Ronald McDonald House Receives $50,000 Grant from Thunderbirds Charities to Provide Nights of Rest for Families

The $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities supported our House Heroes program, allowing Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona to provide 467 nights of rest for families caring for their child at one of the Valley’s premiere hospitals. While the COVID pandemic caused increased expenses and cancelled two signature fundraising events, support from Thunderbirds Charities helped ensure families were able to stay together during their child’s health crisis. “We are so grateful for the continued support of Thunderbirds Charities to our organization and other communities across Arizona,” said RMHCCNAZ CEO, Kerry Schulman. “Pediatric illness does not stop or slow during a pandemic, which means that the need for a place for families to rest and rejuvenate while their child receives necessary medical treatment must continue. This grant from Thunderbirds Charities gives us the resources to do so.” Families who turn to RMHCCNAZ receive: *A “home-away-from-home.” Families stay in comfortable private rooms with access to complimentary laundry facilities, community kitchen and pantry, dining room, family room, indoor and outdoor play areas, library, and Wi-Fi. *A warm meal. Volunteers donate food and prepare nightly meals as part of our Dinnertime Heroes program. (While families are still fed, we have paused […] More
 

Gift of Adoption Receives Grant from Thunderbirds Charities to Fund Maricopa County Forever Families Program

Gift of Adoption, a national charitable organization providing financial assistance to complete adoptions, is receiving a $5,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to fund the Maricopa County Forever Families Program. The grant will allow Gift of Adoption’s Arizona Chapter to help unite two children with permanent families. “We’re thrilled that Thunderbirds Charities is assisting our efforts to bring more vulnerable children into permanent, loving homes,” says Katie Zimmerman, President of Gift of Adoption Fund – Arizona Chapter. “The Maricopa County Forever Families program will have a direct and immediate impact on at-risk kids living in Maricopa and Pinal Counties.” The funding from Thunderbirds Charities will allow the chapter to issue two adoption assistance grants for vulnerable children in Maricopa and Pinal Counties to be adopted by loving, caring families also residing in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. Nurturing families are integral to a child’s healthy development, contributing to success throughout life. Gift of Adoption This grant is part of the Fall 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Wigged Out Receives $5,000 from Thunderbirds Charities

Wigged Out, Inc. received a $5,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities which will help expand and support financial assistance for wigs and hair pieces for women and children with medically related hair loss. Wigged Out, Inc. provides financial assistance to women and children in the metropolitan Phoenix and surrounding areas who are in need of wigs and head coverings due to the effects of a diagnosed medical condition, such as cancer, alopecia, and blood or genetic disorders. By partnering with reputable wig boutiques across the Valley, Wigged Out is able to ensure that the women we help are able to receive new, high quality, and well fitting wigs that they are able to select, empowering them to choose a wig that helps them feel more like themselves. Wigged Out serves a wide range of women, children, and the elderly across the Greater Phoenix area, with our youngest applicant being 5 years old, through women in their 80s and 90s. Funding from Thunderbirds Charities will help women like Marie, a recent applicant, who says, “Thanks to the generous help of Wigged Out Inc. I can smile with confidence. No more hiding myself and avoiding eye contact. I feel healthy! I have my […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Partners with A New Leaf to Close Opportunity Gaps for Underserved Children in Valley

A New Leaf’s services impact more than 7,800 children and youth in the Valley annually, targeting those who have experienced significant challenges and trauma related to domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and social, emotional, and behavioral health challenges. A $250,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities will support A New Leaf’s Phoenix Day Early Childhood Education Program and Therapeutic Behavioral Health After School & Summer Programs, providing opportunities for marginalized children to overcome social and racial inequities and to break the cycle of poverty. Phoenix Day is a nationally accredited, 4-STAR Quality First rated, bilingual program located in South-Central Phoenix, providing early childhood education programming for 160 children, ages 0-5, each year. 80% of children represent minority and low-income populations. 85% of graduating children exceed Kindergarten readiness standards or are assisted with developing an Individualized Education Plan. Thunderbirds Charities funding will support programming and facility needs – needs that have been compounded by losses in revenue and extraneous costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A New Leaf’s Therapeutic Behavioral Health After School & Summer Programs provide after school and summer programming for nearly 700 children from low-income families each year who struggle with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Thunderbirds Charities funding will support […] More
 

Funds Donated by Thunderbirds Charities Are Being Used to Provide Personal Protective Equipment to VALLEYLIFE

Funds donated by Thunderbirds Charities are being used to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for VALLEYLIFE’s 25 group homes, which house over 100 residents, called members, with developmental and physical disabilities. Since VALLEYLIFE’s day activity centers have been shuttered since last March, members have been confined to their group homes. Major precautions have been taken to maintain a safe environment for both staff and members, who are required to wear masks at all times. The homes are continually sanitized throughout the day. Staff and members in those homes that have had an exposure to COVID-19 are required to wear face shields and gowns in addition to K-95 masks. Further measures are taken to isolate members who have contracted the virus. At this time, PPE is costing VALLEYLIFE over $5,000 a week. According to CEO Cletus Thiebeau, “As we look toward having a vaccine available and hopefully the end of the Pandemic, we cannot loosen up. The numbers are still high and we must continue to take every precaution to keep our members safe and healthy.” VALLEYLIFE This grant is part of the Fall 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Awards $20,000 Grant to Fight Hunger in Arizona

The grant funds from Thunderbirds Charities will support our on-going efforts to fight hunger in Arizona. Some of our efforts include working with elected officials at the state and national level on food policy issues that affect Arizonans, supporting our member food banks by transporting food to those who need it most and purchasing food in bulk at a discount. We also partner with schools and their school districts, community organizations and other non-profits to ensure kids receive proper nutrition three times a day, seven days week through school meals and summer meal programs. “The Arizona Food Bank Network is so appreciative of Thunderbirds Charities for this gift to help address the root causes of hunger, and to work together with communities to solve the food insecurity problem that is affecting one in every six Arizonans. Thank you!” Angie Rogers, CEO of Arizona Food Bank Network. Arizona Food Bank Network This grant is part of the Fall 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Awards Grant to Veterans Heritage Project

A recent grant awarded to Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) from Thunderbirds Charities will support the organization’s award-winning oral history and publication program. The innovative after-school program provides an enriching educational experience by connecting students with U.S. military veterans. Students interview a veteran, research history, and write and publish the veterans’ experiences into a hardbound book entitled Since You AskedTM. Each spring, students organize a community book reception to honor their veterans and present them with the book. Due to COVID-19, this year’s book reception will be replaced by Honor Roll, a drive-thru parade event celebrating veteran and student participants. The April 17, 2021 event will be held privately for the veterans and students, and livestreamed to VHP’s website for the public. The livestream will incorporate several special features, including special recognition of the Arizona National Guard for their significant contributions to the community in 2020. “This program not only honors veterans and preserves first-person accounts of history for future generations, it helps students reach their potential through character development, leadership skill building, and academic skill strengthening,” said Michelle DiMuro, Executive Director. “We are so thankful to Thunderbirds Charities for partnering in this effort.” Thunderbirds Charities funding is supporting critical program […] More
 

The Thunderbirds Pitch in at St. Mary’s Food Bank for the Holidays

The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – were back at St. Mary’s Food Bank before the Thanksgiving Holiday to assist with emergency food preparation. While The Thunderbirds regularly donate monetary funds to St. Mary’s Food Bank through the proceeds from “The People’s Open”, it’s also important to lend a hand in person – especially during this particularly challenging year. To pitch in, more than 30 members of The Thunderbirds, including 2021 Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins, helped pack more than 1,000 emergency food boxes with 16 tons of food for the local community so children and families in need can eat over the holidays. St. Mary’s Food Bank is in dire need of volunteers this holiday season. They have received numerous donations, but during this pandemic they are finding it more difficult to get people onsite to physically pack the boxes so they can get them to those in need. Please visit the St. Mary’s Food Bank website or click the link below to find out more information on donating or volunteering with St. Mary’s Food Bank. Find out more! | Volunteer with St. Mary’s Food Bank! More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Donates $200,000 to Teen Lifeline

Thunderbirds Charities recently donated $200,000 to help Teen Lifeline respond to the continually-growing need for suicide prevention services in Arizona. The donation will support the lifesaving peer counseling hotline and texting service provided by Teen Lifeline 365 days a year. Support from Thunderbirds Charities comes at a time when Teen Lifeline volunteers are answering more calls from teens in crisis than ever before. The agency has continued to experience an increase, taking more calls and texts during the summer and fall then during the same time period in previous years. Volunteers have also seen an increase in the acuity of the calls, with 1 in 3 of the calls being from teens experiencing thoughts of suicide and requiring intervention. “Teen Lifeline’s peer counseling hotline and texting service is critical in making the difference for any troubled teen seeking the support or connection that will help them through their crisis,” said Tim Woods, President, Thunderbirds Charities. “We are humbled by the work these young adults are doing to help their community and honored to support their efforts.” In response to the increased need for the crisis hotline, Teen Lifeline has expanded its texting service hours. While schools are closed, teens can […] More
 

The Thunderbirds and Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun Safe at Home

Please take a moment to watch impactful work being done in our Community through Rebuilding Together VOS. RTVOS is a leading safe and healthy housing organization dedicated to preserving affordable housing for economically disadvantaged seniors, families, veterans, and disabled individuals. Working at the critical intersection of health and housing, they provide free critical home repairs, home safety modifications to prevent falls, and money-saving energy-efficient home improvements. Thunderbirds Charities has been supporting their Safe at Home Program for many years, which provides home renovations economically disadvantaged homeowners in need of critical home repairs. Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun  More
 

New Life Center Completes $100,000 Dining Room Makeover Thanks to For Those Without a Voice and Thunderbirds Charities

New Life Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in Maricopa County and one of the largest in the country, is excited to announce that it has received a complete dining room remodel thanks to support from Thunderbirds Charities, who gave $50,000 towards the project. The project was completed on September 1, after four months of reconstruction. The dining room, which sits up to 60 individuals, was remodeled by GCON and furniture was provided by Elontec. The space consists of three booths, one child sitting area, one high top table, one half booth/half table, three round tables, two square tables and one long rectangular table. This allows for mixing and matching of tables to fit all different family sizes. Each resident has their own storage unit that can be used as a pantry. The cabinet corner will be a coffee station as well as storage for nonperishable food to be accessed around the clock. The kids corner has a play kitchen and fun, interactive activities for kids. The space can be accessed outside of mealtimes for any work or recreational purposes.  “Before the renovation, the space felt outdated and uncomfortable for our families,” says Myriah Mhoon, CEO of the center. “Now, […] More
 

The Thunderbirds Team Up with Arizona Helping Hands for Back-to-School Mission

To assist Arizona Helping Hands in their mission to provide essential needs for children in foster care, The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – recently visited the AZ Helping Hands warehouse to assemble backpacks chock-full with back-to-school essentials. “We were so excited to host The Thunderbirds,” said Jodie Sprayberry, Arizona Helping Hands CEO. “We had a whole bunch of guys volunteering. They put together bikes, backpacks, first aid kits, everything we could think of. It made such a huge difference and we can’t thank them enough.” Along with financial assistance that hundreds of local charities receive each year from the Waste Management Phoenix Open , The Thunderbirds have been lending a hand in person, going to various charities as a group to offer much needed help to the staff’s by packing food and water to local food banks and the assist they gave Helping Hands to get kids back to schools safely. “It’s a great feeling to assist these charities financially, but even more rewarding in person when you really see the effect is has on so many in need,” said Ed Grant of The Thunderbirds.  “It is a lot of fun to work together alongside […] More
 

Special Olympics Arizona Awarded $100,000 Grant from Thunderbirds Charities

President and CEO Jamie Heckerman announced today that Special Olympics Arizona received a $100,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open during the 2020 Spring Funding Cycle. The funds will be used to support SOAZ’s 2020 state competitions projects, along with providing support and opportunities for area and regional competitions due to difficulties associated with large events and Covid-19. “We always appreciate the great support that we get from our partnership with Thunderbirds Charities,” Heckerman said. “Generous grants like this one are integral in helping Special Olympics Arizona serve our more than 25,000 athletes throughout the state, and this year, more than ever with this Covid-19 pandemic, it is even more important. We can’t thank The Thunderbirds and Thunderbirds Charities enough for this tremendous show of support.” Special Olympics Arizona strives to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. With an emphasis on […] More
 

Florence Crittenton Awarded $75,000 for Girls Living Well Program from Thunderbirds Charities

Florence Crittenton’s Girls Living Well program encompasses integrated healthcare, effectively addressing holistic needs of clients residing in the Therapeutic Group Home (TGH) while prioritizing and fostering the development of positive lifelong wellness practices. It provides on-site access to preventive, primary and behavioral healthcare services to clients. “The nurses have helped me with cuts on my arms, they were able to provide care to them so I could continue working on my treatment here,” a client stated. “They are welcoming, nice and made me feel safe.” The $75,000 grant allowed us to offset medical salaries not covered by our agency’s contracted partners enabling us to provide full comprehensive treatment and support to 150 at-risk girls. This includes providing an initial health screening upon arrival (health, dental and vision screenings); pregnancy testing; psychological exams; and a personalized medical plan for each client enrolled in TGH.     “Our medical team brings a tremendous amount of support to our youth daily. Our nurses are available via telemed and in person to assist with any medical concerns the staff/youth may have,” explained the agency’s Director of Clinical and Residential Operations, Deana Morgan, LPC. “Several of our youth have not maintained their physical health or […] More
 

Arizona Helping Hands Receives $50,000 Grant from Thunderbirds Charities

Arizona Helping Hands receives a $50,000 grant to provide essential needs to children in foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic by fulfilling emergency requests from families providing the foster care.  Arizona Helping Hands is committed to continue serving Arizona’s most vulnerable population, the 14,000+ children in foster care, and has collaborated with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and 15 other foster care organizations to serve as an emergency response network. Arizona Helping Hands is grateful for the generosity and leadership of Thunderbirds Charities during this difficult time. “To be able to provide our most vulnerable, the children in foster care, with the basic needs such as twin beds, cribs, diapers and wipes is gratifying – and what our organization is all about,” says Tim Woods, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We are proud to support Arizona Helping Hands in their work in making a difference to the children in foster care and families who need us now more than ever.” Founded in 1998, Arizona Helping Hands provides essential needs for children in foster care through programs promoting safety, permanency, and health. As Arizona’s largest service provider of essential needs to children in foster care, Arizona Helping Hands services remain unduplicated, […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Helps Homebound Seniors Stay Independent

Thunderbirds Charities helps Aster Aging with homebound seniors stay independent by supporting 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. “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 This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

SPOT 127 Announces $7,500 Award from Thunderbirds Charities

KJZZ’s Youth Media Center, SPOT 127 is happy to announce receipt of a $7,500 award from Thunderbirds Charities. SPOT 127 will use this generous gift of support to replace outdated equipment at the SPOT 127 Youth Media Centers. The equipment is used to teach high school students multimedia skills and has not been replaced in 7 years. Thanks to the Thunderbirds Charities award, SPOT 127 will purchase Apple 27” iMacs and Canon Digital Cameras to enhance digital learning. This equipment will support the 350+ present and future student beneficiaries at SPOT 127’s Youth Media Centers. SPOT 127 offers a variety of journalism and multimedia experiences by connecting to topics that impact the lives of high school students. SPOT 127 gives “at-risk” valley teens the opportunity to develop life skills that go beyond the classroom. KJZZ’s Youth Media Center This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Homeless ID Project Receives 2020 Thunderbirds Charities Grant

The Homeless ID Project received a grant in the amount of $100,000 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. According to Rick Mitchell, Executive Director, “Our mission is to help people end their homelessness by providing access to replacement documents. While it is not something many of us think about, it is not possible to get a job, to gain housing, to apply for healthcare, or enroll the kids in school without current and valid identifying documents. Support from Thunderbirds Charities will help us provide the critical first step of replacing lost or stolen identification documents necessary for so many individuals and families seeking to end their homelessness.” Homeless I.D. Project This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.  More
 

The Thunderbirds Charities Invests $50,000 to Help Take Junior Achievement Education Digital

The funding provided by the Thunderbirds Charities would specifically support the conversion of our paper-based curriculum kits to interactive digital lessons, augmenting Junior Achievement’s education and delivery model to reach students outside the classroom. JA has curriculum kits per grade, Kindergarten through high school, and each kit contains six to seven lessons that each run 45 minutes to one hour, educating primarily low-income students on money management, career-readiness and entrepreneurship. Each year, we integrate our programming into thousands of classrooms across 400 schools statewide. Thunderbirds Charities investment would help us develop each online lesson including our costs to recruit and train digital volunteers; filming and editing of volunteers’ and JA staff’s teaching the lessons; development of content for each digital lesson; and building out our website, e-mail and social media platforms, and other communications channels, to disseminate and market our content online to engage parents, educators and students. JA will be able to reach students no matter how or where they’re learning, even more so now given the pandemic’s impact on kids’ education and learning.  Junior Achievement of Arizona This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

The Thunderbirds Team Up with SOAZ Staff to Help Pack ‘Return to Play’ Bags for Athletes

Playing safely is of paramount importance these days, and thanks to The Thunderbirds, when Special Olympics Arizona athletes return to competition, they will be doing so in a safe manner. Recently, The Thunderbirds went to Special Olympics Arizona’s headquarters in Perryville, Ariz. to help prepare 140 “Return to Play” bags full of personal protection equipment like thermometers, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to assist SOAZ programs start planning to resume activities. “This is why we host the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” said 2021 Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins. “To be able to give back to organizations like Special Olympics is why we work as hard as we do to sell ticket packages and all the other sponsorships available at ‘The People’s Open’.” Take a look at the video to see all the amazing work The Thunderbirds and Special Olympics Arizona are doing in the local community. More
 

Gabriel’s Angels Receives $15,000 Thunderbirds Charities Grant Award

Gabriel’s Angels Founder and CEO, Pam Gaber explains “we are extremely grateful for the support of the Thunderbirds Charities, especially during these unprecedented times. This generous funding has been utilized to keep our 180 statewide Pet Therapy Teams engaged by providing them the tools to facilitate virtual visits and continue an ongoing, meaningful relationship with the 123 Arizona agencies such Title 1 schools and crisis nurseries that we serve.     Although we are all adjusting to our ‘new normal’, our experience shows that post crisis events such as 9/11, the Great Recession, and now the COVID-19 Pandemic, that weathering the storm is of the utmost importance to be available to the many children that will unfortunately need the support of Gabriel’s Angels in the wake of these traumatic events. When our partner agencies throughout Phoenix, Tucson, and Prescott are ready to reopen, you can guarantee that Gabriel’s Angels Pet Therapy Teams will be there to meet the increased demand and continue to inspire confidence, compassion and best behaviors in Arizona’s at-risk youth through pet therapy.”    Gabriel’s Angels This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Awards $40,000 to Treasures for Teachers to Power Their T4T on Wheels Program

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 presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community, hundreds of teachers and students from Title 1 schools in metro Phoenix will benefit with a delivery of 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 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 $40,000 grant to Treasures 4 Teachers for their T4T on Wheels Program. This year truckloads of free school supplies will be […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Grant Overcomes Digital Divide Magnified by COVID-19 for RISE Scholars Headed to ASU

The RISE (Reaching Impact through Student Excellence) Scholars program is a 5-year college prep and job placement scholarship for Pell grant-eligible high school seniors ready to commit to a degree program at Arizona State University in a STEM major. Qualified students receive four years paid tuition and fees at ASU and College Bound AZ serves as the supportive bridge to ensure that their transition to college is successful. Because of computer access challenges due to COVID-19 closing schools this spring, that transition to college for many low-income students was in jeopardy. Essential steps in the college application process, such as submitting scholarship essays and filling out the complex FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, suddenly became major hurdles for students without a computer in their home. Jaleeyeah Arnold, a 19-year-old RISE Scholar and recent graduate of the East Valley Institute of Technology, is one of the deserving recipients of a laptop purchased with the Thunderbirds’ Charities funding. “I’m so thankful that I now don’t have to worry about the expense of buying a laptop for college. I have already used it for taking an ASU placement test for one of my fall courses and to attend my virtual […] More
 

Friendship Foundation DBA Glencroft Center for Modern Aging

Thunderbird Charities donated $6,000 to the Friendship Foundation to purchase vital medical equipment for residents impacted by COVID-19 at the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging, a continuing care retirement community in Glendale, Ariz.   “This contribution supports our mission to assist children and families, help people in need, and improve quality of life,” said Tim Woods, President of Thunderbirds Charities.  “We are honored to support seniors living at the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging.” Friendship Foundation provides assistance, transportation, and support for programs and projects that empower seniors living at Glencroft Center for Modern Aging. Glencroft Center for Modern Aging This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Gives Back with $3.8 Million Donation to Valley Non-Profits During COVID-19 Crisis

FALL FUNDING CYCLE IS NOW OPEN THROUGH TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Click here for information about applying for a grant. Keeping with their mission to support local non-profit organizations here in the Valley, Thunderbirds Charities – the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – awarded more than $3.8 million in grants to 43 Valley charities during its 2020 spring funding cycle. Reaching and serving the community in a meaningful and impactful way, especially during these unusual and unprecedented times, is the chief concern of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Local organizations need support now more than ever and Thunderbirds Charities remains committed to being stewards of our communities and a much-needed source of funds and supplies to our wonderful charity partners who do incredible work for children and families in need right here in Arizona. “The impact we can make in our Arizona communities is far and away the most rewarding thing we do as hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” said Tim Woods, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “It’s an honor to be able to assist the missions of these wonderful Valley organizations and help improve the lives of our fellow Arizonans.” The Thunderbirds raised […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Meets Critical Needs for Child Crisis Arizona

Child Crisis Arizona, with 43 years’ experience in Emergency Children’s Shelter services, is pleased to announce the receipt of a $150,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. This award, to support the agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, will be used to keep children receiving care in the Emergency Children’s Shelter, healthy and safe.   The children residing in the Emergency Children’s Shelter are cared for 24/7.  The agency has continued uninterrupted services throughout the pandemic.  With the advent of COVID-19, Child Crisis Arizona immediately took additional precautions to ensure the health and safety of the children in the shelter program. Steps included scheduling additional qualified staff to supervise smaller groups of children and maintain social distancing, increasing sanitization and disinfecting practices, and providing educational activities to keep children on track academically due to school closures. The additional costs incurred by the agency are being met, in part, by this grant received from Thunderbirds Charities.   Food and other everyday necessities have also been harder to acquire and more and more low-income at-risk children of families the organization serves need help. In addition to ensuring the children in shelter are properly nourished, there is a curbside food program now in place to help […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Supports Drive to End Hunger with $25,000 Grant Awarded to Tempe Community Action Agency

The Thunderbirds Charities is supporting Tempe Community Action Agency’s Drive to End Hunger project to benefit more than 16,050 individuals who are experiencing food insecurity in Tempe. Food insecurity is a continuing problem for more than 14% of Tempe residents and is especially true among children. More than half of students in Tempe elementary schools qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Chronic food insecurity negatively impacts health and productivity for people of all ages. TCAA will offer food boxes at its Food Pantry and deliver food boxes to Tempe and Kyrene K-12 schools for students and their families. For seniors, TCAA will deliver food boxes to their homes and transport seniors between their homes, the grocery store and TCAA’s Food Pantry to help them meet their ongoing nutritional needs. By providing access to food using multiple means, participating adults and families can vastly improve their nutritional intake and lead healthier lives. Thunderbirds Charities grant funds will address a portion of personnel expenses for Food Pantry staff who receive, sort, and distribute food to clients; and expenses for program materials/supplies and transportation. Tempe Community Action Agency This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent […] More
 

Thunderbirds Charities Supports Chandler-Based ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth with $75,000 Grant

ICAN’s Positive Youth Development Program is a prevention-focused out-of-school time program with carefully structured activities that teach youth empathy and communication, emotion-management and coping skills, decision-making, social competence, self-regulation, and positive goal setting. As a result, youth are better prepared to navigate adolescence with strong life skills that help them make good choices and avoid pitfalls, such as peer pressure, substance abuse, and violence. Youth also benefit from academic assistance, mentoring, computer skills, STEAM activities, sports and recreation. ICAN’s currently facility serves 200 a day on a year-round basis.    ICAN Positive Youth Development Program This grant is part of the Spring 2020 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees. More
 

Thunderbird Charities Announces $5,000 Grant to Diana Gregory Outreach Services

Diana Gregory Outreach Services (DGOS), a growing non-profit which operates healthy eating and cooking programs for Maricopa County seniors, veterans, and their families, is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support fresh produce purchases for its Nourishing Grandkids initiative. CEO and founder Diana Gregory started DGOS in 2009, after retiring from a successful career as a sales and marketing executive at beer giant Anheuser-Busch. Gregory combined her deep expertise in sales, marketing, merchandising, and branding with a strong passion for giving back to the local community to create Gregory’s Fresh Market, a mobile produce market. DGOS and Gregory’s Fresh Market (GFM) quickly grew in popularity and impact, providing more than 120,000 pounds of fresh produce to 8,000 low-income and underserved seniors and veterans last year. In 2017, Diana Gregory identified a new segment of the senior population that impacts senior health: grandparents who act as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren and who lack access to nutritious foods. In Maricopa County, this growing population consists of close to 9,000 seniors on fixed incomes who are caring for one or more grandchildren—many on a permanent basis. Nourishing Grandkids is an intergenerational project through DGOS that provides nutritional […] More
 

Thunderbird Charities Continue Their Generous Support for Community Gardens

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