Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, a leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming children’s trauma to resilience through the arts, has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to expand and enhance their programming throughout the state.
Matt Sandoval, executive director of Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, stated, “We believe that every child deserves the chance to thrive, and with the generous support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, we can make this vision a reality. We’re excited to expand our services to Northern and Southern Arizona and reach more foster families, foster children, and other children and teens living in shelters or group homes.”
The grant will facilitate expansion throughout the state, allowing Free Arts to apply innovative clinically and culturally focused programs such as their Weekly Mentor, Professional Artist Series, Free Arts Days, Camps, Young Adult Empowerment, Family and Resilient Roots programs. By integrating cutting-edge therapeutic techniques with artistic expression, Free Arts aims to provide participants with the tools they need to heal from trauma and build resilience.
“Free Arts has created lasting impact in the lives of vulnerable youth,” said Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “They are leveraging the ability of art to transform, helping foster and homeless youth learn new coping skills that they will carry throughout their lives.”
This grant will enable Free Arts to expand the geographic reach of its programs beyond Maricopa County, reaching participants in Pima, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties, as well as Native nations and Southern Tucson. This expansion is essential to ensuring that all children in Arizona have access to the healing power of the arts, regardless of their location or background.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has granted more than $5 million to the organization with its first gift in 2012. In 2017, they granted Free Arts $2.5 million to establish The Bob & Renee Parsons Center for Hope & Healing, providing funding to purchase their building and operate two signature programs.
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