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.”

UMOM New Day Centers

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.”

New Pathways for Youth

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