Junior Achievement of Arizona announced that Thunderbirds Charities has awarded a $100,000 grant to support JA BizTown, a hands-on program that helps 4th through 6th graders learn economic and workplace skills through classroom lessons and experiences designed to teach skills for future success. “The need for real-world education is growing as we see strong current and … [More]
BOK Financial Aids Children Facing Hunger
BOK Financial, through its employee-led “Guide the Giving” program, donated $10,000 to Feed My Starving Children — which will help provide approximately 34,482 meals (the equivalent of one meal a day for about 94 children for an entire year). Dewing Idemudia, a corporate banking relationship manager at BOK Financial and a board member of Feed My Starving Children, spearheaded … [More]
Hot Giving Summer for AZ Blue
Notable efforts of AZ Blue in Action: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) employees and their families, in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way and The Foster Alliance, packed 1,300 backpacks full of school supplies for students and families in Southern Arizona. More than 200 AZ Blue employees volunteered to pack 1,000 JoyJars® for Arizona children fighting … [More]
AZ Blue: 8 Decades of Advancing Health and Strengthening Arizona Communities
Caring for well-being beyond providing coverage
For more than 85 years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) has been woven into the fabric of the state, quietly, consistently and intentionally supporting the health of individuals, families and employers across all 15 counties. What began as a local nonprofit health insurer has evolved into a statewide force for community well-being, driven by the belief that health … [More]
$1.5M Sprouts Partnership Aims to Transform Arizona’s Local Food Economy
Local First Arizona, nonprofit champion of independent businesses and inclusive economic development, announced a three-year, $1.5M partnership with Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation to advance a statewide effort to strengthen Arizona's local food system, expand access to healthy food, and elevate the state's culinary talent. The partnership is more than a funding … [More]
$1M Gift Helps Nearly Double Healthcare Capacity for Valley’s Unhoused
Circle the City has received a transformational $1 million gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support the completion of its new East Valley Medical Respite Center. In recognition of the Foundation's generosity, the facility's main lobby will be named in its honor. Scheduled to open later this year in Mesa, the 85-bed East Valley Medical Respite … [More]
$500K Grant Brings Financial Literacy to 10,000 Arizona Students
As the new school year begins, thousands of Arizona students will sharpen their reading, writing and math skills, but many still won't receive the financial education needed to thrive in adulthood and navigate today's economy. A new $500,000, two-year grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will help change that by enabling Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) to … [More]
Abrazo Healthy Over Hungry Helps Feed Kids
Abrazo Health’s Valley hospitals donated more than 3,300 pounds of cereal to Valley food banks in June as part of its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive to feed hungry children as they headed into summer months without the benefit of a healthy breakfast or lunch often provided by their school. The June cereal drive is a friendly competition among Abrazo Health campuses to see … [More]
Burger King Franchisee Awards Arizona Scholarships
The Burger King Foundation® and KRAF, Inc. awarded 59 Arizona students with scholarships to further their education. Awards were made possible by KRAF, Inc., a family-owned business operating 45 Burger King locations in Arizona. … [More]
Pita Jungle Fundraiser Supports Waste Not
Pita Jungle recently presented Arizona-based nonprofit Waste Not with a donation check for $4,000, proceeds raised during National Pita Day weekend, when Pita Jungle donated $1 for every pita sandwich sold at participating locations across Arizona. Waste Not works to create sustainable food systems that nourish people and protect the planet — an effort that aligns with Pita … [More]
Feedback: August 2026
Q: What prompted you to go to the formality of creating a distinct philanthropic foundation for your company’s community donations?
Dr. Bryan Gawley Owner Gawley Companies Sector: Healthcare At Gawley Companies, giving back has always been part of who we are. As our organization continued to grow, we realized we wanted our philanthropic efforts to grow with it. Creating Unicorn Philanthropy allowed us to establish a dedicated foundation that could bring greater purpose, consistency and long-term … [More]
Overall Giving Surpasses $600 Million
Giving USA 2025 report highlights widespread generosity
Even amid a year rife with governmental policy change — taxation, funding, environmental, healthcare, social justice — American philanthropists rallied. In fact, they showed just how quickly money can be mobilized in the face of challenge. Of any natural disaster worldwide, California’s 2025 wildfires generated the largest amount of donations — $860–970 million — in the … [More]
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: A Community Legacy Baked into Every Slice
Strengthening community and building employee pride
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria may be famous for its coal-brick oven, Brooklyn-style pizza, but in Arizona it has also become synonymous with community. When the brand opened its first location outside New York in Old Town Scottsdale in 2003, it brought more than a beloved East Coast staple to the Valley. It brought a philosophy that a neighborhood restaurant should be part of the fabric … [More]
MidFirst, Nature Conservancy Raise $160K for Conservation Efforts
MidFirst Bank, the largest privately owned bank in the nation, and The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization, today announced they have raised over $160,000 for sustainability and conservation efforts. Since 2023, MidFirst Bank customers in Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas have had the opportunity to support these efforts through the Earth Card, a debit card made … [More]
Longtime Valley Nonprofit CEO to Retire After 16 Years
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a nonprofit serving families with children experiencing homelessness in the Valley, announces that CEO Ted Taylor will retire effective July 10, 2026, following 16 years of transformative leadership that grew the organization's reach from one shelter location to four, and multiplied capacity. Beginning July 13, Taylor will serve as CEO … [More]
TSMC Arizona Pairs 280 Interns with Valley Youth for STEM Day
In one of the largest community activations of its kind in Arizona, 280 interns from TSMC Arizona enlightened hundreds of youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in STEM careers through immersive activities at the Arizona Science Center. The event is part of TSMC’s Arizona’s annual Community Involvement Day and reflects the company’s commitment to developing … [More]
Southwest Gas Supports Central Arizona Shelter Services
More than 100 Southwest Gas employee volunteers and their family members came together with Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) recently to assemble 2,000 personal care kits for unhoused individuals, launching the Southwest Gas Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Month of Giving. It was the first of six volunteer projects taking place across Arizona, Nevada, and California … [More]
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Program Raises $26K for Local Nonprofits
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino guests donated more than $26,000 to local area nonprofits through the property’s Caesars Makes Change NRT kiosk donations during Q1 2026. The NRT kiosk machines provide an opportunity for guests to give back in a meaningful way by donating their $0.99 or less change when cashing out their slot machine voucher. … [More]
