Circle the City has received a transformational $1 million gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support the completion of its new East Valley Medical Respite Center. In recognition of the Foundation's generosity, the facility's main lobby will be named in its honor. Scheduled to open later this year in Mesa, the 85-bed East Valley Medical Respite … [More]
$500K Grant Brings Financial Literacy to 10,000 Arizona Students
As the new school year begins, thousands of Arizona students will sharpen their reading, writing and math skills, but many still won't receive the financial education needed to thrive in adulthood and navigate today's economy. A new $500,000, two-year grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will help change that by enabling Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) to … [More]
Abrazo Healthy Over Hungry Helps Feed Kids
Abrazo Health’s Valley hospitals donated more than 3,300 pounds of cereal to Valley food banks in June as part of its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive to feed hungry children as they headed into summer months without the benefit of a healthy breakfast or lunch often provided by their school. The June cereal drive is a friendly competition among Abrazo Health campuses to see … [More]
Burger King Franchisee Awards Arizona Scholarships
The Burger King Foundation® and KRAF, Inc. awarded 59 Arizona students with scholarships to further their education. Awards were made possible by KRAF, Inc., a family-owned business operating 45 Burger King locations in Arizona. … [More]
Pita Jungle Fundraiser Supports Waste Not
Pita Jungle recently presented Arizona-based nonprofit Waste Not with a donation check for $4,000, proceeds raised during National Pita Day weekend, when Pita Jungle donated $1 for every pita sandwich sold at participating locations across Arizona. Waste Not works to create sustainable food systems that nourish people and protect the planet — an effort that aligns with Pita … [More]
Feedback: August 2026
Q: What prompted you to go to the formality of creating a distinct philanthropic foundation for your company’s community donations?
Dr. Bryan Gawley Owner Gawley Companies Sector: Healthcare At Gawley Companies, giving back has always been part of who we are. As our organization continued to grow, we realized we wanted our philanthropic efforts to grow with it. Creating Unicorn Philanthropy allowed us to establish a dedicated foundation that could bring greater purpose, consistency and long-term … [More]
Overall Giving Surpasses $600 Million
Giving USA 2025 report highlights widespread generosity
Even amid a year rife with governmental policy change — taxation, funding, environmental, healthcare, social justice — American philanthropists rallied. In fact, they showed just how quickly money can be mobilized in the face of challenge. Of any natural disaster worldwide, California’s 2025 wildfires generated the largest amount of donations — $860–970 million — in the … [More]
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: A Community Legacy Baked into Every Slice
Strengthening community and building employee pride
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria may be famous for its coal-brick oven, Brooklyn-style pizza, but in Arizona it has also become synonymous with community. When the brand opened its first location outside New York in Old Town Scottsdale in 2003, it brought more than a beloved East Coast staple to the Valley. It brought a philosophy that a neighborhood restaurant should be part of the fabric … [More]
MidFirst, Nature Conservancy Raise $160K for Conservation Efforts
MidFirst Bank, the largest privately owned bank in the nation, and The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization, today announced they have raised over $160,000 for sustainability and conservation efforts. Since 2023, MidFirst Bank customers in Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas have had the opportunity to support these efforts through the Earth Card, a debit card made … [More]
Longtime Valley Nonprofit CEO to Retire After 16 Years
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a nonprofit serving families with children experiencing homelessness in the Valley, announces that CEO Ted Taylor will retire effective July 10, 2026, following 16 years of transformative leadership that grew the organization's reach from one shelter location to four, and multiplied capacity. Beginning July 13, Taylor will serve as CEO … [More]
TSMC Arizona Pairs 280 Interns with Valley Youth for STEM Day
In one of the largest community activations of its kind in Arizona, 280 interns from TSMC Arizona enlightened hundreds of youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in STEM careers through immersive activities at the Arizona Science Center. The event is part of TSMC’s Arizona’s annual Community Involvement Day and reflects the company’s commitment to developing … [More]
Southwest Gas Supports Central Arizona Shelter Services
More than 100 Southwest Gas employee volunteers and their family members came together with Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) recently to assemble 2,000 personal care kits for unhoused individuals, launching the Southwest Gas Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Month of Giving. It was the first of six volunteer projects taking place across Arizona, Nevada, and California … [More]
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Program Raises $26K for Local Nonprofits
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino guests donated more than $26,000 to local area nonprofits through the property’s Caesars Makes Change NRT kiosk donations during Q1 2026. The NRT kiosk machines provide an opportunity for guests to give back in a meaningful way by donating their $0.99 or less change when cashing out their slot machine voucher. … [More]
USA Pickleball: Building Community, One Court at a Time
Expansion is national in scale and deeply local in impact
Pickleball may be America’s fastest‑growing sport, but behind the surge is a national organization intent on ensuring that growth strengthens communities as much as it fills courts. USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport headquartered in Scottsdale, has come a long way since its founding in 1984. What began as a small, volunteer‑driven effort has evolved into … [More]
Nonprofit Awards $3M to Expand Youth Mental Health Support Nationally
The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group, announced $3 million in grants to 22 nonprofits working to improve youth mental health and strengthen support systems across 10 states. Youth mental health needs continue to outpace access to care in many communities, particularly for young people and families navigating limited resources. "Too many young … [More]
Piper Trust Celebrates 25 Years of Piper Fellows in $25M Grant Year
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust awarded nearly $25 million in grants during its recently concluded 2026 fiscal year, supporting local nonprofits and community partners in strengthening quality of life for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Piper Fellows program, which provides outstanding nonprofit leaders with extensive, … [More]
Valley Philanthropy Fuels Record $16M Push at Maricopa Colleges
Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that supports research into America's most pressing problems and evidence-based solutions to solve them, awarded Maricopa Community Colleges and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF) a multi-year, $16 million grant to help more students earn a degree or transfer to a partner institution. Arnold Ventures' investment marks the largest … [More]
Scottsdale Dog Rescue Nonprofit Takes Lifesaving Shelter Program across State Lines
Two Pups Wellness Fund is introducing its lifesaving “Project Get Out” (PGO) program beyond state lines. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based nonprofit is working with Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) to establish a pilot program for Project Get Out in Southern California, made possible through a grant from the Jason Heigl Foundation. The pilot begins this month … [More]
