Banner Health on Monday announced the Banner Health Foundation has received a $1 million charitable gift from the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation. The donation will help support professional-level training, testing and equipment for young athletes across the Valley.
Leaders from Banner Health and the Suns and Mercury took part in Monday’s ceremony at Banner Sports Medicine Scottsdale’s High Performance Center to officially dedicate the basketball court as the Phoenix Suns Phoenix Mercury Basketball Court, in recognition of the generous gift.
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The donation will help fund 2,000 physicals, 1,000 concussion tests and 100 injury risk assessments at no cost to students across the metropolitan Phoenix area who lack the financial resources for these necessary evaluations – allowing them to play the sport they love. The gift will also go toward the Technology, Equipment & Innovation Fund, which supports Banner Sports Medicine’s commitment to always having the latest equipment and technology and ready access to new-to-market offerings.
“This generous gift from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury allows us to expand access to vital sports medicine services for young athletes who need them most,” said Andy Petersen, president and chief executive officer of the Banner Health Foundation. “It’s about giving every athlete with the talent and the drive access to the best care and training opportunities so they can pursue their athletic dreams safely and confidently. We are exceedingly grateful to the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury for their unwavering support of young athletes in our community.”
In addition, the charitable support will help to fund a youth basketball combine at the High Performance Center, a day-long event for 100 athletes ages 12 to 18. Participants will receive a performance evaluation, an injury risk assessment and personalized tips for injury prevention. They will also learn from Banner Sports Medicine’s orthopedic physicians, physical therapists, concussion experts, sports psychologists and a sports nutritionist about how to be at the top of their game physically and mentally.
“This gift is about giving every young athlete the chance to train, grow, and compete at the highest level,” said Josh Bartelstein, chief executive officer of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. “We’re committed to working alongside Banner Sports Medicine to provide access and resources to continue to elevate the next generation of athletes across the Valley.”
Banner Sports Medicine Scottsdale opened in May 2023. The three-story, 80,000 square-foot facility provides everything athletes need to reach peak athletic performance. Sports medicine services include orthopedic surgery, primary care sports medicine, concussion management, X-ray and imaging, injury prevention, physical therapy, and more. Located on the first floor, the High Performance Center features roughly 17,000 square feet of indoor space and a 29,000-square-foot outdoor training area suited for real-time, true-to-sport assessment and training. The center is Arizona’s most comprehensive collection for athletic training, diagnostic and monitoring systems, including the latest in force plate technology and motion capture camera systems capable of serving athletes across virtually all court, field and track sports.
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
Established in 2001, the Banner Health Foundation engages the community and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s nonprofit mission of making health care easier so life can be better. Contributions are invested locally to support patient care programs and services operated by Banner’s many hospitals and health care facilities across Arizona and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.bannerhealthfoundation.org.
