Fresh Start Women’s Foundation Receives $100,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to Continue Family Law Support Services to Valley Women in Need

As part of its commitment to assist children and families in the Valley, Thunderbirds Charities has awarded Fresh Start Women’s Foundation $100,000 to benefit its Family Law Support (FLS) Program. Contending with family law issues such as divorce, custody, and child support can be daunting and challenging, especially for vulnerable women, including those experiencing domestic violence, who often face this journey alone. Fresh Start’s FLS Program gives these women the tools and resources they need to effectively advocate for themselves and their children in family court. Fresh Start, a 30-year-old Phoenix-based nonprofit serving more than 3,000 women each year, provides access and resources that help women overcome obstacles and empowers them to achieve self- sufficiency and success. Establishing a safe and stable household is often the first step to creating a better life and future.

“At Fresh Start, our mission is to provide access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. The majority of the women we serve are single moms earning less than $25,000 per year who need access to resources that will allow them to build a brighter future for themselves and their children,” said Kim McWaters, President and CEO of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. “Thanks to the generous support of Thunderbirds Charities, we will continue to provide life-changing expertise and help through the Family Law Support Program for women who are unable to afford costly legal services.” Through the FLS Program, Fresh Start provides educational workshops, certified legal document preparation services, access to an on-site virtual courtroom, pro bono attorney referrals, one-on-one case assessments, information, and assistance to help clients understand Arizona’s Family Court system and its processes, and access to legal advice and representation through its partner organization, Community Legal Services.
 
In 2020, Thunderbirds Charities generously provided funding to build Fresh Start’s “Thunderbirds Charities Family Law Support Center” and hire an FLS coordinator. The 2023 grant builds upon this investment, ensuring the FLS Program remains available as a critical resource for women in need across the Valley, allowing them to effectively advocate for themselves and their children in family court. In order to accommodate as many women as possible, Fresh Start provides services in both English and Spanish, in-person and virtually. For more information on Fresh Start and its services, visit www.freshstartwomen.org.

Fresh Start Women’s Foundation

This grant is part of the Fall 2022 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.