PHOENIX – Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community – awarded $3.9 million in grants to 71 Valley charities during its fall 2018 funding cycle. Most notably, Thunderbirds Charities granted $400,000 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH), $350,000 to Barrow Neurological Foundation, $335,000 to St. Vincent De Paul, $200,000 to Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley, and $172,000 to United Food Bank.
Thunderbirds Charities has now opened its 2019 spring funding cycle. Information about the fall and spring funding cycles can be found at www.ThunderbirdsCharities.org.
“Without a doubt, giving back to our communities is the most fulfilling thing about what we do as tournament hosts,” said Carlos Sugich, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We’re extremely proud and thrilled to give these grants to deserving organizations around the Valley. It’s an honor to see how the funds raised from the WM Phoenix Open impacts those in need in our community.”
The $400,000 donation to Phoenix Children’s Hospital went toward funding the expansion of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). The hospital is doubling the size of the CVICU from 24 to 48 beds and acquiring state-of-the art equipment, bringing the very best care to patients at Phoenix Children’s.
“We are so grateful to have the extraordinary support of The Thunderbirds and this gift fuels the life-saving work in the CVICU” said Steven Schnall, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “Thank you for responding, once again, with support for our community’s children.”
The $350,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to Barrow Nuerological Institute supports the purchase of additional equipment for the Neuro-Robotics Rehabilitation Program. Robotics will help to improve outcomes for patients recovering from strokes, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
“Thanks to the generosity of Thunderbirds Charities, Barrow’s leading specialists have the latest tools and technologies available to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes and return to fulfilling and productive lives,” said Katie Cobb, president of Barrow Neurological Foundation.”
St. Vincent de Paul will use the $200,000 grand from Thunderbirds Charities to enhance support of uninsured children and families in need of medical and dental care, specifically through increased access to critical vision care and support of their dental clinic expansion.
“The generosity and kindness of Thunderbirds Charities over many years has been instrumental in helping us to feed, clothe, house and heal our community,” said Shannon Clancy, Associate Executive Director. “The provision of high-quality vision care is crucial, particularly among patients managing diabetes, and increased access to dental care can be life-changing.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley used the $200,000 for the Thunderbirds Guadalupe Branch Capital Project. The funds will specifically go towards renovating the ceramic flooring and replacing all HVAC’s.
“We are extremely grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for their generous donation, said Connie Perez, CEO of BGCEV. “Our Guadalupe branch will benefit immensely from this grant and we can’t wait to see the expression on our kids’ faces when they see the new floors. The impact Thunderbirds Charities will have on BGCEV will not go unnoticed,” said Connie Perez, CEO of BGCEV.”
United Food Bank will use the $172,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to purchase a new semi-truck to help deliver thousands of meals across nearly 19 thousand square miles of their service area.
“The new semi is a game changer for us,” said Dave Richins, CEO United Food Bank. “Due to the generosity of Thunderbirds Charities, we’ll be able to efficiently and reliably provide nutritious meals to thousands of people in need.”
Please note that the spring funding cycle is now open! More details.
Additional grants awarded from the fall 2018 cycle:
| A New Leaf | Youth Services Program | $100,000 |
| A Stepping Stone Foundation | LEAF (Literacy Elevates Arizona Families) | $30,000 |
| Act One Foundation | Field Trip Program | $50,000 |
| Aid to Adoption of Special Kids | Family Crisis Support | $25,000 |
| Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels | Comfort and Care Program | $35,000 |
| Arizona Association For Foster And Adoptive Parents | Recycle Your Bicycle for a Kid in Foster Care | $5,000 |
| Arizona Helping Hands | Building Hope Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Assistance League of Phoenix | Operation School Bell® | $50,000 |
| Audrey’s Angels | Music Enrichment Program | $5,000 |
| AZCEND | Chandler Food Bank | $10,000 |
| Barrow Neurological Foundation | Robotic Equipment for the Neuro-Robotics Rehabilitation Center | $350,000 |
| Best Buddies Arizona | Elementary School Friendship Program | $25,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona | Big Futures – College and Career Readiness Mentoring Program | $20,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix | Sands Branch Teen Tech Center | $150,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs Of Scottsdale | Innovative Dream Makers | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley | Guadalupe Branch Renovation Project | $200,000 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope Arizona | Scholar Success Transportation Vehicle | $50,000 |
| Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship | Equine Assisted Horsemanship Lessons | $10,000 |
| Central Arizona Shelter Services | Renovation of Downtown Shelter | $100,000 |
| Chandler Cultural Foundation | Connecting Kids Youth Program. | $5,000 |
| Chicanos Por La Causa | Dysart Center Early Head Start Renovation Project | $100,000 |
| Childrens Museum Of Phoenix | Children’s Garden and Kidchen | $25,000 |
| Childsplay | In-School Performance Program | $25,000 |
| Community Alliance Against Family Abuse | Equine Assisted Therapy Program | $7,500 |
| Desert Botanical Garden | Spaces of Opportunity | $50,000 |
| Desert Voices Oral Learning Center | Toddler classroom services | $60,000 |
| Detour Company Theater | 2019 Mainstage | $10,000 |
| Down Syndrome Network | Down Life’s Path | $15,000 |
| Dress For Success Phoenix | Mobile Career Center for Women | $20,000 |
| Experience Matters Consortium | Leadership in Literacy and Mentors | $35,000 |
| Feeding Matters | Family Support & Evaluation | $20,000 |
| Florence Crittenton Services Of Arizona | Remodel for Permanent Supportive Housing & Update Aging Van Fleet | $75,000 |
| Future For Kids | Discover Your Future at NAC’s Coral Canyon | $15,000 |
| Gift Of Adoption Fund | Maricopa County Adoption Assistance Project | $7,500 |
| Great Arizona Puppet Theater | Reach Out With Puppets | $5,000 |
| Hope Community Services | Behavioral Health Equine Assisted Therapy Program | $10,000 |
| HOSPICE DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION | Intergenerational Dream Events for Hospice Patients | $10,000 |
| Jazz In Arizona | Jazz Education Interns at The Nash | $5,000 |
| Jobs For Arizonas Graduates | Career and College Readiness | $25,000 |
| Keogh Health Foundation | Community Health Worker Program | $10,000 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Local Travel Assistance Program | $25,000 |
| Lions Camp Tatiyee | Adaptive Shuttle Bus for Transportation Needs | $20,000 |
| Los Ninos Hospital ., an affiliate of Hacienda HealthCare | Children’s Home Ventilator Program | $50,000 |
| McDowell Sonoran Conservancy | Junior Scientist Program | $15,000 |
| Mesa Arts Center Foundation | Project Lit Capacity-Building Project | $5,000 |
| Musicians On Call | Bedside Performance Program | $5,000 |
| National Audubon Society | Nature in Your Neighborhood | $10,000 |
| Native American Connections | Sahuaro Ki | $150,000 |
| New Life Center | Communal Dining Room Remodel | $50,000 |
| New Pathways for Youth | Curriculum Advancement Project | $30,000 |
| Phoenix Art Museum | Diverse Teen Leaders programming | $50,000 |
| Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation | Phoenix Children’s Hospital Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) Expansion | $400,000 |
| Phoenix Conservatory Of Music | College Prep Program | $10,000 |
| Phoenix Indian Center | Youth Leadership Day | $10,000 |
| Phoenix Theatre | Partners That Heal | $15,000 |
| Positive Coaching Alliance | Building a Legacy of Leaders in our schools | $50,000 |
| 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 | $25,000 |
| SARRC | Community School Expansion | $75,000 |
| Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services | Handlebar Helpers | $25,000 |
| St. Joseph the Worker | Employment Heals Communities Program | $150,000 |
| St. Vincent De Paul | Enhanced Vision Care and Dental Access | $335,000 |
| Summer Youth Program Fund SYPF | 2019 out of school programs | $50,000 |
| United Cerebral Palsy Association of Central Arizona | Laura Dozer Center -Renovation Project | $50,000 |
| United Food Bank | New Semi-Truck for Food Distribution | $172,000 |
| United States Veterans Initiative | Housing and Supportive Services for Homeless Veterans | $100,000 |
| Upward Foundation | Project UPWARD Nursing | $60,000 |
| Veterans Heritage Project | Connecting Students with Veterans | $10,000 |
| Wesley Community Center | After-School Care and Education program | $10,000 |
| West Valley Arts Council | Arts Education Partnerships | $5,000 |