Category Archives: Grants

PHOENIX, Ariz.  – Jan. 17, 2022 – Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust recently awarded $125,000 to Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) to support outdoor experiences for girls in central and northern Arizona over the next two years.

“We are deeply grateful to the Trust for their partnership over the years. This gift will help us create more opportunities for girls to bolster their confidence as they challenge themselves to take on outdoor adventures,” Christina Spicer, Interim Co-CEO said. 

“This grant will give us additional resources to expand access to our outdoor programming through family engagement, volunteer-led outdoor experiences, community events, and specialty programs like climbing, archery, and mountain biking.”

After almost two years of disruptions to programming due to the pandemic, GSACPC is ramping up their in-person programs at their four camp properties located in Phoenix and in northern Arizona. “Technology and structured activities leave less time for girls to get outside and connect with the outdoors. However, girls who attend Girl Scout Camp or participate in an outdoor program benefit from a shared-learning experience and an all-girl safe space that offers plenty of opportunities to create their own outdoor adventures” says Spicer.

“Girl Scouts supports girls as they take healthy risks to try new things and achieve their ambitions. And when they reach the finish line, we’re there to cheer them on to the next challenge. We encourage girls to see failure as just another opportunity to get better at something so they can move ahead with determination to succeed. Our outdoor programs provide these confidence-building experiences, whether girls are putting up a tent for the first time, hiking to the top of a mountain, or scaling one of our climbing towers.”

GSACPC plans to address barriers and increase girls’ access to programs so they may benefit from unparalleled leadership opportunities in the outdoors that will help them build self-confidence, laying the foundation for a meaningful and successful future.

“These outdoor Girl Scouts programs help young women develop a more confident sense of self, which will serve them throughout their lives. We’re pleased to support programs that promote girls’ healthy development,” said Trust Senior Program Officer Laura McBride.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established upon the death of Nina Mason Pulliam in 1997 to support the causes she loved in her home states of Arizona and Indiana. The Trust seeks to help people in need, protect animals and nature, and enrich community life in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix. Since its inception, the Trust has distributed over $353 million to 1,006 organizations. For more information visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.

We Are Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org. 

About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)

In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.

This post originally appeared at nba.com.

Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker likes to surprise people, particularly when he’s handing out $2.5M in grant money from his Devin Booker Starting Five program.

On Wednesday, after the Suns preseason game with the Portland Trail Blazers, Booker may have struck a new enthusiasm level when Girl Scouts from the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council unexpectedly met their favorite player and then were gifted $100,000 by him.

The Girl Scouts were initially excited by the invitation to attend Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. They had no idea what awaited them.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council consist of more than 20,000 from more than 90 communities, including Indian Reservations and military installations across 75,000 miles in central and northern Arizona.

The $100,000 grant officially tips off the 2021-22 class of the Devin Booker Starting Five – a $2.5 million commitment made by Booker in 2019 to grant $100,000 each to five nonprofits each season over five years. The remaining nonprofits of this year’s class will be announced soon.

The transformative funds from the Devin Booker Starting Five will help the Girl Scouts, among other things, replace their mini-bus necessary to transport youth to and from educational and character-building activities and experiences. Due to vandalism and theft, the nonprofit is without a functioning vehicle to support Girl Scouts served across the state of Arizona.

For Christina Spicer, interim Co-CEO of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, the funds could not have come at a better time as the nonprofit returns to in-person camps and day trips.

“The Devin Booker Starting Five grant will provide an incredible resource for our girls,” said Spicer. “Having our bus need fully funded will allow our girls more access to girl-scouting and will be a huge gift for us. The fact that Book is supporting our girls and standing for women and girls is an enormous gift.”

Booker has excelled on the court for the Suns over the past six seasons, becoming a two-time All-Star and led his team through an exciting run to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. But his dedication off the court has been equally important to the city of Phoenix. For the past several years, Booker has treated youth from around The Valley to holiday shopping sprees, pledged more than $100,000 to Phoenix Suns Charities in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and is a Special Olympics Global Ambassador promoting inclusion through sport, especially opportunities involving basketball.

(PHOENIX – Sept. 14, 2021) – Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is delighted to announce the receipt of a $2 million grant from Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Announced on Monday, Sept. 13, the Now is the Moment Grants Commemoration awarded a total of $123 million to 71 nonprofit organizations across Maricopa County in one day. The grant, which will be used to support GSACPC’s programs and volunteer training and increase access to Girl Scouting for more girls in Arizona, is the Council’s second-largest single gift ever and the most significant one-time gift from Piper Trust, a long-time supporter. 

Despite a tumultuous year due to the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and economic uncertainty across all sectors, many individuals and institutions with large investments in the stock market experienced extraordinary growth in the value of their holdings. Piper Trust reported its endowment grew by $123 million in the 15 months following the start of the pandemic. With these two opposing forces at work, and as stewards of the Trust’s founder, Virginia Galvin Piper, Trustees felt compelled to share all of the earnings with the community. 

“We are deeply grateful to the Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and their ongoing support of and belief in our efforts to introduce more girls to Girl Scouting,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Every girl deserves the opportunity to be a Girl Scout, which we know is proven to have a positive impact in girls’ lives and their surrounding communities.”

“Girl Scouts has been a consistent force for good in our community for many years and for our resilience through this pandemic. The program impacts our community in ways that matter today and tomorrow,” said Mary Jane Rynd, President and CEO of Piper Trust.  

“Everything girls do in Girl Scouting is designed to help them grow into well-rounded adults prepared to meet the future successfully,” says Woodbury. “Girl Scouts helps girls navigate our changing world and build the futures they want to see. Through collaborative, experiential learning, access to caring adults and mentors, badge experiences and activities and service programs, girls build essential skills, explore and connect with their community, and become leaders who take action to make a positive difference in their communities.”

According to Woodbury, amid seismic shifts in technology and culture brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts are constantly evolving and innovating their programs and offerings to address girls’ evolving needs and interests in ways that resonate with them. 

“Girl Scouts has been a source of connection, support, and joy for girls throughout the pandemic and is addressing current issues girls, parents, and caregivers care about,” says Woodbury. 

With some girls back to school, some girls still learning from home and others doing a hybrid of both, the Council is innovating ways to make Girl Scouting flexible and accessible at every level and turnkey for parents and caregivers to take part in, leading their girl through the experience in whatever way works best for them. This grant will directly support this mission. 

“We love the work GSACPC does in our community and are proud to invest in the future of Arizona. Girl Scouts represent the next generation of social, civic, philanthropic, and economic leaders,” says Rynd. 

To celebrate what is quickly becoming one of the most significant years in our Council’s history, GSACPC is actively recruiting new Troop Leaders and forming new troops to allow more girls to participate throughout the region. Joining the movement today is easier than ever. Girls can join a troop this new school year – right now! – and entire families can be part of the Girl Scout experience. Even dads/male caregivers! GSACPC is hosting fun, free events and programs for families new to Girl Scouts or who have not yet joined but want to learn more through the end of the year. Among the free virtual and in-person events are: 

• Make New Friends, a four-part online series designed to boost your girl’s social skills and self-confidence while she learns to focus and thrive in a virtual group setting. 
• Animal Dance Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to have fun, meet new friends, and learn about Girl Scouts. After the physical dance party ends, the girls are encouraged to work on an independent activity. During this time, grown-ups are invited to join us for a quick overview of Girl Scouts. 
• Robot Building Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to work together – albeit virtually – on “building their own robot at home” while learning about all of the other adventures, science experiments, and outdoor activities they can participate in as Girl Scouts.
• In-Person Events throughout the Valley and northern Arizona, families are invited to learn more about Girl Scouts at one of the local open-houses-style events closest to them. View the interactive map and calendar to find a location and time that works best for you. 

For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/join. 

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We Are Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org. 

About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)

In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram. 

About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $644 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations.. For more information about Piper Trust, visit pipertrust.org and/or its Piper Fellows program, visit pipertrust.org/piperfellows.  @PiperTrust | Facebook.

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz – April 26, 2021) – Fiesta Bowl Charities has awarded Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) $100,000 to support the organization’s newly created mountain biking program for Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona. The grant will support the purchase of a trailer for supporting and transporting the mountain bikes, a truck to pull the trailer, and all the equipment for the girls to hit the Arizona trails.

“We are extremely grateful to Fiesta Bowl Charities for providing funds to expand our program offerings which include giving girls access and resources for new outdoor experiences,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Over the lifetime of the bikes, we’ll be able to provide tens of thousands of girls the opportunity to experience outdoor adventures while also learning the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and learning new skills.”

GSACPC was among 44 nonprofit organizations across the state of Arizona that benefited from Fiesta Bowl Charities grant funding in the 2020-21 season. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and various community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted $16 million in charitable giving for the past five years alone.

“We are committed to enhancing the lives of Arizonans, and by supporting GSACPC and their amazing grassroots efforts, we are collectively making a meaningful difference,” said Patrick Barkley, chair of the Fiesta Bowl board of directors. “Giving back to the Arizona community has been core to the Fiesta Bowl mission since we were founded 50 years ago, from our board of directors to Yellow Jacket committee, volunteers and staff.”

Through Girl Scouts, local female leaders of tomorrow practice essential life skills and develop the confidence they need to create their own success, whatever that looks like to them. They receive support and mentorship from an inclusive network of girls and women who champion every girl’s potential to do amazing things. Girl Scouts helps girls thrive in five key ways as they:

1. Develop a strong sense of self
2. Seek challenge and learn from setbacks 
3. Display positive values
4. Form and maintain healthy relationships
5. Identify and solve problems in their communities

The grant will allow GSACPC to further its proven Girl Scout Leadership Experience – a one-of-a-kind leadership development program (and the largest in the world!) focused on helping girls:

• Engage in healthy activities 
• Explore the great outdoors
• Learn the foundations of the sport through bike safety, maintence knowledge, and skill development
• Participate in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skill-building
• Take risks in a safe, all-girl environment
• Develop confidence and grit
• Take the lead in her own life and the world

“The last year has been incredibly challenging for us all, and that is why it is imperative that the Fiesta Bowl still deliver these necessary funds to Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scouts,” said Fiesta Bowl executive director Mike Nealy. “The heroes are nonprofits like Girl Scouts across Arizona who use these funds to improve people’s lives, specifically girl’s lives, right where they need it. We are part of this community, and it’s our mission to give back to the community.” 

Quick facts about Fiesta Bowl Charities:

• $5.5 million given in charitable giving for 2020-21 season
• 44 nonprofits benefit from Fiesta Bowl Charities’ grant cycle in 2020-21
• $16 million in charitable giving over last five years
• $21 million in charitable giving over last 10 years
• $3.7 million granted through Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers in program’s first five years
• Fiesta Bowl gives more in annual charitable giving than any college bowl organization
• More than 1 million people served in 2020-21
• 3,723,570 meals served in 2020-21
• 50,000 PPE face masks distributed in 2020-21

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ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS–ARIZONA CACTUS-PINE COUNCIL (GSACPC)

In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. Girl Scouts grow courageous and strong through girl-driven programs, ranging from summer camp to troop activities and product sales. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram. 

ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL

Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaBowl.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter and Instagram.