UPWARD for Children and Families celebrated another transformational gift to the $5.325 million capital campaign, Lifting Children Upward. Thunderbirds Charities, awarded a $100,000 grant to support a project to significantly expand UPWARD’s capacity to provide care and education of our community’s most severely disabled and medically fragile children. Thunderbirds Charities mission is to help children and families and improve the quality of life in our community.

“We highly support UPWARD’s purpose of helping children with special needs achieve their highest potential, while empowering their families to thrive,” said Tom King, President of Thunderbirds Charities.

“In recognition of the Thunderbirds’ investment in our children and families, we are pleased to name the multi-purpose room in their honor,” said Doug Carter, UPWARD’s CEO. This space will be the hub of the new facility, bringing together programs for children, their families and the entire community.

For more than 50 years UPWARD for Children and Families has delivered special education and childcare for children and young adults with severe developmental disabilities. Upward will add 20,000 square feet of new construction to the existing 2.2-acre campus, bringing the total facility size to 26,000 square feet. This will dramatically increase UPWARD’s capacity and enhance the experience for all UPWARD families.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities. The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona.

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 250 “life” members. For more information on the Thunderbirds or the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.