$50K Donation Helps Keep Arizonans Cool with AllThrive 365 and AZ Blue Foundation

As Arizona faces another summer of extreme heat, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement (AZ Blue Foundation) is helping vulnerable residents stay safe with a $50,000 donation to AllThrive 365.

The funding will support AllThrive 365’s Healthy Homes program, which provides air conditioning repairs and replacements along with other energy-efficiency improvements. The program is designed to help low-income households reduce energy costs while creating safer, healthier living environments.

“Arizona’s extreme heat can have serious consequences for health, especially for older adults and individuals living in older or underserved housing,” said Paul Penzone, Vice President and Chief Community Relations Officer at AZ Blue. “Through this partnership with AllThrive 365, we are helping address a critical social driver of health by improving access to safe, effective cooling solutions for Arizonans who need them most.”

The majority of the funding will benefit residents living in mobile and manufactured homes, which can face particular challenges when it comes to staying cool during Arizona’s summer months. Research from Arizona State University found that mobile homes account for 40 percent of indoor heat-related deaths, underscoring the need for accessible cooling assistance and home energy improvements in these communities.

For older adults living on fixed incomes, a functioning air conditioner can be more than a household convenience; it can be essential to maintaining health, safety and independence. One Mesa resident, for example, faced indoor temperatures reaching as high as 125 degrees before receiving a new energy-efficient air conditioning system through AllThrive 365’s Healthy Homes AC Program. The replacement helped restore a safe living environment and supported his ability to continue aging independently.

“Many of the older adults and families we serve live on fixed or limited incomes, making an unexpected air conditioning repair or replacement financially devastating,” said Tami Bohannon, President and CEO of AllThrive 365. “This investment from the AZ Blue Foundation helps ensure that a broken AC unit doesn’t force someone to choose between their safety, their independence and their financial stability.”

The partnership reflects AZ Blue Foundation’s commitment to addressing social drivers of health through community-based solutions. By helping residents access reliable cooling and more energy-efficient homes, the grant aims to improve quality of life for Arizonans while providing critical support during the state’s most dangerous summer temperatures. For more behind this Frontdoor, visit allthrive365.org.