Archives for June 2021

Thunderbirds Charities Awards $50,000 to USO Arizona to Support Military Members and Their Families

June 28, 2021 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

On June 25, Thunderbirds Charities presented USO Arizona a check in the amount of $50,000 to bolster the program which supports U.S. military service personnel and their families in Arizona. The check presentation ceremony took place at Arizona National Guard Headquarters near Papago Golf Club in Phoenix as part of a larger BBQ lunch event which honored and thanked numerous active guardsmen and their families.

USO Arizona works to provide morale-boosting and family-strengthening programs to the more than 50,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, Coast Guardsmen families who call Arizona home.

USO Arizona has centers in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and downtown Phoenix, and a team of more than 250 volunteers and staff who help implement this valuable programming across the state. In 2020, USO Arizona impacted more than 156,000 service members and families.

The Thunderbirds have cultivated a strong connection to our nation’s military service personnel over the years. Each year as hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, The Thunderbirds extend free admission to all active and retired military personnel, as well as free food and drink at the Birdies for the Brave Patriots Outpost.

Thanks USO Arizona for all that you do for our military and their families.

For more info on USO Arizona, CLICK HERE.

Thunderbirds Executive Director Chance Cozby Featured on Good Morning America

June 25, 2021 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

When someone asks a 20-year golf industry executive and former member of the Oklahoma Sooner golf team whether he’s better at cooking dinner or playing golf, one would assume the answer would be the latter. For Chance Cozby, the executive director of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – the answer might be the former, at least according to his 300,000-plus followers on Tik Tok. According to Cozby himself, there are good days and bad days for both.

Cozby has become a celebrity chef in the circles of the burgeoning social media platform Tik Tok, racking up millions of likes from fans all over the world who flock to the Tok to see his unique takes on home-grown recipes ranging from Tex-Mex to traditional Oklahoma BBQ. And while social media popularity is new to The Thunderbirds ED, cooking for friends and family runs in his Boomer Sooner blood.

Cozby grew up in the kitchen of his parents’ home in Bartlesville, Okla., where at a very young age, he developed a passion for cooking with his mother Karole in the kitchen and his father Jerry on the back patio where he picked up the nuances of preparing meals for family and friends.

Cozby and his father loved to smoke ribs on their custom-built, offset smoker which, contrary to contemporary smoker practices, did not have a temperature gauge. Instead, Cozby’s father said, “just keep three pieces of Oklahoma pecan on the fire and your temperature will be just right.” From that quip, a new-age cooking channel was born – “3 Pieces of Pecan” – a homage to the wisdom passed to Cozby from his late father.

On New Year’s Eve, 2020, Cozby’s youngest son Catcher encouraged him to film his family meal preparation and publish the videos on Tik Tok and in just over five months, the Cozby cooking videos have gained more than 38 million views.

The popularity continues to grow, with Cozby and Catcher – the director, cinematographer and video editor of the team – gaining enough buzz to be featured on Good Morning America last weekend – a fitting Father’s Day treat for a father-son duo who now can enjoy two family pastimes together – playing golf and preparing excellent meals.

Check out the Good Morning America segment below.

Scott Jenkins Elected New Big Chief of The Thunderbirds for 2021-2022

June 24, 2021 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – announced 2021 Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins was elected Big Chief of The Thunderbirds for the 2021-22 fiscal year. As Big Chief, Jenkins will serve as President of both the organization and Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable arm of The Thunderbirds that provides enormous financial aid to hundreds of Arizona charities and non-profit organizations every year.

“Everything that we do – from the success of the tournament to the amount of money we give to those in need – all comes out of the incredible community support that we get from our loyal sponsors and the best fans in golf,” Jenkins said. “In a year like 2021 which saw unprecedented challenges, it was especially important for us as a group to support our charity partners so that they could continue to serve the Valley. It was a tremendous effort from everyone involved, and with the pandemic challenges continuing its downward trend, we’re crossing our fingers and looking forward to one of our best years ever at the WM Phoenix Open in 2022.”

Jenkins served as Assistant Tournament Chairman in 2020, was Tournament Chairman in 2021 and now Big Chief, taking over for 2022-21 Big Chief Tim Woods. The 2022 WM Phoenix Open is being led by Tournament Chairman Michael Golding and Assistant Tournament Chairman Pat Williams. A new Big Chief is elected every year by The Thunderbirds.

“It was a great honor to be Tournament Chairman for ‘The People’s Open’ and I look forward to serving as the 85th Big Chief of The Thunderbirds,” Jenkins said. “Now the fun continues and I get to be a part of the charity aspect helping award millions of dollars to hundreds of vital Valley charitable organizations.”