Category: Tucson

[TUCSON, ARIZONA, January 12th] The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (BGCT) has raised $1 million to support their work with Tucson’s most in-need youth.

The monies were raised at BGCT’s November event titled Party with a Purpose. During the auction and sweeps guests bid on donated items including trips and special perks for fans of UA Basketball. The event was emceed by Jim Click and Edmund Marquez of Allstate, both longtime supporters of the organization’s mission, and was held in honor of Lute Olson, with Kelly Olson being present as one of the guests of honor. The final tally was calculated late last week.

The monies will be put towards the many expenses involved in running six locations across the city of Tucson. The organization’s membership fee for families is $20 for the school year per youth, while the true cost is $2,850 per child. Funds raised from Party with a Purpose will empower the organization to continue investing in the talented youth development personnel it employs who support members in a variety of ways including homework help, mental health, sports and wellness, leadership skills, and more. Enrolled youth also receive a nutritious hot dinner each night the locations are open at no extra charge, and internal data reveals that for some youth this is their only meal of the day.

From its 2022 data, over 90% of the organization’s 2700 youth members served come from low-income households, 85% belong to traditionally underserved minority ethnicities/races, 72% qualify for free/reduced school lunches, and 45% live in single-parent homes. With an operating budget of $4.4 million this year BGCT relies heavily on support from the Tucson community to keep its doors open for its work with Tucson’s youth.

For 65 years the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson has helped keep thousands of local children involved in after school and summer programming. The Clubs have resumed regular after school programming, offering daily access to a broad range of programs in five core areas: Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation. 

The organization currently serves youth ages 7-18 at its six local Clubhouse locations. Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is a qualifying charity for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit (QCO 20282).

To find out more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, visit bgctucson.org or call (520) 573-3533.

Supporting Quotes for this Release:
“2022 was a powerhouse year for the needs of Tucson’s youth. Emerging from the challenges of 2020 and 2021, as well as battling rising inflation costs and economic uncertainties, the families and communities we serve are encountering difficult circumstances many of us cannot grasp. Our extraordinary night at Party with a Purpose shows us how relevant and important our mission is to Tucson’s most in-need youth. Please consider supporting our work as we continue to champion for the youth we serve and our efforts to see them be academically successful, gain the skills to land a dream job, and develop the character to live as productive, caring citizens.” -Denise Watters, CEO

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[TUCSON, ARIZONA, January 12th] The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (BGCT) turns 65 years old in 2023. It will celebrate its 65th anniversary across the entire year with a series of unique campaigns, events, and community projects. 

To commemorate its 65th anniversary, BGCT plans on a year-long series of unique activities, including events involving alumni and special fundraiser campaigns. In celebration of the sapphire year it has put together an advisory committee made up of prominent Tucson community innovators and BGCT supporters.

Projects that will kick off this year include a special WiFi hotspot garden installation at the Steve Daru Clubhouse location that will offer free WiFi to any youth who attends. WiFi inequality is one of the leading challenges BGCT’s youth face, with lack of access to internet impacting school performance. The garden will also provide members with an opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables, learning about gardening practices, and will also allow BGCT to bring academic programming outdoors in the event of future pandemic impact. It will positively affect thousands of youth for years to come. This is possible due to a partnership with COX Media and support from the Simone Foundation.

Other projects launching this year include the multi-layered project of transforming an existing Clubhouse location into a Teen Tech Center whose aim will be workforce development for teens in various tech industries. Annually hundreds of youth attending will receive in-depth mentoring and training on building career pathways in tech and trade vocations, from chip-building to digital marketing.

BGCT’s primary aim this year is to use the 65th to both celebrate its vibrant history and as an opportunity to reach even more in-need youth. From its 2022 data, over 90% of the organization’s 2700 youth members served come from low income households, 85% belong to traditionally underserved minority ethnicities/races, 72% qualify for free/reduced school lunches, and 45% live in single-parent homes. Some projects will be partially funded by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s $3.5 million gift the organization received last year.

For 65 years the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson has helped keep thousands of local children involved in after school and summer programming. The Clubs have resumed regular after school programming, offering daily access to a broad range of programs in five core areas: Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation. The organization currently serves youth ages 7-18 at its six local Clubhouse locations. Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is a qualifying charity for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit (QCO 20282). To find out more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, visit bgctucson.org or call (520) 573-3533.


“The stewardship and community support of BGCT throughout the past 65 years has been inspirational and is certainly worthy of celebration. The organization has grown and thrived over time and will make an even greater impact on Tucson’s underserved youth in the future. This year’s planned community garden and internet hotspot, as well as the soon to be built Teen Tech Center, are prime examples of how well the organization adapts and is changing with the times.” -Ilene Sipe, BGCT Board Program & Personnel Committee Chair

“In 65 years the entire world can change numerous times over. 65 years can be the lifetime of a single individual, or an earmark in chapters of generations. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson have touched both, changing the trajectories of communities for the better. That the organization has been champions for Tucson’s most in-need youth for so long, remaining steadfast in their commitment to deliver quality programming even amidst rapidly-changing times, is a testament to its impact on Tucson. I could not be more proud to be spearheading our 65thyear alongside such a passionate board of advisors. I also must acknowledge the incredible staff in our Clubhouses, the gifted individuals who work with our youth daily. Together, we want all of Tucson this year to know about the work we do, to reach deeper into communities who need us, and to celebrate the giants whose shoulders we stand on. This year, we are all BGCT.” -Denise Watters, CEO

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Tucson, Arizona, September 19, 2022 – YWCA Southern Arizona’s Women’s Business Center (WBC) was awarded City of Tucson’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funding and has now launched the first stage of its YSmall Business Continuity Grant Project.

The City of Tucson designated American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funding for the purpose of identifying and engaging local disadvantaged businesses negatively impacted by the public health crisis and providing small business development services and grant funds to allow business owners to invest in their businesses and expand capacity.

The WBC works to educate and empower women in their ventures to start and or grow their businesses. The WBC was awarded a total of $800,000.00 for regranting to small Tucson businesses. Additional training, mentoring, access to peer networks, and counseling services will also be provided as part of the program.

Gabriela Rosales, Program Manager of the WBC at YWCA Southern Arizona, has said that “the grant funding is a very great opportunity for small businesses in Tucson to continue their success.” The pandemic set forth mass layoffs, fragile financial states, and nearly half of small businesses reported extended closures. In Southern Arizona, and Tucson specifically, the number of small businesses that experienced extended closure is closer to about 70%. Without the support of grant relief funds such as this ARPA grant, many of these businesses may not have been able to re-open and resume business. The success of Southern Arizona small businesses is critical to economic vitality, community building, and distribution of resources.

The WBC has conducted a robust application selection process to identify Tucson businesses which could benefit from small business development services and grant funding. Moving forward, WBC will provide an initial intake/assessment to help guide each business towards services most aligned with their needs, as well as offering scheduled, bilingual courses and workshops which will lay a solid foundation of learning from which success and stability can be built. One-on-one coaching will be offered as needed, to reinforce these lessons. The WBC will award and distribute grants to eligible and qualified program participants. Selected businesses will be followed up with periodically after grant awarding, to ensure grants were used in accordance with the predetermined, eligible business use.

Isabel Georgelos, Director of the WBC at YWCA Southern Arizona, emphasizes that “Small businesses are vital to our economic health. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the City of Tucson to provide training, coaching, and TA to Small businesses that lead to much-needed infusion of capital.”

YWCA Southern Arizona has been a robust partner of the City of Tucson, specifically in efforts to support small local businesses. In 2020, the City of Tucson awarded YWCA Southern Arizona a nine (9) million dollar grant of pass-through funding. This funding was distributed as COVID-19 relief grants to small businesses with an emphasis on women and BIPOC owned businesses.

YWCA Southern Arizona’s work extends to community and supporting youth development. Our Pima County Teen Court program is a prime example of this part of our mission. Earlier this year, the City of Tucson also awarded an ARPA grant to Teen Court to support a pre-arrest diversion program. This program is in partnership with Tucson Police and several local Tucson school districts. The Deflection program is a direct result of ARPA funding and support from the City of Tucson. Youth who admit to arrestable behavior choose to participate in a Teen Court hearing where they are judged by a jury of their peers and sentenced to Teen Court constructive consequences. With the implementation of constructive consequences and peer influence, the program addresses the disproportionate minority involvement of youth within the juvenile justice system.

YWCA Southern Arizona is honored to carry out this mission and to contribute to the City of Tucson Small Business Continuity Program.

About YWCA Southern Arizona

YWCA Southern Arizona has served Tucson since 1917 with a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We believe the success of our communities depends on upholding equality, inclusion, and opportunity as fundamental values. YWCA provides integrated and bilingual community, leadership, and economic development programs, including workforce, family wellness, and social services that promote multi-generational solutions to end poverty and violence. Our overall goal is creation of sustainable, effective, and efficient means to place women and families more firmly and equitably in control of their futures.

Designate your Arizona Charitable Tax Credit to YWCA Southern Arizona: when you make a donation to YWCA, you can earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit by taking advantage of the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit – up to $400 for single filers and $800 for joint filers. Donate online HERE or mail a check to YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, AZ 85745. Qualifying Charitable Organization Code: 20570.

Make your gift monthly and sustain our bilingual community, leadership, and economic development programs, promoting racial justice and helping to place women and families more firmly and equitably in control of their futures.

Make a monthly gift HERE.

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The YWCA of Southern Arizona and the Tucson 2030 District (T2030D) today announced the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that joins these two community-focused organizations in a partnership of service to Tucson and South Tucson residents.

As part of the MOU, the Tucson 2030 District in August expanded its district boundaries to include the YWCA’s House of Neighborly Service (HNS) in South Tucson. The two organizations worked together last year on energy and water audits of HNS, a historic 75-year-old property restored by the YWCA to its original use as a neighborhood park and community center.

The YWCA is the first nonprofit organization in Southern Arizona to join the Tucson 2030 District, one of 23 Districts nationwide that seeks to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through building audits and weatherization. 

Weatherization and energy efficient upgrades result in cleaner, healthier working and living environments and reduce the cost of energy for occupants and owners.

Tucson District partners include the City of Tucson, Pima County and the University of Arizona.

The signing jumpstarts what both organizations hope to accomplish with a partnership that they describe as being “built on the foundation of sustainability.”

“We are not just talking about what needs to be done as champions of sustainability,” said Magdalena Verdugo, CEO of the YWCA of Southern Arizona. “We are actively moving forward

with plans to help mitigate the dangers that climate change represents, heat in particular. And we are also focused on building resilience to face the challenges to come.”

Added Karen Peterson, the new chair of T2030D, the partnership with the YWCA “fits beautifully with our District’s mission to engage with neighborhoods in our community that need our services the most.”

“We want to ensure that energy equity is built into everything the District does going forward,” said Peterson. “The solutions are there. It is our job to get the word out and do the work.”

Designate your Arizona Charitable Tax Credit to YWCA Southern Arizona: when you make a donation to YWCA, you can earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit by taking advantage of the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit – up to $400 for single filers and $800 for joint filers. Donate online HERE or mail a check to YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, AZ 85745. Qualifying Charitable Organization Code: 20570.

Make your gift monthly and sustain our bilingual community, leadership, and economic development programs, promoting racial justice and helping to place women and families more firmly and equitably in control of their futures.

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Tucson’s only professional ballet company is pleased to announce that their official school has a new name and new directors. Beginning in August, the newly minted School of Ballet Tucson will be led by the accomplished husband and wife team Danielle and Liang Fu.

They join the Ballet Tucson Artistic Staff as School Directors to bring the company’s prestigious training institution into a new era of excellence. They will also be leading dancers with Ballet Tucson’s professional company, adding further excitement to the upcoming 2022-2023 performance season.

“We are thrilled to be the new directors of The School of Ballet Tucson and to be leading dancers with the professional company.” Danielle and Liang Fu share. “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to teach and inspire the next generation of dancers in Tucson and to contribute our artistic abilities and expertise to the company. Our combined 36 years of experience dancing with both international and U.S. professional ballet companies, in addition to our time teaching in the schools of those companies has prepared us well for the new responsibilities we will undertake here in Tucson.”

They add, “We are excited to be joining a school and company that has had a reputation for excellence over the last 36 years and look forward to helping to maintain that standard well into the future. We have found that the community of Tucson is home to many wonderful performing arts organizations and we are proud to be a part of that. We look forward to welcoming even more students to the school as well as helping to grow a larger audience and support base for Ballet Tucson.”

Ballet student dancers ages 11-18 are invited to a day of free Masterclasses taught by Danielle and Liang Fu on Sunday, June 12th at the Ballet Tucson Studios (200 S. Tucson Blvd.). Students will have the opportunity to experience the new School Directors’ teaching and coaching style. Students and their guardians are invited to participate in a post-class Q&A and meet and greet, with the added opportunity to tour the Ballet Tucson facilities. No pre-registration is required and class times are as follows: 11:00 am ages 11-14 and 2:00 pm ages 15-18.

For additional information, please call (520) 623-3373 or email [email protected]

Registration and class information for The School of Ballet Tucson 2022-2023 school year will be available soon. Join Ballet Tucson’s e-newsletter to be the first to receive school and company news: https://ballettucson.org/subscribe/

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Women’s Foundation Partners with YWCA Southern Arizona to Amplify Impact, Opportunity for Single Moms 
(Tucson, Ariz.) The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona has announced a partnership with YWCA Southern Arizona to support the pathway to self-sufficiency for single moms.  

Started by WFSA in 2020, the Foundation has incubated the Pathways for Single Moms program which helps single mothers obtain a certificate in growing fields that pay sustainable wages. The program has recently received state funding to scale its work across Arizona in partnership with nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. 

In Arizona, there are nearly half a million full-time working women who lack a college degree, including over 70,000 single mothers. Among the five most commonly held occupations for single mothers of young children, none provide a median wage higher than $30,000. Without a path to further education, these mothers cannot increase their earning potential.  

“One of our priorities at WFSA is rebuilding the workforce with women in mind after COVID unraveled decades of economic progress. We’ve done this through legislation and the Pathways for Single Moms Program, designed to break the barriers preventing mothers from accessing higher-paying careers. The YWCA of Southern Arizona is a great partner as we establish the Pathways program permanently in the region,” said Emma Fryer, WFSA’s Chief Strategy Officer and Interim CEO. 

The Pathways for Single Moms Program employs a multi-pronged approach that fundamentally shifts the future of low-income families by providing access to a combination of educational and economic opportunities to equip mothers with the tools they need to become economically self-sufficient.  

Pathways provides wraparound support in a variety of areas that are common roadblocks prohibiting single moms from going to school, including tuition costs, equipment expenses, childcare, transportation, and navigating the enrollment process. Those accepted into the Pathways program will be awarded 100% paid tuition for a one-year certificate in technical education, as well as Quality-First/kindergarten-ready childcare. They will also receive a stipend to use towards living expenses, computer equipment, transportation, and more, as well as emergency funds. Participants will also receive ongoing coaching, planning and career services.   

Using a multi-generational framework, the program is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty for single mothers by supporting both the mom and her children as she pursues education in growing fields that pay sustainable wages. 

With a focus on women’s wellness, leadership, and economic justice, YWCA Southern Arizona is equipped to provide wrap-around supports including case management; access to free professional clothing and hygiene supplies; classes and coaching for participants interested in starting their own businesses; financial wellness, digital literacy, and career skills training; and wellness programs such as the Women’s Counseling Network, providing referrals to free counseling for women without insurance coverage.  

“At YWCA, we are excited to partner with the Women’s Foundation to continue Pathways for Single Moms in Southern Arizona, and grateful for their trust. We believe the Pathways program will be a crucial component of the work we will do this year to advance economic justice for our women, making measurable gains in livelihood for families who have been affected by the pandemic’s devastating impact on women in the workforce. We will work to ensure that this vital program remains equitable and reflects the diversity of our community, and we are looking forward to hosting the Pathways program at the YWCA,” said Magdalena Verdugo, YWCA Southern Arizona’s CEO.  

This successful program is preparing to expand into Central and Northern Arizona with the support of the Governor’s Office, members of the State Legislature, and nonprofit partners like YWCA supporting mothers on their paths to self-sufficiency. 

To enroll, applicants must fill out the online application form. Eligible candidates will be scheduled for a brief interview to learn of their career goals and barriers with a dedicated Pathways staff who will guide them throughout the onboarding process with Pima Community College and community partners. 

Pathways for Single Moms is now enrolling participants for the fall semester. More information can be found at womengiving.org/pathways. 

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About the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona 

The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (previously the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona) innovates to create social, political, and economic change that achieves equity for women and girls of all identities through its integrated framework of research, advocacy, grantmaking, and leadership development. To learn more, visit womengiving.org.   

About YWCA Southern Arizona 

YWCA Southern Arizona has served Tucson since 1917 with a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We believe the success of our communities depends on upholding equality, inclusion, and opportunity as fundamental values. YWCA provides integrated and bilingual community, leadership, and economic development programs, including workforce, family wellness, and social services that promote multi-generational solutions to end poverty and violence. Our overall goal is creation of sustainable, effective, and efficient means to place women and families more firmly and equitably in control of their futures. 

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TUCSON, Ariz. (March 31, 2021) — Social Venture Partners (SVP) Tucson celebrates a record-breaking 6th Annual Fast Pitch event. Through a historical level of ticket sales and donations received, SVP Tucson was able to gift a record $105,000 of on-stage awards to local nonprofit organizations serving the greatest need here in Tucson. During the event, the community showed up to show their support with $59,762 in donations. To top it off, the Connie Hillman Family Foundation matched an additional $50,000, making this year’s impact into the nonprofit community a grand total of $214,762. 

“This year’s Fast Pitch event was record-breaking and historical in every way,” said Ciara Garcia, CEO at SVP Tucson. “We absolutely could not have done this without our community partners, and we hope they understand the magnitude of their support to these nonprofits,” Garcia said.  

Through these partnerships, SVP Tucson was able to triple resources going to local nonprofits in the Fast Pitch program and featured the highest number of on-stage participants in SVP Tucson’s Fast Pitch history.  

Fast Pitch 2021 is focused on nonprofits that support people experiencing adversity due to COVID-19, serve historically marginalized and under-resourced communities, and who actively work to promote social justice, including racial and gender justice. The 10 participating nonprofits are: Boys to Men, JobPath, Make Way for Books, Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, Sunnyside Foundation, YWCA of Southern Arizona, TMM Family Services, Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, Native Music Coalition, and Second Chance Tucson.   

Fast Pitch is an 18-week long training program designed to help nonprofits build meaningful relationships, gain resources, and become more resilient. The centerpiece event took place on March 11, 2021 with Arizona Illustrated Host, Tom McNamara, as the emcee. Fast Pitch participants will continue to receive training and support for weeks to come.  

The event was live streamed from Tech Parks Arizona and featured a special message from Associate Vice President, Carol Stewart, who challenged the Tucson business community to match UA Tech Park’s $1,000 donation to Fast Pitch.  

“I see so much potential in this arena. To come together, unite forces and accelerate the impact,” said Stewart. “We need to work together to create innovation solutions to the challenges we face as a community, and this Fast Pitch class represents those solutions,” Stewart said.  

For more information about SVP Tucson and the Fast Pitch program, visit www.svptucson.org.  

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