Cox Charities announced its selection of Arizona nonprofit organizations to receive nearly $530,000 in grant funding. Locally, UMOM New Day Centers and New Pathways for Youth are among the 80 recipients in the Phoenix Metro area. The majority of the grant funds awarded came from the generous donations of Cox’s 3,200 employees who call Arizona home.
Since the program’s inception in 1996, Cox Charities has awarded more than $7 million to local Arizona nonprofits that support youth and education.
“Cox is committed to making a difference in Arizona by giving back to the communities we serve,” said John Wolfe, senior vice president and southwest region manager for Cox Communications. “We are proud to make this donation to local nonprofits whose missions are to support and educate youth, particularly those in crisis.”
Each night, 600 to 800 homeless and runaway youth do not have a safe place to sleep in Phoenix. That is why Cox Charities is supporting UMOM New Day Centers, to help end homelessness one family at a time and create brighter futures for Maricopa County’s homeless youth. These vulnerable members of our community deserve the same stability and opportunities that other youth enjoy, but they face challenges that threaten their potential.
“Without intervention, homeless children and youth face a downward spiral of instability that threatens their potential to develop as healthy, vibrant members of our community,” said Melissa Steimer, chief development officer of UMOM New Day Centers. “The Cox Charities grant will help UMOM meet the increased need present through our operation of Tumbleweed’s programs. Grant funds will cover program expenses related to education and outings, youth residential support and staff training and travel not covered by other funders.”
Arizona’s reading levels, graduation rates and young adult employment rates are among the lowest in the nation. Research indicates that youth living in high-risk situations who are exposed to new, constructive opportunities through mentoring, are more able to set positive goals.
New Pathways for Youth’s Transformative Mentoring Program seals off the school-to-prison pipeline, developing the social, emotional and academic skills in youth needed to reach their full potential.
“This Cox Charities grant will support an evidence-based social emotional learning model for youth in our mentoring program,” said Marlo Apple, corporation and foundation grants manager for New Pathways for Youth. “The funds will be used to provide the supplies and materials to facilitate 36 life skill development workshops that will serve up to 500 youth in the coming year.”
Phoenix organizations awarded grant funds this year include:
American Red Cross of Greater Phoenix
Anti-Defamation League
Arizona Center for Nature Conservation
Arizona Council on Economic Education
Arizona Dance Education Organization (AzDEO)
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Arizona Opera Company-Phoenxi
Arizona Private Education Scholarship Fund Inc.
Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Theatre Company
Assistance League of East Valley
Audubon Arizona
Az SciTech
Back to School Clothing Drive Association
Ballet Arizona
Banner Health Foundation of Arizona
Be A Leader Foundation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona (BBBSAZ)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley
BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND FOUNDATION INC
Career Concepts for Youth, Inc.
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)
Chicanos Por La Causa
Child Crisis Arizona
Children’s Cancer Network
Childsplay, Inc.
Christ For the City International
COLLEGE BOUND AZ
Creighton Community Foundation
Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts
Doreen Katz Memorial Cancer Foundation
Down Syndrome Network
Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
Friendly House
Future Stars, Inc
Gabriel’s Angels
Greater Paradise Valley Community Assistance Team, Inc. DBA Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank
Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona
HandsOn Greater Phoenix
Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates, Inc.
Junior Achievement of Arizona, Inc.
KIDS NEED TO READ
Labor’s Community Service Agency
Make-A-Wish Arizona
Maryvale Revitalization Corporation
Mentally Ill Kids In Distress
New Pathways for Youth Inc.
OCJ Kids
one n ten
Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation
Phoenix Film Foundation
Phoenix Indian Center
Phoenix Symphony Association/The Phoenix Symphony
Phoenix Theatre, Inc.
Playworks Arizona
Read Better Be Better
Save the Family Foundation of Arizona
Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services (STARS)
SEEDs For Autism
Si Se Puede Foundation
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS
Special Olympics Arizona
Treasures 4 Teachers, Inc.
UMOM New Day Centers
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
United Food Bank
Valle del Sol, Inc.
Valley Leadership
Valley Youth Theatre
Veterans Heritage Project
WHEAT (World Hunger Ecumenical AZ Taskforce)
Xico, Inc.
Young Arts Arizona, LTD
