Phoenix Suns Invest $1 Million In Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix Expansion Initiatives
The Phoenix Suns have given Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix a big assist.
The NBA team has committed $1 million to the Clubs to support their plans for expansion into school-based sites in districts in need, starting with Phoenix’s Cartwright District.
Since 1993, the Suns have invested dollars, given volunteer time and made capital improvements in BGCMP’s 16 Valley Clubs.
“We’ve been long-time supporters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix because the organization has impacted our city’s youth in such a meaningful way,” said Phoenix Suns President and CEO Jason Rowley. “Today’s investment will bring the Club opportunities to serve thousands more youth throughout the Valley and helps parents ensure their kids have quality after school programs in a place they know and trust.”
Because of the need for quality, affordable out-of-school-time programs, BGCMP is working to expand its programs into school-based sites, a model used across the country. The organization recently opened two new Clubs in Maryvale. “With this commitment from the Suns, we will help to transform the lives of students and parents in the Cartwright School District. This Title I district now offers Boys & Girls Clubs programming on campus at the historic Cartwright Elementary School and Palm Lane where members can stay on campus after school, participate in proven enrichment programs and sports and rec, and enjoy a hot, nutritious dinner,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix’s CEO Marcia Mintz.
The Suns’ investment will support school-based site expansions in the Cartwright District, as well as other school districts around the Valley. This collaborative school-based site model leverages the use of existing school buildings and eliminates the transportation barrier that some schools face in getting students to Clubs at the end of school.
Boys & Girls Clubs employs a Formula for Impact for how the organization can change the life of a child. The Phoenix Suns have been longtime supporters and investors in all four of these Priority Outcomes: Healthy Choices; Academic Success; Be Great, Do Good; and Fun With a Purpose.
Healthy Choices: Over the years, the Phoenix Suns and Suns Charities have renovated and upgraded more than 10 of the 15 basketball courts in Clubs. Thanks to their investment, youth and teens are able to play sports and enjoy fitness programs every day in Clubs.
Academic Success: NBA Math Hoops, a competitive math game played by members ages 10-14, helps students gain fundamental math skills through statistics about their favorite NBA and WNBA players. The team element of the program also improves interpersonal and collaboration skills. This past year, one BGCMP student, Delanie, was selected for the national Math Hoops competition and travelled to San Francisco to compete against other students from the around the country.
Be Good, Do Great: Suns and Mercury players routinely visit Clubs to talk with kids about staying in school and staying fit. In addition, the Suns often host Club members for Suns and Mercury games, one of the most popular field trips BGCMP offers to its members.
Fun with a Purpose: Thanks to the Suns Jr program, Clubs also offer competitive basketball leagues for students of all ages and skills that allow youth to play basketball, be a part of a team and learn positive sportsmanship. Last year, Suns Charities supported the renovation and upgrade of the Teen Center at the I.G. Homes branch, creating a unique technology and recording studio space for members.
Recognizing the greater impact that can be achieved through teamwork, the Suns have launched the “Rise Together” campaign with the goal of uniting and lifting the community to help make the Valley and Arizona a better place to live. As part of the “Rise Together” campaign, the Suns are funding and collaborating with vested community partners in education, social services, special needs, hunger-relief, housing, healthcare, elderly care, and public safety to address needs, engender positive change and elevate the quality of life in our community. In January, the Suns committed to providing $10 million in community benefits to local non-profits and city programs as part of their partnership with the City of Phoenix. The Suns have previously announced a $2.6 million donation to support the City of Phoenix’s Head Start program and have already awarded funding to non-profits like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands for Single Moms, Back to School Clothing Drive and the HeroZona Foundation.
Since its inception in 1988, Phoenix Suns Charities has been focused on making our community a better place through its mission of supporting children and family services throughout Arizona and has distributed more than $21 million to local non-profits and organizations in need. The entire Suns organization has embedded itself locally by supporting community efforts through hundreds of player appearances and thousands of volunteer hours by Suns players and staff.
