PHOENIX, Ariz. –– Fresh Start Women’s Foundation was recently awarded a $280,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community, to support and enhance Fresh Start’s Jewell McFarland Lewis Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center. Funds were used to replace the 15-year-old building’s roof, update the air conditioning system and replace many windows with those that are energy efficient. These capital improvements make the Women’s Resource Center sustainable for the next 15 years.
“Fresh Start has given hope to tens of thousands of women over the decades and it is a unique model of support of women, uniting many resources under one roof,” said Dan Mahoney, president of Thunderbirds Charities. “We are honored to assist their cause.”
“We are deeply grateful for Thunderbirds Charities’ support of our work and the impact it has on women’s lives,” said Susan Berman, president and CEO of Fresh Start. “Our Women’s Resource Center is the place thousands of women turn each year to get the tools and resources they need, not only to improve their lives, but to thrive, and these improvements to the Center make a difference to the experience women have at Fresh Start.”
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS/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 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.
ABOUT FRESH START WOMEN’S FOUNDATION
Celebrating a quarter century of service, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation has been on a mission since 1992 to provide education, resources and support for women to positively transform their lives and strengthen the community. The non-profit organization provides a variety of programs and services focusing on career, education, and life skills and offers supportive services to assist women in reaching their full potential. The Phoenix-based Jewell McFarland Lewis Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center offers free and low-cost services to any woman age 18 or older. For more information, visit Fresh Start online at www.freshstartwomen.org.