Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community – awarded more than $4 million in grants to 77 Valley charities during its 2019 fall funding cycle. Thunderbirds Charities awarded grants of $100,000 or more to 12 Valley Charities; including $750,000 to Phoenix Rescue Mission, $250,000 to Brighter Way Institute, $150,000 to New Pathways for Youth, $150,000 to Ryan House and $125,000 to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
“Without a doubt, giving back to our communities is the most rewarding thing about what we do as tournament hosts,” said Chance Cozby, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We’re thrilled and so proud to give these grants to deserving organizations around the Valley. It’s an honor to have such a positive impact for those in need in our community.”
The $750,000 grant to Phoenix Rescue Mission will help build an $11 million, four story building on the NEC of 35th Avenue and West Durango Street, allowing Phoenix Rescue Mission to substantially expand their Transformations Program and services to the surrounding community.
The $200,000 donation to Brighter Way Institute go towards expanding Brighter Way’s Downtown Dental Center, providing comprehensive oral health care for vulnerable adults, children, veterans, those experiencing homelessness and individuals with special needs.
The $150,000 grant to New Pathways for Youth will fund the Transformative Mentoring Program Expansion Project, which will allow NPFY to double their footprint; increasing the number of youths served annually from 450 to 1000.
Thanks to a $150,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, Ryan House will be able to renovate their Sanctuary Room and bolster their Sponsor-A-Stay Program, all towards their mission to provide world-class care and programs for children and families as they navigate life-limiting or end-of-life journeys through palliative and respite care that addresses emotional, spiritual and social needs of the family from diagnosis to end-of-life from highly trained staff.
A $125,000 grant to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation will help provide family law education, resources and support for women in conjunction with their mission to positively transform their lives and strengthen the community through a wide range of services, classes and workshops designed to teach self-confidence, life skills and career development.
Additional grants awarded from the fall 2019 cycle:
| A Stepping Stone Foundation | LEAF – Literacy Elevates Arizona Families | $30,000 |
| Act One Foundation | Act One Field Trip Program | $50,000 |
| Aid to Adoption of Special Kids | Kinship Family Care | $25,000 |
| Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels | Comfort and Care Behavioral Health Counseling Center Program | $25,000 |
| Arizona Autism United | EV Learning Center playground | $50,000 |
| Arizona Burn Foundation | HOPE Services | $50,000 |
| Arizona Council On Economic Education | Teaching the New Arizona Economics Standards (K-12) | $50,000 |
| Arizona Housing | Steele Commons & North 17 projects | $50,000 |
| Arizona Museum Of Natural History Foundation | Exploration Station Redesign for Universal Accessibility | $10,000 |
| Assistance League of Phoenix | Operation School Bell® | $50,000 |
| AZCEND | Chandler Food Bank Vehicle and Program Request | $75,000 |
| Be A Leader Foundation (BALF) | PIPELINE of College-going Programs & Postsecondary Transition Project | $50,000 |
| Be Kind People Project Foundation | The BE KIND City: our youth will make the difference | $50,000 |
| Best Buddies Arizona | Best Buddies Arizona School Friendship Project | $25,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona | Big Futures SUCCESS – College and Career Readiness Mentoring Program | $20,000 |
| Black Theatre Troupe | Neighborhood Children’s Literacy Programs | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs Of Scottsdale | Makerspaces at BGCS’s Thunderbirds and Lehi branches | $100,000 |
| Brighter Way Institute | Brighter Way Institute Downtown Dental Center Expansion | $250,000 |
| Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship | Student Scholarships 2019/20 Season | $10,000 |
| Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation | 2019 AZMOM-PHX durable dental supplies/equipment | $20,000 |
| Childrens Museum Of Phoenix | The Children’s Garden & KIDchen | $30,000 |
| Childsplay | Childsplay’s In-school Performance Program | $25,000 |
| Circle the City | portable generator for downtown & towards mobile med unit | $100,000 |
| Community Alliance Against Family Abuse | music therapy | $10,000 |
| Detour Company Theater Inc | Expanded Mainstage Season | $10,000 |
| Dress For Success Phoenix | Mobile Career Center for Women | $20,000 |
| Esperanca Inc | Esperança Health Literacy Programs for At-Risk, Low-Income Latino Children, Adults, and Seniors | $25,000 |
| Experience Matters Consortium | Expansion of Literacy and Mentors Program | $50,000 |
| Family Promise-Greater Phoenix | Emergency Shelter Program | $50,000 |
| Foundation for Blind Children | Early Intervention for Blind Babies | $100,000 |
| Free Arts of Arizona | Free Arts Programs for Children | $25,000 |
| Fresh Start Women’s Foundation | Family Law buildout & Support Services | $125,000 |
| Furnishing Dignity | Essential Home Furnishings | $25,000 |
| Future For Kids | Discover Your Future | $20,000 |
| Genesis City | Genesis City Trailblazer Program | $75,000 |
| ICM | refrigerated van and programming | $60,000 |
| Jewish Family & Children’s Service | JFCS East Valley Healthcare Center Expansion | $100,000 |
| Jumpstart For Young Children | Workforce Development Program | $20,000 |
| McDowell Sonoran Conservancy | Sonoran Discovery Academy – Expedition Days (Formally Junior Citizen Science Festival) | $20,000 |
| Mesa Arts Center Foundation | Project Lit: Igniting Literacy through the Arts | $10,000 |
| Miracle League Of Arizona | Homerun Program Growth | $20,000 |
| National Audubon Society | Nature in Your Neighborhood | $10,000 |
| New Pathways for Youth | Transformative Mentoring Program Expansion Project | $150,000 |
| One Step Beyond | Scottsdale Expansion – Music & Technology Rooms | $25,000 |
| Open Table | South Phoenix Community Convening for Early Childhood Education | $25,000 |
| Phoenix Conservatory Of Music | College Preparatory Program | $10,000 |
| Phoenix Police Foundation Inc | Phoenix Police Department Youth Programs | $50,000 |
| Phoenix Rescue Mission | Solutions Building capital project | $750,000 |
| Phoenix Symphony Association | Mind Over Music | $15,000 |
| Phoenix Theatre Inc | Partners That Heal | $15,000 |
| Positive Coaching Alliance | PCA & Thunderbirds Charities – Sports Teach Arizona | $50,000 |
| Raising Special Kids | Interactive Online Resource Guide for Families of Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities | $12,000 |
| Rebuilding Together Valley Of The Sun | Safe at Home Program (S@H) | $20,000 |
| Rising Youth Theatre | Youth Leadership Program | $5,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix | Help-A-Family | $50,000 |
| Rosie’s House A Music Academy For Children | Creative Youth Development for Under-Resourced Youth | $10,000 |
| Ryan House | Sanctuary Room renovation / Sponsor-A-Stay Program | $150,000 |
| Sirrine Adult Day Care Of Mesa | Oakwood Creative Care Dementia Coach | $8,000 |
| Sojourner Center | trauma informed playground and play area | $100,000 |
| Sounds Academy | After-school programming | $5,000 |
| Southwest Human Development | Children’s Developmental Center | $50,000 |
| St Josephs Foundation | Stem Cell Transplantation Capital Project | $150,000 |
| St. Joseph the Worker | Employment Heals Communities | $150,000 |
| Stand For Children Leadership Center | Every Child Reads | $25,000 |
| Stepping Up For Seniors | Financial Assistance for Medical-related Financial Crises | $10,000 |
| Step-Student Expedition Program | STEP: Student College Prep Program | $25,000 |
| Summer Youth Program Fund SYPF | 2020 Summer Youth Program Fund | $50,000 |
| The Centers for Habilitation/TCH | resource room reno | $10,000 |
| The Nash | Jazz education interns | $5,000 |
| The Opportunity Tree | Basketball Court for Youth with Disabilities | $30,000 |
| Valley Youth Theatre | Literacy and the Arts | $15,000 |
| VALLEYLIFE | Hydraulic Changing Table | $10,000 |
| Veterans Heritage Project | Connecting Students with Veterans | $10,000 |
| West Valley Arts Council | Arts Education Program | $8,000 |
| Wigged Out Inc | Wigs for Women & Children | $5,000 |
| Year Up Arizona | Workforce Development and Education Program | $50,000 |
| Youth Entrepreneurs | Youth Entrepreneurs class in Maricopa County | $25,000 |