Thunderbirds Charities Donates $1 Million to Special Olympics Arizona, More Than $3.1 Million to Other Valley Charities During Spring Funding Cycle
Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community – awarded more than $3.1 million in grants to 51 Valley charities during its 2018 spring funding cycle – including a record one-time donation of $1 million to Special Olympics Arizona for its new State Competitions Distribution and Training Center. Additionally, Thunderbirds Charities awarded grants of more than $100,000 to six Valley Charities; including $300,000 to St. Mary’s Food Bank, $200,000 to Child Crisis Arizona, $150,000 to Homeward Bound, $100,000 to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and $100,000 to Friendly House.
While the spring funding cycle is in the books, Thunderbirds Charities has announced that its 2018 fall funding cycle is now open. Information about the fall funding cycle can be found at HERE.
“Without a doubt, giving back to our communities is the most rewarding thing about what we do as tournament hosts,” said Carlos Sugich, 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 see where all the money goes from the WM Phoenix Open and how it impacts those in need in our community.
The $1 million donation to Special Olympics Arizona helped create a new Distribution and Training Center which allows SOAZ the opportunity to serve even more individuals with disabilities across the state, ultimately expanding the number of athletes reached while creating more teams and enhanced competitions for SOAZ athletes.
“We are honored to receive this momentous donation from Thunderbirds Charities for the new Special Olympics Arizona Distribution Center,” said Jamie Heckerman, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Arizona. “This donation will allow us to build a one-of-a-kind facility, which is a necessary component to our rapid growth as an organization and will be instrumental in allowing Special Olympics Arizona to better serve the community.”
The $200,000 donation to Child Crisis Arizona went toward its Head Start Expansion Renovation Project, which included a remodel of its Mesa facility to house two additional classroom spaces for 40 children, as well as child-sized bathrooms and additional Head Start staff offices.
“We could not be more thankful to Thunderbird Charities for their ongoing support,” said Child Crisis Arizona Chief Executive Officer Torrie Taj. “Their generous gift is allowing us to expand our education programs, and provide valuable services to families, many of whom lack access to quality early childhood education and parenting resources.”
The $150,000 grant to Homeward Bound went to Empowering Homeless Families with Children, a project that not only provides housing, but also offers parents access to financial resources and the ability to emotionally support and advocate for their children, while the children receive high-quality education and enrichment experiences.
“I continue to feel astonished by the generosity and commitment of The Thunderbirds to our children,” said Homeward Bound President & CEO Becky Jackson. “We get the pleasure of seeing the transformation first-hand, and know that each day, they are breaking the cycle of poverty, and learning to thrive. We are truly inspired by Thunderbird Charities.”
Additional grants awarded from the spring 2018 cycle:
| About Care | $25,000 | Volunteer Management Program Expansion |
| Arizona Council on Economic Education | $35,000 | Economics for Everyday Living II |
| Arizona Foundation for the Handicapped | $30,000 | PAES System |
| Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation | $20,000 | Extracurricular Activities |
| Arizona Science Center | $80,000 | CREATE on Wheels |
| Assistance League of East Valley Arizona | $20,000 | Operation School Belt |
| Be a Leader Foundation | $50,000 | PIPELINE of College-Going Programs and Matriculation Services |
| Bridging AZ furniture Bank | $5,000 | Veterans Furniture Project – Safe Equipment |
| Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation | $20,000 | Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy (AZMOM) |
| Child Crisis Arizona | $200,000 | Head Start Expansion – Renovation Project |
| Duet: Partners in Health & Aging | $10,000 | Grandparents Raising Grandchildren |
| East Valley Senior Services | $15,000 | Independent Living Volunteer Services |
| Educare Arizona | $20,000 | Early Education Extended Day Program |
| Elevate Phoenix | $50,000 | Discover Your Success Vans |
| Empact-Suicide Prevention Center | $55,000 | Trauma Healing Services – Therapy Advocacy |
| Esperanca | $25,000 | Literacy Programs |
|
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona |
$25,000 | Programs for Children |
| Fresh Start Women’s Foundation | $100,000 | Program Expansion |
| Friendly House | $100,000 | Occupational Training Workforce Readiness |
| Friendship Foundation “Glencroft Wellness Center” | $10,000 | Pool Lift and Equipment |
| Furnishing Dignity | $10,000 | Essential Home Furnishings |
| Genesis City | $50,000 | Trailblazer Program |
| Higher Octane Healing | $10,000 | Social Connections |
| Homeless ID Project | $80,000 | Securing Lost/Stolen ID for the Homeless |
| Homeless Youth Connection | $50,000 | Empowering Youth for the Future |
| Homeward Bound | $150,000 | Empowering Homeless Families with Children |
| Honor House | $25,000 | Operation Healing Journey |
| Hunkapi Programs | $25,000 | Covered Riding Arena |
| ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth | $25,000 | Youth Development Program |
|
Jumpstart for Young Children “Jumpstart AZ” |
$15,000 | Workforce Development Program |
| Junior Achievement of Arizona | $15,000 | New Computers for JA Biz Town |
| Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation | $25,000 | JDRF Community Outreach Program |
| K2 Adventures Foundation | $5,000 | K2 Programs for Youth |
| Maggies Place | $40,000 | Family Resource Center Services |
| Maricopa Health Foundation | $50,000 | Bridging the Mariposa Wings to Safety and the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic Programs |
| MentorKids USA | $10,000 | Student Success Program |
| Military Assistance Mission | $50,000 | Basic Life Needs and Support |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association | $10,000 | MDA AZCare Centers |
| Musical Instrument Museum | $50,000 | A World of Musical Journeys |
| notMYkid | $30,000 | Amplif(i) Program for BGC |
|
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art |
$20,000 | AZ Wolf Trap Early Education Arts Program |
| Soldiers Best Friend | $15,000 | Service/Therapeutic Companion Dog Program |
| Southwest Human Development | $50,000 | Children’s Clinic/Good Fit A/V Project |
| Special Olympics Arizona | $1,000,000 | 2018 State Competitions/New Distribution and Training Center |
| St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance | $300,000 | Rural Arizona School Pantry Program Expansion |
| Stand for Children “Arizona” Leadership Center | $15,000 | Family Engagement |
| Stepping Up for Seniors | $10,000 | Medical Assistance |
| Step-Student Expedition Program | $15,000 | STEP Phoenix College Prep Workshops |
| Treasures 4 Teachers | $30,000 | T4T Wheels |
| United for Change | $10,000 | Veterans Furniture Center |
| Waste Not | $30,000 | Refrigerated Truck |
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, please visit, thunderbirdscharities.org.