Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Reveals The Renee Parsons Girls Leadership & Excellence Award Winners.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) has announced the sixth annual Renee Parsons Girls Leadership & Excellence Award recipients. Established by businesswoman and philanthropist Renee Parsons, the awards honor girls who have showcased three fundamental leadership qualities – collaboration, assertiveness and empathy. The Girls Leadership Award provides the recipient the opportunity to be granted up to $80,000 of educational scholarship funding over four years as well as a new laptop; and the Girls Excellence Award grants up to $40,000 of educational scholarship funding and a new laptop for the winner. The educational scholarships can be used at a university, community college or vocational school depending on the recipients’ post-secondary goals.

Representatives from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation surprised the 2023 Renee Parsons Girls Leadership Award winner, Janet Thompson, with the award at her Boys & Girls Club, the Bob & Renee Parsons Branch in Phoenix. Thompson arrived at the Club believing she was participating in a photoshoot, but instead she was revealed as the winner and gifted a new laptop, PXG backpack, and other essential school supplies.

“I’m just so grateful,” said Thompson, a senior at Camelback High School. “I want to be somebody to not only accomplish my dreams, but to inspire other children that you can really get somewhere in life no matter what you’ve been through.”

Thompson is a dedicated student who ranks in the top 25th percent of her class and participates in several school clubs, in addition to being a varsity cheerleader. At her Club, she is a two-year Keystone Club president, facilitating supplies drives and fundraisers to support local nonprofits. She also volunteers with younger Club members and coaches cheerleading after school. The scholarship allows Thompson to reach her goal of becoming the first person in her family to attend college. Motivated by her own lived experiences, Thompson plans to become a social worker and help make a difference in the lives of others. She will attend Arizona State University in the Fall of 2023.

“Both of these young women have shown a tremendous amount of determination and hard work,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “The scholarships act to shine a light on and acknowledge these young women’s accomplishments and serve as an investment in their futures. We are humbled and privileged to be a small part of their lives and, as always, love to watch their journeys.”

While the Foundation serves a variety of youth-related causes, Parsons has personally placed an emphasis on supporting young women and improving their access to quality education. It is because of this passion that a secondary award was created in 2021: The Renee Parsons Girls Excellence Award. Geraldmy Sauza, the Colangelo Branch Youth of the Year and a senior at Carl Hayden High School, was named the recipient of this year’s Excellence Award and presented with up to $40,000 of scholarship funding over four years along with a new laptop and PXG backpack.

A longtime member of the Colangelo Club, Sauza caught the vetting committee’s attention with her volunteerism, leadership, and caring nature, highlighted by her involvement in her school’s JROTC program and more than 100 community service hours. Sauza mentors younger Club members and is dedicated to Club programs like Torch Club, Keystone, and Youth of the Year. She plans to enter the military and train to become a chef.

For more than 75 years, BGCAZ has been creating equity and hope for youth through academic, social and workforce programming. A large focus is centered on the organization’s four priority outcomes: Academic Success; Good Character & Leadership; Healthy Lifestyles, and Career Pathways & Workforce Readiness. Through these award-winning programs, BGCAZ has been able to reach 21,000+ youth across the Valley. To learn more about BGCAZ and its impact, please visit bgcaz.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Raises $4.5 Million with Over $1 Million Investment from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation at Annual Stars Gala.

Funds raised will help make BGCAZ Summer Programs affordable for working families

The Event: Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars

The Cause: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ)

Mission: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley empowers young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible members of the community. BGCAZ offers affordable after-school and summer programs for 16,000+ young people in grades K-12. At 30 clubs in 11 Valley cities, BGCAZ provides award-winning programs designed to change the lives of young people.

Honoree: Buzz Sands & Sands Chevrolet

Co-Chairs: Jody Sarchett and Basil Zaidi

Overview: The gala was hosted at the Westin Kierland, to honor Buzz Sands and Sands Chevrolet for their longtime commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and many other local organizations.

At the gala, Valley philanthropists and business leaders Bob & Renee Parsons surprised attendees by announcing a $1 million matching donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to help make summer programs more affordable for working families. With the match quickly fulfilled by event attendees, the Parsons’ pledged additional support after the event, bringing the total to $1.4 million.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley doesn’t skip a beat when addressing the needs of the children and families they serve,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “The summer program is aimed at supporting youth and removing a financial burden from hard-working families. Renee and I are proud to help them reach that goal.”

“We were overjoyed by the support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and their investment in our kids for summer fun. Club kids and their parents rely on summer programs for academic enrichment, and all-day fun! We are focused on making summer camp affordable for all working families. Last year, thousands of new families joined BGCAZ for summer camp and we will make summer camp affordable for all families this summer thanks to this incredible gift,” said Marcia Mintz, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.

The program also recognized 11 outstanding Club teens, the “Youth of the Year.” These Boys & Girls Clubs members have overcome incredible obstacles to succeed and shared their inspirational stories. The show was hosted by ABC 15’s Craig Fouhy, who was a volunteer coach at the Clubs many years ago.

In addition to hearing from the Youth of the Year representatives, guests enjoyed a large silent auction of items including concert experiences, high-end jewelry, restaurant experiences, sports memorabilia and an animated live auction of world-class vacations and items bidders can’t find anywhere else. For more information, visit https://www.bgcaz.org/stars/.

Quick Facts:

One of the highest-netting Valley galas with proceeds exclusively benefiting local Club programs (more than $4.5M raised)
800 guests including prominent Valley business leaders, philanthropists, and community supporters

Name: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) – Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars

When: Saturday, March 4, 2022

Where: Westin Kierland

Visuals:

Dinner Program created by Michael Barnard, Producing Artistic Director, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Extensive silent auction and energetic live auction
Remarkable youth achievement from local Clubs and awarding the 2023 Youth of the Year

BGCAZ 2023 YOUTH OF THE YEAR: XITLALIC PORTILLO, Warner & Shirley Gabel Branch, North High School

Branch Candidates for Youth of the Year:

Ajah Scott, Ladmo Branch, Tempe High School
Andre Trevino, Louis & Elizabeth Sands Branch, Deer Valley High School
Anthony Flores, Thunderbirds Guadalupe Branch, Marcos De Niza High School
Daniel Ramirez, Swift Kids Branch, Glendale High School
David Garduno Saavedra, Ed Robson Family Branch, North Canyon High School
Donovan Lavergne, Chandler Compadres Branch, Chandler High School
Efrain Juarez, Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch, Empower College Prep
Geraldmy Sauza, Jerry Colangelo Branch, Carl Hayden High School
Jose “Junior” Beltran, Spencer D. & Mary Jane Stewart Branch, Western School of Science & Technology
Josephine Rubio, Bob Bove Branch, a Thornwood Legacy, Agua Fria High School
Xitlalic Portillo, Warner A. Gabel Branch, North High School

$1M Gift From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Launches Barrow Parkinson’s Caregiver Support Program.

The Legacy Caregiver Support Program will expand resources for Parkinson’s caregivers

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has continued its support of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute with a $1 million gift to launch the Legacy Caregiver Support Program. This will be an extension of the Lonnie and Muhammad Ali Legacy Care Program, which was created through a $4 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation in 2017. The Legacy Caregiver Support Program aims to expand resources for caregivers of advanced Parkinson’s patients to significantly decrease burden and burnout.

“The level of care at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute is second to none,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “The new Legacy Caregiver Support Program will further leverage Barrow’s top notch service model by extending support and relief to family members who quietly bear so much of the burden.”

Nearly one million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease. Much of the financial and emotional burden of Parkinson’s falls heavily on caregivers, many of whom are a loved one of the patient. As the disease progresses, caregivers begin to face significant responsibilities and challenges—their loved one may have substantial mobility impairments, difficulty eating and dressing, and trouble with communication. Through the Legacy Caregiver Support Program, Barrow Parkinson’s specialists will be able to provide caregivers with additional resources to handle the mental and emotional toll living with the disease takes. They will also be able to track and measure their success with the program, enabling Barrow to take this model of care to a national level.

“As patients reach the advanced stages of Parkinson’s, the burden on caregivers grows exponentially. I can personally attest to this as Muhammad Ali’s wife and caregiver throughout his battle with Parkinson’s,” said Lonnie Ali. “With the support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Barrow can now provide the loved ones of advanced Parkinson’s patients with the respite they so desperately need to take care of their own physical and emotional health.”

By implementing comprehensive interventions to reduce caregiver burden, the Legacy Caregiver Support Program will improve the quality of life of both patients and their loved ones. In addition to strengthening existing support services, which include educational workshops, virtual recreation classes, support groups, and Hispanic outreach, the Legacy Caregiver Support Program will develop and implement Movement Cafes. These allow caregivers to receive much-needed respite by participating in support groups and interacting with others in similar situations while their loved one engages in safe, stimulating activities and physical therapy. The Movement Cafes will be in the East Valley, West Valley, and Central Phoenix, and pilot programs for Legacy Care patients are set to begin in early 2024. The Program will also take steps to better understand and address the needs of caregivers by developing a Legacy Caregiver Support Program needs survey, as well as an online caregiver training series for both care professionals in the community and patients’ loved ones.

“We know burnout is a reality for thousands of Americans caring for their loved ones with Parkinson’s,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “We’re honored to partner with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center to create a new program where caregivers are afforded a moment of respite and an opportunity to tend to their own personal needs.”

“This next phase of the Lonnie and Muhammad Ali Legacy Care Program will allow Barrow to not only provide advanced care for Parkinson’s patients, but also critical support services to their caregivers and loved ones,” said Katie Cobb, President of Barrow Neurological Foundation. “We are grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for helping Barrow continue its legacy of offering comprehensive, world-class care.”

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute is the nation’s most comprehensive center for Parkinson’s disease and the only Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence in the Southwest. In 2022, the Center celebrated the 25^th anniversary of its naming by Muhammad Ali. The addition of the Legacy Caregiver Support Program to the Lonnie and Muhammad Ali Legacy Care Program marks another significant step in the fight to change the care and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Semper Fi & America’s Fund Raises $24.4 Million for Military Families With Support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG.

For the 11th consecutive year, Semper Fi & America’s Fund (The Fund) partnered with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG for the “Double Down for Veterans Campaign,” raising a total of $24,402,000, including a $10 million match from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

This year marked the highest amount raised in the campaign’s history. At a time when our veterans are faced with increased food insecurities and an increase in basic needs, our generous donors stepped up to ensure The Fund can continue its work in the coming year.

This matching campaign provides critical funding in keeping with The Fund’s promise to remain always faithful to the nation’s military families facing a lifetime of recovery.

Since 2012, Semper Fi & America’s Fund has partnered with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support The Fund’s core mission of assisting critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Including this year’s campaign, the Double Down for Veterans Campaign has now raised $193 million.

“Renee and I are grateful to all those who rose to the challenge and joined us in this year’s Double Down for Veterans Campaign,” said Bob Parsons, U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran, PXG founder, and co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “The outpouring of support for The Fund honors the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great nation, offering them hope during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”

The annual match allows The Fund to continue the extraordinary work of meeting vital needs for food insecurity, adaptive housing and transportation, suicide and homelessness prevention and intervention, respite care, and many other quality-of-life solutions for our nation’s heroes post-injury or illness.

At a time when only 1% of Americans wear the cloth of the nation, the men and women served by The Fund raised their hands and said, “Send me.” By their service and sacrifice, they have ensured the world is safer, the torch of liberty burns brighter, and the American people remain free. The Fund, and the many thousands who support it, helps make certain the well-being of these same men and women — who face long recoveries from service-related critical and catastrophic injuries or illness — by letting them know they are never alone or forgotten during their recovery.

“This year, our Double Down for Veterans Campaign focused on the importance of family,” said Karen Guenther, president, CEO, and founder of Semper Fi & America’s Fund. “The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG are an important part of our Fund family. Their generous support keeps our mission strong and ready for our nation’s heroes. Bob and Renee’s unwavering commitment to our cause will impact thousands of service members, veterans, and military families.”

“At a time of year when family and giving are both top of mind, it’s heartening to see so many donors open their hearts to our nation’s heroes,” said Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Our injured and ill veterans and military families deserve nothing short of the care, connection, and lifetime of support so uniquely provided by The Fund.”

The Fund began in 2003 when a small group of military spouses immediately jumped in to provide bedside support to combat-wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, The Fund has provided $295 million in assistance to 29,000 service members, veterans, and military families through their three main programs: Service Member and Family Support, Transition, and Integrative Wellness. Learn more at: https://thefund.org.

Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona Receives $350K from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Support Single Moms.

The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) has received a $350,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The gift will be used to support statewide expansion of Pathways for Single Moms, an innovative program that gives single mothers the resources and support they need to pursue higher education, forge a better career path, and secure a livable wage for themselves and their families.

In Arizona, there are more than 70,000 full-time working, single mothers who lack a college degree. Even when working full-time, single mothers are likely to be in or near poverty and without a path to further education, these mothers cannot increase their earning potential. According to the Arizona 2022 Self-Sufficiency Standard, it is estimated that a single mother in Maricopa County with one school-aged child must make $51,519 to meet basic needs such as housing, childcare, and food. However, research shows that single mothers of young children have an annual median wage of $30,000. Without additional support, these families don’t have a way forward.

“We don’t want mothers to have to choose between putting food on the table and childcare,” said Bob Parsons, Co-founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Pathways for Single Moms is giving single moms tools to become financially independent and bring their families out of poverty.”

Pathways for Single Moms helps low-income single mothers change the trajectory of their lives. They can become economically self-sufficient through a variety of educational and economic opportunities, including a one-year certificate program in one of many growing STEM fields such as construction technology, healthcare, entrepreneurial studies or IT, that pay sustainable wages. Pathways for Single Moms also covers the cost of tuition, childcare, and more – removing the common barriers women face when going back to school.

Launched in 2020 by WFSA, Pathways for Single Moms recently received state funding to scale its work across Arizona in partnership with nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

“We believe everyone deserves a chance to succeed,” said Renee Parsons, Co-founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Pathways for Single Moms is helping women address ongoing challenges and overcome systemic barriers at a critical time in their lives. The program helps women build confidence, secure a significantly higher paying job, and learn skills to move forward in their careers.”

“Bob & Renee Parsons and their foundation’s investment in moms and their families throughout Arizona speaks volumes about their understanding of and dedication to solving the complex challenges our communities face,” says Dr. Amalia Luxardo, WFSA CEO. “Emerging from over two years of a pandemic, the mothers we serve in this program understand better than most that being an ‘essential worker’ does not pay a living wage. Add to it the highest inflation our generation has seen, particularly in Arizona, which is the highest in the nation, this funding could not have come at a more critical time. The generous gift from the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will help us meet the gaps while expanding this critical program statewide.”

This funding has been generously matched by Women Moving Millions, a nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of women and girls. Renee Parsons is a member of Women Moving Millions.

To learn more about Pathways for Single Moms, visit womengiving.org/pathways.

Read Better Be Better® Receives $250,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

Funds Will Help Expand Afterschool Reading Program to 22 New Elementary Schools at a Time When Students Need Extra Support More than Ever

A Phoenix-based nonprofit, Read Better Be Better (RBBB) was awarded a $250,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for its afterschool reading comprehension program. The funds will allow RBBB to expand to four new elementary school districts: Roosevelt, Liberty, Peoria, and Tempe; reaching 22 additional schools, 1,408 new readers and leaders for a total of 4,190 students.

“Strong literacy skills can set students on a path of lifelong learning and success,” said Renee Parsons, Co-founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “RBBB’s program not only improves reading for 3^rd grade students, but it also creates a community of future leaders and changemakers among middle schoolers. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!”

RBBB connects young Readers and youth Leaders to inspire a love of literacy and learning. Through twice-weekly afterschool sessions, middle school “Leaders” develop stronger leadership skills while assisting their elementary-aged “Readers” in developing stronger literacy skills. On average, RBBB Readers improve 20% more than nonparticipating students on standardized reading comprehension tests.

“As these middle schoolers emerge from several years of social isolation and trauma, I am filled with hope and joy to see them commit to helping rebuild and strengthen their communities,” said Sophie Allen-Etchart, CEO, RBBB. “These students are excited to be a part of Read Better Be Better’s literacy and leadership program. They are truly heroes, and I am so grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for recognizing in them the power to create positive change for and in all of us.”

According to 2021 AzM2 English Language Arts (ELA) statewide assessments, among students who are economically disadvantaged only 21% scored proficient. Affecting communities of color as well, only 26% of Latino students passed compared to 52% of White students. For these reasons, Read Better Be Better was founded to supplement classroom literacy instruction at Title I schools serving families experiencing poverty. Literacy is a crucial skill for success and students are four times less likely to graduate high school when not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

“Knowing how to read is essential,” said Bob Parsons, Co-founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Read Better Be Better is ensuring kids don’t fall through the cracks, preparing them with a life skill that will enrich lives and open future opportunities.

RBBB serves a 91% minority population and 80% of our students are eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program. Combating higher levels of poverty and lower levels of proficiency in education, these students are statistically more likely to drop out of high school, engage in criminal behavior, struggle with unemployment, and accrue more costly medical bills during their lifetimes. With proper reading intervention, however, there is an 89% chance that students who can read at grade level by the end of 3^rd grade will graduate from high school, irrespective of socioeconomic status.

Hushabye Nursery Kicks Off $1 Million Match Campaign to Support Infants through Detox and Recovery.

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Match Donations Dollar-for-Dollar Now through April 15, 2023

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is offering a $1 million match to support Hushabye Nursery’s inpatient detox nursery and recovery center for infants experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). The match campaign has kicked off and provides a dollar-for-dollar match for donations received through April 15, 2023.

“We’re so grateful for The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation’s on-going support,” said Tara Sundem, Hushabye Nursery Executive Director and Co-Founder. “A baby is born every 15 minutes with NAS resulting from prenatal opioid exposure. Our approach is distinctly different from a typical hospital neonatal intensive care unit. We provide a private, quiet room with dim lighting for the babies to be cared for as they go through withdrawal. We also include mom in the baby’s care and connect her with resources to support her recovery.”

Hushabye Nursery provides a therapeutic environment, short-term medical care and social services for infants suffering from NAS, along with outpatient services and resources for families experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD). NAS affects newborn babies who were exposed to opioids in the womb and requires a complex and painful detoxification process in the days following birth.

“The struggles faced by babies born exposed to opioids are heartbreaking, as are the many challenges faced by their moms,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Hushabye Nursery is providing the kindest of care. Their model is not only compassionate but proving to be more effective than current hospital standards.”

Hushabye Nursery’s innovative approach is treating substance-exposed infants in only 6-7 days, compared to an average 21 day stay in a traditional hospital.

Created by neonatal nurse practitioners, Hushabye Nursery is the only NAS nursery nationwide to integrate health care and social services based on keeping infants safe and families involved in their care and recovery. They were just named one of 10 organizations around the country for the First-Ever Behavioral Health Recovery Innovation Challenge by the Department of Health and Human Services though the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“The thought of a baby withdrawing from opioids is unimaginable, yet it is a reality that many families are facing,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Hushabye Nursery is providing hope and compassionate care, not only to newborns but to their entire family.”

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated opioid use disorder. It is estimated that in the past year one in eight children ages 17 or younger resided in a household with at least one parent who had a substance use disorder (SUD). Since starting in 2020, Hushabye Nursey has cared for over 350 babies and will be celebrating its 2^nd Birthday on Nov. 16, 2022, at 7:30 a.m. Media is invited to attend the party at their offices, located at 3003 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix, and speak with executives from Hushabye Nursery. For more information, please visit: www.hushabyenursery.org.

“One Fund, One Family” — Eleven Years of Support Together.

Semper Fi & America’s Fund Kicks Off the Double Down for Veterans Campaign with
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG

Today, Semper Fi & America’s Fund (The Fund) and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation announced that, for the eleventh consecutive year, they have launched the Double Down for Veterans Match Campaign. From November 1^st through the end of the year, donations to The Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10 million, by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

Since 2012, Semper Fi & America’s Fund has partnered with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support The Fund’s core mission of assisting combat wounded, critically ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. These heroes become part of The Fund family—and The Fund becomes part of theirs—for life.

“Recovery from the wounds of war is often the longest battle. Even when physical wounds have healed and the body has adapted, emotional and mental trauma persists,” said Bob Parsons, Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran and Co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Semper Fi & America’s Fund is always there, providing not only financial assistance but connection when service members, veterans and their families need it most.”

Parsons issued the Double Down for Veterans challenge via a moving video address during his annual Marine Corps birthday tribute.

The Fund was started in 2003 by military spouses who immediately jumped in at the beginning of the war to provide bedside support to combat-wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, The Fund has provided $290 million in assistance to 29,000 service members, veterans, and military families. The Fund delivers individualized holistic support by highly trained and experienced case managers who establish enduring lifelong relationships with service members and their families.

“Those we serve are such an important part of our family,” said Karen Guenther, President, CEO, and Founder of Semper Fi & America’s Fund. “We want our service members, veterans, and military families to achieve the highest possible quality of life and independence. This mission would not be possible without the generosity of Bob and Renee Parsons, who continually invest in the lives of our military heroes.”

“Family is an essential part of the recovery process, no matter the injury or illness,” said Renee Parsons, Co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “The Fund’s connection and commitment to a lifetime of support creates the extended family so many of our nation’s ill and injured need and deserve. Whether suffering from a devastating physical injury or invisible wounds like PTSD, to many The Fund is nothing short of a lifeline.”

Through the generosity of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, with support from PXG, the Double Down for Veterans Campaign has raised $169 million to date. Last year alone, The Fund raised $23.6 million during the Match campaign.

Donations to the Double Down for Veterans Match Campaign can be made online from November 1^st until December 31^st, 2022, by visiting www.TheFund.org/Match, or via check, equities, donor-advised funds, or other donation methods. Keep up to date on the campaign’s progress and learn more about those benefiting from the work of The Fund by visiting their website and social media channels.

Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Awarded $2.25 Million Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

Investment to Support the Expansion of Outdoor Programming Throughout the Year

Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) has been awarded a $2.25 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support GSACPC’s initiative to expand outdoor programming throughout the year. While GSACPC has consistently provided outdoor summer programming at its multiple camp properties across northern and central Arizona, the organization’s three-year expansion plan will put an emphasis on leveraging these campsites and providing enhanced outdoor adventure opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout the year. This generous investment marks more than $10 million in total support that The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has invested in local girls in the past 10 years alone.

“Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council continues to think outside the box and create innovative programs that young women need,” said Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “We believe in supporting the outdoor programming because we know it will help young women build self-confidence, improve overall well-being and become better leaders.”

“As girls and families continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this investment from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will allow us to grow and serve more girls in the outdoors. We are grateful for their continued belief in our mission and how we help to build girls of courage, confidence and character,” says Christina Spicer, co-CEO of GSACPC. “From swimming to hiking to horse-riding, year-round outdoor programming provides Girl Scouts with limitless possibilities to explore and build the Girl Scout sisterhood.”

With five camp properties across northern and central Arizona totaling about 330 acres, these properties offer unique facilities and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures and fun, no matter the season or environment. Located in some of the most beautiful forests, mountains, and deserts Arizona has to offer, Girl Scouts are encouraged to explore nature through canoeing, paddle boarding, mountain biking, creek walking, zip lining and more.

These camp properties and facilities include:

Camp Maripai, an 80-acre camp just outside of Prescott, offers specialized equine programs, an archery field and nature trails in addition to rustic cabins, fire-pits and covered program ramadas.
Shadow Rim Ranch in Payson is in the shadow of the Mogollon Rim in the Tonto National Forest and boasts a climbing tower, zip line and even a “pake” (too big to be a pond and too little to be a lake!) for canoeing. Shadow Rim Ranch facilities include multi-use buildings, a ramada and four cabin units.
Willow Springs Program Center located in Prescott’s National Forest contains hiking trails and ropes courses with facilities that include multi-use buildings, dormitories, tent units and a sports field.
Camp Stephens near Kingman provides opportunities for primitive outdoor experiences through its mountainous terrain full of boulder fields, pine, walnut and oak trees and a wide variety of wildlife with facilities such as a program deck campfire area complete with bench seating.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain is a desert oasis in the heart of Phoenix featuring two pools, an archery and slingshot range, a field for sports and games and the recent additions of a climbing tower, bouldering wall and zip line.

“Our desire to improve girls’ access to the outdoors goes far beyond a Girl Scout tradition and brand promise—it is a social justice issue. GSACPC serves girls from every economic, racial, ethnic, and religious background, and girls of all abilities. Half of our current members come from households with incomes below $68,000 for a family of four, falling below the self-sufficiency line,” says Mary Mitchell, co-CEO of GSACPC. “As an organization founded on inclusivity, we want to use our programs to help girls have outdoor experiences, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to spend time in nature.

“Nature has a way of centering and easing the mind. For me, this happens on the golf course; for others, it happens on the hiking trail,” said Bob Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “By making campsites available year-round, Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine is ensuring girls from all backgrounds have greater access to Arizona’s beautiful outdoors, along with its many benefits.”

This donation comes as The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain celebrates its five-year anniversary. Opened in 2017, The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women is an $18 million year-round urban program center with camp appeal, and fully ADA accessible. The decision to transform the then-70-year-old camp, which is located on 14.5 acres in the South Mountain community at 1611 E. Dobbins Road in Phoenix, into a leadership center emerged from GSACPC’s decision to expand its capacity to serve more girls, especially underserved populations, and better serve its existing members, of whom 85% live in the metro-Phoenix area. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation made a donation of $5 million – the largest in the history of Girl Scouts of the USA at the time – during GSACPC’s Campaign for Girls in Arizona to help make the center a reality.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, Terros Health Team Up With Public and Private Partners to Provide Free Behavioral Health Services to Valley Youth.

Whole Child Approach Program To Alleviate Pandemic-Induced Social and Emotional Stress

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Terros Health will provide free behavioral health services to youth at a time when they need it most, thanks to a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Education and three Arizona-based private foundations – The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

The “Whole Child Approach” Program will help alleviate social and emotional stress among children and teens between the ages of 5-18 in Boys & Girls Clubs in Maricopa and Pinal counties who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

“Our Club members face so many barriers to accessing much-needed behavioral health services including transportation, financial and cultural stigma challenges. Bringing these services right into the Clubs, where we can use proven prevention and intervention services, will help thousands of youth who need it most,” said Marcia Mintz, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.

Mintz said the three-year pilot program will serve youth in primarily under-represented communities, as well as students at risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system or with an incarcerated parent. Additional emphasis will be placed on those under the supervision of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

The Whole Child Approach program is made possible through a visionary public-private partnership led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley. The $9 million total program cost is being partially funded by a $3 million grant from the Arizona Department of Education as part of the American Rescue Plan. The additional $6 million will come from investments from the three philanthropic foundations.

“The Arizona Department of Education is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Club of the Valley on this innovative public-private behavioral health partnership,” said Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman. “We know helping our state’s students recover from the pandemic will take a whole-community effort, one that Boys & Girls Clubs are well-prepared to support. Organizations like Boys & Girls Club and their philanthropic partners are deeply embedded and trusted in the communities they serve, making them excellent partners in our state’s recovery efforts,” Kathy Hoffman, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Department of Education.

“Bringing together funders from the State and local foundations at this scale is nearly unprecedented,” said Mintz of the partnership, “and a testament to our partners’ enduring commitment to youth in our community.” This program builds on the success of another pilot partnership with Bayless Health, funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Chandler Compadres. The effect of having Wellness Coaches in the Clubs improved Club climate, staff morale and safety, and had a positive impact on youth and teens. This expanded program will bring true behavioral health into Clubs daily.

Beginning this fall, Terros Health will embed behavioral health coaches into 10 of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s clubs. Each year, the program will expand until it’s running in all 30 Clubs. Terros staff members will work to assess the mental and physical health of children and youth. This will be accomplished through interaction with their peers, age-appropriate games, and other activities that promote recovery and teach youth developmental skills that reinforce their success in school, work and life using evidence-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula.

“This is a way to identify the challenges our kids are experiencing without judgment or stigma,” said Dr. Karen Tepper, president and CEO of Terros Health. The behavioral health specialists will use a variety of therapeutic interventions, including mindfulness activities to help kids manage their emotions, along with art therapy and life skills training. The team will recommend additional treatment for youth, as needed. “The idea is to fill in the gaps for mental health services and improve access to treatment.”

“Renee and I believe that breaking down barriers and helping change the conversation around mental health is absolutely essential,” said Bob Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Today, kids need hope and an easier way to access help. That’s why this Boys & Girls Club program, which brings care directly to kids through everyday activities, is a game-changer.”

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation stepped up first as a partner for this large-scale mental health program. Reaching youth and teens in a familiar setting, without taking them from school or putting them in a clinical setting, is one unique aspect of the Whole Child Approach.

“Mental illness is unrelenting, deceptive, and convincing. Our youth are fraught and it is absolutely imperative that we come together as a community to support and strengthen their mental health and well-being,” said Mary Jane Rynd, president and CEO of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. “The lasting effects of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences not only impact mental and physical health, but also educational outcomes, economic stability, and generational health and welfare. This comprehensive partnership between Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley and Terros Health is exactly the type of ‘meet them where they are’ approach that must be implemented with urgency.”

Tom Egan, Executive Director of the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation explained their investment, “The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation focuses on addressing the imperatives around education and health services. We are proud to invest in this important public-private partnership, especially at a time when we know that so many young people are struggling with mental health challenges. Providing easier access to services on a regular basis will improve the climate of Clubs and the outcomes for youth who, in the past, would not have had access to these needed services.”

Nationally and locally, there has been a surge in depression, anxiety, substance use, and thoughts of suicide among youth. The problem became so acute that the U.S. Surgeon General issued a rare public health advisory last December.

In its 2021 State of Mental Health in America report, Mental Health America noted that youth between the ages of 11 and 17 were more likely than any other age group to experience moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. The report also found that nationwide, 60% of youth with depression do not receive mental health treatment, even in states with the greatest access to care.

Arizona ranks nearly last (49^th) in the nation for high prevalence of mental illness and a severe lack of access to behavioral health care for youth.

In addition:

Arizona ranks fourth in the nation in the school dropout rate, based on data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Based on the Arizona Department of Health Services’ 2021 Adverse Childhood Experiences in Arizona report, Arizona had a higher prevalence of ACEs in all nine ACEs assessed in the National Survey on Children’s Health (NSCH) compared to the national prevalence. Arizona children on average have higher ACE scores than the national average with 21.9% of Arizona children having experienced two or more ACEs. The national average is 18.6%.

One in three Arizona households has experienced food insecurity since the pandemic began, according to an Arizona State University study in 2020.

Arizona lags the rest of the nation in affordable housing. A 2020 point-in-time homeless count in Maricopa County revealed that 16% of the affected population were children between the ages of 0-17.

Child abuse calls in Arizona are up 10% compared to this time last year, according to the Arizona Department of Child Safety. The agency reported 22,265 cases of child abuse and neglect from January to June 2021, resulting in 14,461 placements into out-of-home care.

In tracking the nearly 13,000 youth between the ages of 5 and 18 served in 2020, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley found that 54% lived in a single-parent home, 56% participated in the National School Lunch Program to receive free or a reduced-cost meal, and 9% were either homeless or living in unsecure housing situations. Just over 10% of these families and youth reported experiencing mental health challenges but did not have private or other insurance to cover the cost of care.

“COVID-19 took a grave toll on our youth and their families,” Mintz said. “Our Whole Child Approach Program is designed with these individuals in mind – to help them on a path to total well-being.”