Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    • Home
    • Sedona News
    • Business Profiles
    • Opinion
    • Mind & Body
    • Arts
    • Elections
    • Contact
    • Cart
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Home » Arizona Community Foundation and donors distribute $62.4 million in third quarter grants and scholarships
    Arizona

    Arizona Community Foundation and donors distribute $62.4 million in third quarter grants and scholarships

    February 16, 2022Updated:February 17, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Arizona Community Foundation
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Place ads on Sedona.biz

    Arizona Community FoundationSedona News – The Arizona Community Foundation and its donors are pleased to announce grant and scholarship distributions for the third quarter of its fiscal year. Between October 1 and December 31, 2021, a total of $62,361,379 was awarded from funds of the Arizona Community Foundation and its six statewide affiliates in Cochise, Flagstaff, the Gila Valley, Sedona, Yavapai County, and Yuma.

    The $62.4 million in both discretionary and advised grants and scholarships were awarded in five strategic priority areas: Health Innovations, Community Improvement & Development, Environment & Sustainability, Arts & Culture, and Quality Education. 

    Over $12.4 million of that total was dedicated to supporting 621 small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants were funded through ACF’s ongoing partnerships with Maricopa County and several municipalities to deliver COVID-19 relief.  

    Health Innovations: A total of $15.9 million was awarded to 926 organizations and programs in the areas of health, health care, medical research, and a variety of human services. Among the distributions for the quarter were: $66,000 from the Reese Family Foundation to Native American Connections, for the Patina Wellness Center which provides culturally relevant health and community development services; $43,300 from Christie’s Charitable Fund to Alice’s Place, dedicated to providing services to victims of domestic violence; and, $30,000 from the Virginia O. Kieckhefer Memorial Fund to the Prescott Salvation Army to provide food and necessities to people in need.

    Community Improvement & Development: A total of $2.6 million was awarded to 225 programs in this category, which includes housing, community and neighborhood development, financial literacy training, legal assistance, and crime prevention programs. Among the grants awarded this quarter were: $25,000 from the Northern Arizona Housing Fund to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, Inc. which builds opportunities for sustainable, affordable housing in northern Arizona; $8,000 from Real Engagement Through Active Philanthropy (REAP) to Local First Arizona for the We Rise Business Accelerator; and, $5,000 from the African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle to the Black Mother’s Forum, which hopes to end the school to prison pipeline.

    DONOR HIGHLIGHT:

    The Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy collaborative fund is ACF’s Black men’s giving circle focused on the needs of Black men in the areas of educational enrichment, career exploration, and social justice. This quarter, REAP crossed a milestone, having granted $100,000 since inception to local organizations. The giving circle will continue to cultivate the next generation of youth, create generational community development opportunities, and foster economic growth. REAP’s $8,000 grant to the Local First Arizona We Rise Accelerator will mean Arizona’s Black entrepreneurs can further access comprehensive skill-development programming to successfully launch and implement their business plans. REAP’s efforts to elevate and celebrate the Black community in Arizona is reflective of the Black leadership in the state and their commitment to impact their communities.

    Environment & Sustainability:  A total of $2.2 million was awarded to 195 organizations and programs in the areas of environmental education, renewable resources, conservation, and animal welfare. Among the distributions for the quarter were: $50,000 to Lowell Observatory from the Nicola and Mark Johnston Fund to support the Technical Building; $20,000 from the Art & Betsy Grandlich Foundation for Animals to Audubon Southwest to support the relocation of the burrowing owl in the Phoenix Valley; and, $20,000 to the Tuba City Humane Society from the Lynne P. Power Fund to rescue and rehabilitate homeless and unwanted animals.

    DONOR HIGHLIGHT:

    The Lynne P. Power Fund was established in 2009 and has since granted over $660,000 to animal welfare organizations that operate no-kill shelters. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a slate of insecurity for humans and their mascots alike. As families were forced to surrender their pets due to economic insecurity, shelters across the state were inundated with requests for care. The Tuba City Humane society is no stranger to the challenges of decreased volunteer forces, limited foster homes, and higher animal intake than ever before. The $20,000 grant will help the Tuba City Humane Society, an all-volunteer run shelter, continue on their mission to help the western Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe end animal homelessness, suffering, and overpopulation by providing resources toward that goal.

    Arts & Culture: A total of $2.3 million was awarded to 132 artistic and cultural organizations across Arizona. Among the grants were: $25,000 to the Heard Museum from the Newton and Betty Rosenzweig Fund for the Arts to sponsor the He’e Nalu exhibit on the art of surfing; $5,000 from the Silverman Family Foundation to Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, which specializes in helping children who have experienced trauma build resilience through the arts and trauma-informed care; and, $30,000 from the Wellik Foundation to the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts for their Made in Wickenburg artist residency program, which supports and launches local artists and companies in an environment free from everyday pressures.

    Quality Education: During this quarter, a total of $16.9 million was awarded in scholarships and education-related grants. Among the grants were: $25,000 from the John & Delys Ellis Fund to Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates supporting their career and college readiness program; and, $25,000 from the Todd Thomas Foundation to the Be Kind Project Foundation, which works to deliver youth-relevant learning opportunities that inspire humanity and academic achievement.

    College scholarships accounted for $255,700 of the quarter’s total and were awarded for the benefit of 73 students pursuing higher education, averaging $3,500 per student scholarship. College scholarships are awarded to Arizona students to attend a wide range of colleges, universities, and technical schools in Arizona and across the United States.

    In addition to these grants, 22 nonprofit organizations with agency endowments managed by the Arizona Community Foundation received their annual distributions during the third quarter of ACF’s fiscal year, accounting for $9,977,587 distributed during the quarter.  

    The $62.4 million awarded across all categories represents 2,490 grants and scholarships. Some grants are awarded at the discretion of the Arizona Community Foundation with input from board committees and diverse community panels, while others are awarded through donor advice. All grants are approved or ratified by ACF’s Philanthropic Services Committee whose members include ACF board representatives and other community leaders.

    Established in 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide family of charitable funds supported by thousands of Arizonans. With five regional offices serving communities across Arizona, ACF is among the top 25 community foundations in the nation with more than $1.1 billion in trust and endowment assets, and is certified under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Since inception, ACF and its affiliates have awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants, scholarships and loans to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. More information is available at azfoundation.org.

    Place ads on Sedona.biz

    Scott mayor
    samaireformayor
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Sedona.biz Staff

    Related Posts

    Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: August 12-18, 2022

    August 6, 2022

    Fill sandbags at these sites

    August 5, 2022

    Music in the Stacks at Camp Verde Community Library

    August 5, 2022

    Comments are closed.

    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
    Recent Comments
    • Laurenza on Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    • Joan Mansfield on James Ratliff Gallery in Sedona Exhibits the Interpretative Art of Christine DeSpain Schroeder
    • RJ on Eeny Meeny Miny Moe!
    • Mary Wright on Eeny Meeny Miny Moe!
    • OMMITTE on Eeny Meeny Miny Moe!
    Categories
    © 2022 All rights reserved. Sedona.biz.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.