multiple specialists and assists them in navigating an often fragmented and significantly under-resourced service delivery system. The Children’s Developmental Center provides a wide range of disabilities programs and services including assistive technology at its ADAPT Shop, autism services using the DIRFloortime® model, team developmental assessments, feeding services, psychology and counseling, therapy services and more. “We are so grateful for our long-lasting relationship with Thunderbirds Charities and are grateful to have a partner in supporting Arizona’s youngest children and their families,” says Jake Adams, chief development officer of Southwest Human Development. “The Children’s Developmental Center is one of the only places where low-and-middle-income families can get comprehensive developmental evaluations.” Thunderbirds Charities is proud to support Southwest Human Development and their efforts to improve the lives of individuals living with disabilities. Children’s Developmental Center at Southwest Human Development This grant is part of the Fall 2019 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More

Circle the City, a community health organization dedicated to providing high quality, holistic healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, was awarded a $100,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support the purchase of a third mobile medical clinic and a portable generator. The grant helps expand Circle the City’s outreach to people facing homelessness in the north Phoenix and Sunnyslope area. The portable generator will provide power at Circle the City’s two medical respite centers in the event of severe weather resulting in power outages. “We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of Thunderbirds Charities,” added Ross. “Their contributions support our vision of healthier communities without homelessness. ” Transportation is a significant barrier for individuals facing homelessness and needing medical attention, so they often rely on emergency responders and hospital emergency departments for routine, non-emergent healthcare. Mobile medical outreach enables Circle the City to meet and treat individuals where they are – on the streets, at public parks, partner agencies and in other pockets of high-density homelessness. Circle the City believes it must meet patients ‘where they are,’ in a literal sense, but also without judgment or bias, embracing dignity and respect for all patients. The mobile medical clinic […] More

Esperança, a Phoenix-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve health and restore hope both locally and globally, is the proud recipient of a $25,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. This grant will be used to further support Esperança’s health literacy programs for at-risk, low-income Latino children, adults, and seniors in the Phoenix area. These health literacy programs include Salud con Sabor Latino (Health with a Latin Flavor), Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP), Platicas (30-minute talks on various health topics), and oral health education for all ages. The grant is projected to serve almost 4,000 participants. “In the local communities where we serve, more than 64 percent of kindergarteners suffer from untreated tooth decay,” says Jeri Royce, President & CEO of Esperança. “This is just one example of how this generous support from Thunderbirds Charities will help us continue our mission to combat poor oral health, obesity and diabetes through our bilingual health education programs.” Over the past two decades, Esperança’s domestic program has served more than 30,000 children, adults and seniors in the most vulnerable communities of Maricopa County, ensuring they receive culturally appropriate preventive health […] More

In 2016, St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) embarked on their first large-scale capital project in nearly 25 years. One of the goals was to fund a major expansion of the SVdP Medical and Dental Clinic. The Clinic faced serious space constraints, and the aging facilities needed upgrades. The campaign allowed SVdP to double the square footage of the Clinic, and significantly increased patient services, volunteer opportunities, and community collaboration. Thunderbirds Charities’ helped with the purchase of much needed, high tech equipment that has the capability to enhance vision for diabetic and other at-risk patients. The treatment of diabetic retinopathy is the most pressing need of current clinic patients. Before, the Clinic was able to diagnose patients but did not have a way of treating them. With the purchase of a visual-field machine, the Clinic is now able to detect glaucoma in patients without referring them to an outside business. Even after the initial campaign, Thunderbirds Charities came back to support the build out of two new operators in their Dental Clinic. This expansion has doubled the number of dental operatories, and significantly increased the capacity to serve adults and children in need of care that alleviates pain, prevents future problems, […] More

Experience Matters has received a generous $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support expansion of their collaborative Literacy and Mentors Program, a K-3 reading program that addresses the urgent need to increase reading readiness of low-income children in Title I schools in Phoenix, Buckeye and Littleton School Districts. “This grant from the Thunderbirds Charities will give us additional resources to expand our activities into new school districts and provide intergenerational connections,” said Experience Matters Executive Director Wendy Cohen. “Over the past 10 years, Experience Matters has impacted over 600 nonprofit organizations in the greater Phoenix area, matched skilled talent to almost 1,300 capacity building projects, while generating over $43 million in Human Capital.” Experience Matters connects the skills and talents of individuals, age 50+, with social-benefit organizations to enhance their capacity to solve community problems. Objectives include providing resources to nonprofits to more effectively fulfill their mission and preparing older adults with meaningful service work to help improve Arizona. “Thunderbirds Charities is proud to support the Literacy and Mentors Program,” said Chance Cozby, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “Additional resources towards the program will ensure that more students can become equipped with reading readiness.” Experience Matters This grant is part of […] More

Oakwood Creative Care will offer new Dementia Coach services thanks to a grant from Thunderbirds Charities. Oakwood’s Dementia Coach program will help families navigate these challenges by empowering family caregivers and enhancing the quality of life for their loved ones though one on one coaching and emotional support to minimize care partner strain with advanced care planning, educational workshops, counseling, nurse case management and the coordination of health and community services. Oakwood Creative Care is a non-profit providing innovative senior services while revolutionizing the concept of memory care. Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. After diagnosis, these families often do not know where to turn. Oakwood Dementia Coach program will help families as they face these new challenges by providing expertise in effective care-giving practices. Families will be able to define and set goals for the person with dementia and their caregiver based on values, personhood and preferences. With only 2% of American philanthropic dollar being directed to elderly care, this grant from Thunderbirds Charities is an investment in fulfilling Oakwood’s mission of enhancing the mind, body, and spirit of adults with cognitive and physical challenges. Oakwood Creative Care is committed to helping families keep their […] More

Founded in 1969, the West Valley Arts Council exists to enrich the West Valley by growing a vibrant and connected arts & cultural community. West Valley Arts Council’s (WVAC) Arts Education Program (AEP) was recently awarded $8,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to support arts education in the West Valley. Specifically, funding will support professional development workshops for arts teachers and performing artist fees for Arts Advantage, a series of live performances for 4th grade students, especially from Title One elementary schools. The Arts Education Program is tailored for each individual district ensuring that their educational goals for students and teachers are met, and it ensures that the reach and impact of arts education is deepened during and after school. The goals of the Arts Education Program are to make quantitative changes in arts education and support teachers and districts in meeting their academic goals and achieving Arizona’s educational standards for the arts. Through the AEP, the Arts Council will strengthen relationships with area school districts, and build on the organization’s belief that the arts and arts education are fundamental to a healthy society; impact a child’s academic achievement throughout their school years and beyond; promote a higher quality of life; and […] More

Year Up enables motivated young adults ages 18-24 to move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year by providing the skills, experience, and support they need to reach their full potential. Through a one-year, intensive program, Year Up utilizes a high-expectations, high-support model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, coursework eligible for college credit, and corporate internships at more than 250 top companies. Its holistic approach focuses on students’ professional and personal development to enable young adults with a viable path to economic self-sufficiency and meaningful careers. Continuing to expand its reach and provide even more young adults with access to economic opportunity, the nonprofit workforce development program Year Up Arizona announced today that it has received a $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. The funding will enable Year Up Arizona’s Central City Campus at GateWay Community College to grow to serve more than 240 students in 2020, allowing Year Up Arizona to serve more than 320 young adults across both of its locations. “With the support of Thunderbirds Charities, Year up Arizona will be able to amplify its impact and provide more motivated, talented young adults with the skills and support they need to move from minimum […] More

Furnishing Dignity serves individuals and families moving out of homelessness and foster kids transitioning into their own apartments. The charity provides essential home furnishings, including beds, dressers, tables, sofas, and small kitchen appliances. The new and gently-used furnishings are free to the recipients, and volunteer moving teams set up the household. Thunderbirds Charities has awarded Furnishing Dignity $25,000 to supply furnishings and home essentials to even more clients. “Everyone deserves a bed; every child needs a place do homework,” said Co-Founder, Joyce Petrowski. “These are things so many people take for granted, but these simple furnishings provide a major confidence boost to our recipients as they transform their lives.” “Because of Furnishing Dignity, these individuals and families can focus on other pressing issues, like finding and keeping jobs, focusing on health issues, and enrolling kids in school or daycare,” said board member, Anita Buckel. Furnishing Dignity This grant is part of the Fall 2019 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.   More