Xico, one of the oldest ethnic arts organizations in the United States and a leading organization advancing culture, artists and community, today announced that Thunderbirds Charities Board of Directors approved a grant in the amount of $10,000 to Xico for “Say Yes to the Press (SYP)” youth arts program. The Thunderbirds Charities funding will pay for staff time, travel, materials, and resources for students.
“We are so grateful for the Thunderbirds Charities grant in support of our SYP youth arts program” said Donna Valdés, Executive Director of Xico. “This generous contribution goes a long way in creating safe spaces for youth to engage in traditional arts forms and build confidence through cultural expression.”
Xico provides opportunities to engage in various types of visual art, however, its specialty is printmaking which requires an etching press. “Say Yes to the Press” was named for its unique feature, a mobile printmaking program. Printmaking is an artistic discipline that is not offered through any other mobile engagement program in Arizona. In addition to printmaking, the curriculum for SYP includes painting, drawing, sculpture, and recycled art.
“We are delighted to include this level of funding for Xico’s meaningful youth arts program,” said Pat Williams, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “I look forward to personally visiting Xico to see the “Say Yes to the Press” program in action.”
SYP specifically serves tweens and teens attending Title I schools and youth served by community organizations with a mission to provide after-school and summer programming to at-risk youth. Partnering and collaborating with other organizations allows Xico to build relationships with community members to engage students. In addition, partnerships allow for sharing and leveraging resources to further support community needs.
This grant is part of the Spring 2023 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.