WM Phoenix Open

Continuing with The Thunderbirds In the Community Conversations, 2022 WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Michael Golding held a virtual discussion with Christina Spicer, Deputy Director of the Girl Scouts of Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. to discuss how the ever-popular Girl Scout Cookies program was affected by the ongoing health crisis, how the organization pivoted to continue its services and how the community can help.

Spicer first spoke about the history of The Girl Scouts of Arizona

“Girl Scouts mission is to build girls of courage, character and confidence to make the world a better place,” said Spicer. “We’ve been doing that over the last 108 years and our council (Cactus-Pine) has been around for a little over 80 years. We aim to install incredible leadership skills in young women through our badges program, organized trips and selling cookies.

Spicer went on to speak about some of the specific skills Girl Scouts learn

“From a money management standpoint the programs  absolutely incredible about what it teaches these girls because this is a real product the girls want and the community wants,” said Spicer. “There are five skills on the back of the box: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. And this year, our girls are going to have the opportunity to learn a sixth skill – managing uncertainty.”

Spicer spoke about how COVID-19 has impacted the program

“We decided to cancel our camps for the first time ever in our council’s history and we did that for the safety of our girls,” said Spicer. “We were, however, able to bring that into a virtual space. During the month of June, we hosted what we called camp clubhouse where the girls got a chance to engage in more of our ability to do social and emotional wellbeing. Then in July, we ran a program in partnership with ASU Prep Digital where we provided an informal, educational component through our badge work. We’ve also run blood drives at Parsons Leadership Center to support the community in that way.”

Spicer also explained how this year’s cookie drive will be different.

“Thin mints came in earlier this January,” said Spicer. “We also do our huge super delivery the week after. Typically, it’s an event to been seen. You see moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas out there helping to collect the cookies for the for the girls. It’s an incredible community effort this year. It’s going to look a little bit different due to COVID. So this year you can expect drive through booths and we also call our digital order card or digital cookie, which all of our girls have an opportunity to create their own digital marketing through cookies. They create video or a picture and then send that out to their network.”

Spicer went on to explain how the community can get involved with Girl Scouts of Arizona

“The number-one thing you can do is if you know a girl, please ask her to join Girl Scouts,” said Spicer. “We want every girl to have an opportunity to become a Girl Scout, to join Girl Scouts. It’s a fun and incredible network even if it’s virtual. The next thing is during the season, when you see girls out there selling cookies, buy a box or two and ask them what their goals are and ask them what they’re up to. This year more than ever, having the opportunity to engage with our community will be huge.”

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Arizona, visit their website here.

To donate to Girl Scouts of Arizona, click here.

Thunderbirds Charities Spring Funding Cycle is Now Open

Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 56 Valley charities during its 2020 fall funding cycle. Thunderbirds Charities awarded grants of $100,000 or more to seven Valley Charities that included $250,000 to A New Leaf, $205,000 to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $150,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, and $150,000 to Hospice of the Valley.

With the fall funding cycle in the books, Thunderbirds Charities has now opened its 2021 spring funding cycle. Information about the spring funding cycle can be found at www.ThunderbirdsCharities.org.

“Without a doubt, giving back to our communities is the most rewarding thing about what we do as tournament hosts,” said Tim Woods, 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, especially this year with so many challenges and obstacles. We know 2021 will still be a difficult year for so many charities in need, and while we understand we won’t be able to raise as much money as we typically do from the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open, we will do our best to support those that are most vulnerable.”

The $250,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities will support A New Leaf’s Phoenix Day Early Childhood Education Program and Therapeutic Behavioral Health After School & Summer Programs, providing opportunities for marginalized children to overcome social and racial inequities and to break the cycle of poverty.

With the grant of $205,000, St. Vincent de Paul will be able to purchase and install new industrial equipment in their kitchen, dining rooms and food pantry warehouse. This will serve tens of millions of meals for years to come; revolutionize the way they process, organize and distribute millions of pounds of food each year; and create an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective program to Feed Arizona’s Food-Insecure Community.

Thunderbirds Charities’ grant of $150,000 will allow Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley to upgrade the technology at its 25 Clubs throughout Maricopa County to address the “digital divide” by providing Internet access to its low-income, at-risk and other youth. The Bridging the Digital Divide Project will ensure all of the youth served have access at their local Club so they can complete their homework, assignments, and participate in the Clubs’ STEM and other educational activities.

Another grant of $150,000 will go to support Hospice of the Valley’s (HOV) Dementia Care & Education Campus, specifically the Adult Center Activity Room and Art Room which will allow HOV to continue their compassionate, palliative care fro adults and children with life-limiting illness.

Additional grants awarded from the fall 2020 cycle:

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 280 “life” members. For more information on the Thunderbirds or Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org. 

ABOUT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

The 2021 WM Phoenix Open will be held at TPC Scottsdale February 1-7. “The People’s Open” was named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times in the past six years (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) to acknowledge the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. The 2021 edition will mark the 86th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the 12th as the WM Phoenix Open.  For more information visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.