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Thunderbirds Charities Donates More Than $4 Million to Valley Charities During Fall Funding Cycle

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