Thunderbird Charities Support Girl Scouts With $50,000 Grant
Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community– recently awarded $50,000 to Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC). This gift, made possible by corporate partners and golf fans who attend the WM Phoenix Open each year, will support the Council’s Social Impact programs addressing the needs of at-risk youth.
GSACPC Social Impact programs are designed to reach girls who may not otherwise have access to Girl Scouting. They operate as early intervention programs and empower girls–who face challenges outside of their control–to break cycles of poverty, incarceration, abuse, and other issues, and realize their full potential. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Girl Scouts’ social impact work in Arizona, that began with the innovative Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program that connects girls with their incarcerated mothers.
“We are deeply grateful to the Thunderbirds Charities and their decade-long support of our efforts to introduce more girls to Girl Scouting,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “It’s the best leadership development program for girls in the world that has proven positive life outcomes, and every girl deserves the opportunity to be a Girl Scout.”
“The most fulfilling aspect of what we do as tournament host is giving back. It’s especially rewarding to see the funds raised from the WM Phoenix Open impact our community in ways that matter today and tomorrow,” said Chance Cozby, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We love the work GSACPC does in our community and are proud to invest in the future of Arizona. Girl Scouts represent the next generation of social, civic, philanthropic and economic leaders.”
Everything girls do in Girl Scouting is designed to help them grow into well-rounded adults prepared to meet the future successfully. In partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs, community centers, shelters, refugee communities, correctional facilities, and group homes, the organization brings their outcome-based, all-girl programming to girls through multiple Social Impact programs:
- Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) equips girls whose mothers are incarcerated with tools to succeed while strengthening the mother/daughter bond.
- Girl Scouts in Refugee Communities (GSRC) creates scaffolding to support girls from around the world by giving them a voice and building lasting connections with other girls, caring adults and their new community.
- Girl Scouts in Foster Care (GSFC) provides a wide range of services to girls in group homes without cost to the foster care system, including resident camp and Council-sponsored events.
- GSJOY (Girl Scouts Juvenile Opportunity Youth) serves girls ages 5-18 in homeless shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, community centers, schools with high poverty rates, alternative high schools, detention centers, residential treatment centers, and girls at high risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. GSJOY also includes the Adelante Jovencitas (AJ) program or “young women moving forward,” serving girls 14-18 years old.
