Foundation Friday : Arizona Coyotes Foundation Grants $450,000

On October 8th, the Arizona Coyotes Foundation announced $450,000 was given to 30 different non-profit organizations in the state of Arizona. In June, organizations had to fill out an application to be considered for a grant. However, not just any non-profit could be considered for a grant. They had to meet a certain set of parameters.

We give to non profit organizations in the state of Arizona that work with children and service men and women in the areas of healthcare, education, sports, and cultural arts.

– Liz Kaplan – Executive Director of the Arizona Coyotes Foundation

Last year the Coyotes Foundation gave to 78 organizations. This year they pared the number down to 30 so they could begin to develop a long lasting relationship with each of the organizations. Through these grants the Coyotes Foundation and the organizations can begin to foster a deeper relationship that helps spread the love of hockey throughout the southwest.

We really want to know what’s going on with them and how we can help. Here is our financial commitment to you but we also want to do volunteer work with them. We want to get our players involved if possible. We want the public to know about them and vice versa we want them to talk about us. We want more people to know about hockey.

– Liz Kaplan – Executive Director of the Arizona Coyotes Foundation

Where the Money Comes From

Most of the money the foundation granted to the 30 organizations came from the fans. At every home game there is a 50-50 raffle and an auction. There is also a license plate program that was started in August. If you buy a specialty Arizona Coyotes license plate at the BMV not only will you have a snazzy new license plate you’ll also have supported a good cause. In case you were wondering, the plates cost $25 and $17 goes directly to the foundation. Fans you make a bigger difference than you know.

I urge you to read up on the 30 organizations below. If one tugs at your heart strings, consider donating your money or your time to the organization.

The 30 Organizations

A New Leaf, Inc. – La Mesita After-School Program

For 40 years A New Leaf, Inc.  has been focused on helping families in Arizona get on their feet and stay on their feet. They pride themselves on changing lives by providing “growth, hope, change, and new beginnings.”

There are over 20 locations that offer a variety of community programs to help families. Some of these programs are Domestic Violence Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Affordable Housing, Youth and Behavioral Services, Foster Care Services, and MesaCAN.

The grant went to fund an after-school program at the La Mesita Apartments’ which are part of the affordable housing program.

Alice Cooper Solid Rock Foundation – Teen Video Production Program

Legendary rock star, Alice Cooper, started the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Foundation  as a way to inspire teens and prove to them they have a purpose in life.

In May 2012, the foundation opened “The Rock Teen Center”. The center is open Monday – Friday from 2pm – 8pm and provides youth with free music and dance lessons.  At “The Rock” teens are safe from many of life’s struggles as drugs, alcohol, inappropriate language, weapons, gang colors, and bullying are not tolerated.

Through music, dance, self-expression, and creativity the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Foundation is slowly changing the lives of children all over Arizona.

The grant helps fund the video production program at “The Rock”.

American Lung Association of the Southwest – Camp Not-A-Wheeze

Camp Not-A-Wheeze provides children who have asthma a traditional yet safe summer camp experience. While at camp the kids attend education classes on how to properly manage their asthma as well as enjoy typical camp activities.

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living – Youth Programs at SpoFit

For almost 30 years Arizona Bridge to Independent Living has been helping people with disabilities lead a normal and independent lifestyle.

Through different programs they address the concerns of family and friends as well as teach those with a disability to be confident and successful. Especially those who are newly disabled.

The grant goes to fund their youth programs at SpoFit.

Arizona Council on Economic Education – Economic Education for Children

Since 1997, The Arizona Council of Economic Education has dedicated itself to ensuring children across Arizona will be financially stable one stable one day. They’re goal is to teach as many kids as possible how to make more economically sensible choices with their money.

Some of their programs include training for K-12 teachers, a statewide stock market game, a finance challenge, an economic challenge, and outreach to low income school to put on after-school programs to help students and parents budget money better.

They also teach children to look beyond their financial issues and look at the world’s financial responsibilities.

ASU D2 Elite Hockey – New Locker Room

The Arizona State University D2 Elite Hockey team plays out of Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe, AZ. They were in need of a new locker room this upcoming season and luckily the Coyotes were there to help them out.

Back to School Clothing Drive Association – New Clothes, New Beginnings Program

Every year many families struggle to find affordable clothes for their growing kids to wear to school. The Back to School Clothing Drive Association.  helps to alleviate some of the burden of school shopping by providing families in need with school uniforms, outfits, backpacks, and school supplies. Over 25,000 school children in Arizona are served through the program.

Be A Leader Foundation – College Going Programs

The Be A Leader Foundation provides programs for kids in middle school and high school to prepare them for the next level of education. Most of the schools they work with are located in the inner cities of Arizona. Be A Leader Foundation wants to help develop self-esteem and leadership skills in students so they are prepared for what the real world has to offer.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix – Coyotes Kids Fitness Challenge

Over 23,000 youths in the greater Phoenix area benefit from the Boys and Girls Clubs’ programs. They operate 13 different clubhouses and have a full-service dental clinic.

The Boys and Girls Club also provide much needed structure for children ages 5-18 as well as multiple development programs.

Cancer Support Community Arizona – Teen Cancer Program

Between relationships, pop culture, and what’s cool to wear navigating your teen years is hard. Now throw a life threatening illness on top of it and you’ve got a teenager who feels alone, different, and like no one understands them.

The Teen Cancer Program at Cancer Support Community Arizona  offers teens living with cancer a chance to share their experiences with other teens who are doing the same. Eventually a support system will be built and friendships will be born.

To feel normal is all a teenager wants and the Teen Cancer Program provides that option.

Crisis Nursery – Children’s Emergency Shelter – Phoenix & Mesa

The Children’s Emergency Shelter provides abused and neglected children with a safe place to live. Children stay at the shelter overnight or days based on the type of emergency.

During their stay children receive medical, educational, advocacy, and social/behavioral services.

Desert Hockey Development – Traveling Grow the Game Clinics

For the past two years the Desert Hockey Development has dedicated itself to building youth hockey in Arizona. They travel around the state giving free hockey clinics to children.

Currently the Desert Hockey Development is working to update the inline hockey facility in Glendale so they can provide for ball hockey activities to town.

Feeding Matters, Inc – Power of Two

Most people think their children are picky eaters but it turns out many have feeding problems. At Feed Matters, Inc the issues of feeding struggles our explained and fixed through education, advocacy, research, treatment, and support.

Their goal is to help families identify feeding problems at the infant stage so the issue can be dealt with quickly.

Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association – FYHA Scholarships & Coach Funding

If your kid plays hockey you know just how expensive things can get. Between equipment and fees some parents have to pick up a second job. Even worse they sometimes have to pick between their kid playing hockey and buying groceries. This grant allows more parents to breathe a little and allow their kids to enjoy the sport they love.

Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona – Free Arts Programs for Children

The Free Arts Program allows children who have been abused to heal through creative arts. They partner with over 100 foster care group homes, treatment centers, and shelters in Maricopa Country to give children a way to express their emotions through a positive medium.

Gabriel’s Angels – Pet Therapy Program

There are 175 pet therapy teams through Gabriel’s Angels that serve 13,700 neglected and abused children annually through out the state of Arizona.

The Pet Therapy Program foster safety, happiness, and help break the cycle of violence in children by providing abused and neglected children with a companion dog and owner to help build trust, empathy, and respect.

They are the only program in Arizona that provides this service to children.

Heart For The City – Heart for the City Sports and After-school Program

Heart for the City provides leadership and role models for inner-city children, teens, and families. These role models come from the same ethnic and socioeconomic background in hopes they will inspire those who live in the inner-city to make a positive difference in their community.

Honor House – Operation Healing Journey for Veterans

Honor House is focused on integrating wounded combat soldiers back into normal every day life in America.  They are trying to provide Veterans with stability, healthcare, and housing.

HopeKids – HopeKids Movie Day & Bumble Bee Ranch

HopeKids provides a message of hope to children who have life-threatening medical conditions and their families. Their goal is to create a support community for those families struggling with pediatric cancer in hopes they can keep each other strong during these hard times.

ICAN – ICAN Sports and Recreation Program

ICAN takes their after-school program one step farther than most. They teach children to become positive role models in their community by keeping an open dialogue about the negative consequences of gang activity, juvenile delinquency, and substance abuse.

Junior Achievement of Arizona, Inc – JA BizTown

Junior Achievement of Arizona is another organization who educates children to make economically sound decisions. Since 1957 the program has provided education on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy to 90,000 students.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation – Phoenix Children’s Hospital Homeless and At-Risk Youth Program

Since 2000 Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Crews’n Healthmobile has traveled the streets of Phoenix to provide medical treatment for uninsured at-risk homeless children. Kids who live on the street have an increased risk of not only illness and injury but also depression.

Playworks Arizona – Playworks Arizona Programming

Over the years recess time has dwindled across the nation. Children are no longer running around outside during the school day. They are closed up inside for around 6 hours a day learning.

Playworks Arizona wants to bring recess back to the masses. However, there is a twist to recess. They want recess to become a way kids learn to become leaders, treat others fairly, and the fine art of conflict resolution.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix – Help-A-Family

Often times parents don’t have the money to stay at a hotel during their child’s treatments or the commute to the hospital is just too long. Ronald McDonald House Charities provides those families with low-cost temporary housing.

Ryan House – Therapeutic Activities for Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses

Providing for a dying child is a hard thing to do alone. Especially when the diagnosis is grim. Ryan House offers palliative care for children so parents don’t have to struggle through their child’s illness alone. Families are allowed to stay at the house with their child and are provided with emotional, spiritual, and social strength from the staff.

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre – Desert Stages Theater Relocation

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre has been a staple to the community for 2o years. During this time they have won multiple awards and have provided the community with high-quality entertainment for all ages and musical tastes. Currently they have two stages and operate an Academy of Theatrical Arts.

Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation – Educating Military Personnel : Building Skills That Save Lives

In April 2015, Scottsdale Healthcare broke ground on a 7500 sq. ft. military training center. The center will have patient simulators and six disaster simulation training rooms. There will also be mock battlefield operating rooms and intensive care units.

The training center will be used to help military personnel prepare for any situation they may run into during a natural disaster or while on the battlefield.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul : Family Dining Room (Feeding the Hungry: Congregate Dining Room Program)

By providing for people’s physical, mental, and spiritual needs St. Vincent de Paul has been uniting communities since 1946. The goal is to help every individual who is in need of care and to show others the tiniest thing makes a big difference in the world.

Southwest Human Development – Services for Children with Disabilities

Founded in 1981, Southwest Human Development has been providing Arizona children and their families with child development and mental health services, Easter Seals disabilities services, early literacy and head start, child welfare, and professional development and training services. 135,000 children and their families are served each year through their programs.

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance – Children’s Backpack Program

Often times the weekend is the hardest for kids who come from low-income families. During the week, most schools offer lunch and breakfast programs for those in need. However, come the weekend there aren’t many options for food other than what may or may not be at their house. The Backpack Program provides children suffering from chronic hunger with child-friendly food items to take home on the weekends when breakfast and lunch programs are not open.