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The Thunderbirds

THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES AWARDS SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARIZONA WITH $130,000 GRANT

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1689608110169{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Special Olympics Arizona received a $130,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the WM Phoenix Open – during the 2023 Spring Funding Cycle.  The funds will be used to support SOAZ’s 2023-2024 athletic season that will include area and regional competitions, as well as its four major statewide competitions in the Fall of 2023 and Spring/Summer of 2024 that will feature more than 1,000 athletes from all across the state of Arizona participating in each state competition.

“We have had an outstanding partnership with Thunderbirds Charities, and we can’t thank them enough once again for such a generous grant,” Heckerman said.  “Their continued support goes a long way to helping Special Olympics Arizona serve our more than 14,000 athletes all across the state of Arizona, with specialized programming and more importantly, with our statewide competitions.  We are excited for the upcoming 2023-24 competition season.”[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”36490,36492,36496″ image_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1689609407610{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]With this grant from Thunderbirds Charities, SOAZ athletes will have more opportunities to demonstrate excellence, improve their physical fitness, and create relationships through sports.

“Special Olympics Arizona holds a special place in the heart of The Thunderbirds, and witnessing the remarkable growth and success of this organization over the years fills us with immense gratitude,” said Pat Williams, President of Thunderbirds Charities and Big Chief of The Thunderbirds. “By providing an outstanding platform and support network, Special Olympics

Arizona empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to embrace a healthy lifestyle and champion inclusivity. It is an absolute honor for The Thunderbirds to play a part in advancing this significant mission, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing these extraordinary athletes compete in the upcoming year.”

Special Olympics Arizona strives to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

With an emphasis on acceptance, respect and inclusion, SOAZ operates under the assumption that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are capable of participation in all aspects of life by focusing on abilities rather than limitations. Special Olympics is often the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves.

Special Olympics programs provide a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy, and the lessons learned in Special Olympics impact their life skills as well.

It also will help SOAZ expand opportunities to empower the Arizonans with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to be healthy, productive and respected members of society while breaking down barriers they face and the increased isolation and challenges brought on by the pandemic.

The purpose of Special Olympics Arizona is to empower children and adults with intellectual disabilities to live healthy, fulfilling and meaningful lives. This vision of acceptance and inclusion is realized through health, leadership and advocacy programs, as well as providing

year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving more opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  For more information on Special Olympics Arizona visit www.specialolympicsarizona.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING MAROON 5 TO TAKE THE STAGE AT THE ICONIC 16TH HOLE FOR YEAR TWO OF CONCERT IN THE COLISEUM PRESENTED BY SWIRE COCA-COLA

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[vc_row][vc_column][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”large” url=”https://www.axs.com/festivals/457760″ align=”center” fullwidth=”true”]Get Tickets Now![/mk_button][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668807151557{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Thunderbirds – hosts of the [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]WM Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch] – announced the return of the Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca- Cola as GRAMMY award winning rock/pop band Maroon 5 and popular singer/songwriter Walker Hayes are set to perform live from the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 4, prior to WM Phoenix Open week, which will take place Feb. 6-12.  This is the second year The Thunderbirds have hosted this unique concert inside one of sport’s most famous settings; last year Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion performed at the first ever Concert in the Coliseum.

General admission tickets for this special kickoff to WM Phoenix Open week will go on sale Friday, December 2nd at 10 a.m. at www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.  The Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca-Cola is a 21-and-over event.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35299″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668708031116{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Walker Hayes will get the show rolling at approximately 5 p.m., while Maroon 5 will take the stage at approximately 7 p.m.  The concert will once again take place on a massive stage that will be built in the middle of the 16th hole strictly for this special Saturday night show.  Doors for this concert will open at 3:30 p.m.

“Last year’s inaugural Concert in the Coliseum was a huge success, so of course we are thrilled to run it back again for 2023,” said WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Pat Williams.  “We are excited to host Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes this year as we kick off tournament week in style, with a great show at the iconic 16th hole.”

Maroon 5 stands out as not only one of pop music’s most enduring artists, but also one of the 21st century’s biggest acts. Since they released their debut album, Songs About Jane, to date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards and sold over 90 million in album sales and 550 million singles worldwide. Maroon 5 currently has the most Billion plus streamed songs by a group on Spotify, with 7, and have achieved 3 Diamond RIAA Certified records. They have sold over 7,500,000 tickets worldwide and next up, the band will close out their massive 2022 World Tour in Asia, notably selling out all three of their Dome Tour dates in Japan, totaling 120,000 tickets sold.

Walker Hayes is an American country singer and songwriter who has released three studio albums as an artist – “Reason to Rhyme” in 2011, “Boom” in 2017, and “Country Stuff The Album” earlier this year. The musician hits the country genre having multiple singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. His highest-peaking single “Fancy Like” reached the No. 1 spot on both charts between late 2021 and early 2022. Riding off his recent success, Hayes released the EP “Country Stuff”. One of the tracks, “Fancy Like”, became a viral a hit thanks to TikTok and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, solidifying himself in the country music industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]