Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – recently donated $50,000 to Military Assistance Mission (MAM) that will be dedicated to its basic needs program for Arizona military.

“We understand the sacrifices that our active duty military make each and every day and we are proud to support an organization that goes out of its way to make sure these military members and their families are helped financially,” said Tom King, President of Thunderbirds Charities.

MAM supports E6 and lower active duty Arizona military members with financial grants for basic everyday needs like food, utilities, rent, mortgage, vehicle assistance and more.

“Our military, regardless of deployment status are continuing to struggle with their low pay and the increasing cost of living,” said Margy Bons, Founder and CEO of Military Assistance Mission. “The average case is approximately $650 so thanks to this Thunderbirds Charities’ grant MAM will be able to support 76 families.”

MAM’s mission is to provide financial and morale aid to current Arizona active duty military, their families and wounded warriors regardless of overseas deployment status. Through generous and widespread public support and a collaborative team of exceptional staff and volunteers, MAM aspires to become the provider of choice for emergency financial and morale assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors in Arizona. For more information about Military Assistance Mission visit www.azmam.org.

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.