The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Invests $120,000 In Boys & Girls Club Scholarship Recipients By Funding A New Staff Position To Support Students Across Phoenix And Scottsdale Clubs.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix (BGCMP) has been awarded a $120,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to establish a full-time College Access and Success Manager. The new position will benefit both Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (BGCS) by managing the multiple scholarships available to Club youth and providing direct support to scholarship recipients throughout their college career.
“Education plays a key role in shaping a person’s future,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “This collaborative position will help the Boys & Girls Clubs provide scholarship students with the structure and support they need to be successful in their pursuit of higher education.”
Over the past few years, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation – and a number of other organizations and individuals – have provided scholarship funding for Club members. Many of the scholarship recipients come from families living at or below the poverty level, and a large majority of them are the first in their family to pursue higher education. Students in these situations often lack the support system to help them navigate the college experience and too often scholarships go unused because the student is overwhelmed or doesn’t know where to turn for help.
“Attending college or getting post-secondary training is one of the best ways for teens to break the cycle of familial poverty, but these students encounter challenges at home and at school that their counterparts may not face,” said Marcia Mintz, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix. “Our students worked very hard in high school to graduate and earn a scholarship. Thanks to the grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, we will now be able to continue to support our scholarship students as they navigate the world of higher education.”
The Success Manager will support nearly two dozen clubs across Phoenix and Greater Scottsdale, teaching scholarship recipients how to prepare for college, set up a bank account, manage their financial aid and scholarship funds, and fulfill their academic scholarship requirements. Because the vast majority of the youth in this program will be first-generation college students, the Success Manager also will serve as their support system to answer questions and provide ongoing encouragement and reassurance as they work toward a degree.
“Having someone in their corner who can help navigate both the financial and academic challenges of college will give Boys & Girls Club youth a much greater chance at success,” said businesswoman Renee Parsons. “The results will benefit not only the scholarship recipient but their entire family by helping first-generation and lower-income students accomplish lasting success.”
Longtime advocates for the Boys & Girls Club, this recent grant brings The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation’s total support – across both Metro Phoenix and Greater Scottsdale clubs – to more than $9 million, including many Youth of the Year scholarships.
“Teens like Kyla Silas, our 2017 Youth of the Year and first-generation college student, often feel like their dreams are not possible as they begin to explore the cost of higher education,” said Robyn Julien, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. “Because of the support from donors like the Parsons, and with guidance through the scholarship funding process, our youth realize that they are capable of achieving their dreams, even with all the changes and added responsibilities that go along with attending college.”
Research has shown that the more time youth spend at a Boys & Girls Club, the more connection they feel to school and the greater their post-secondary aspirations become. Thousands of youth walk through the door of a Boys & Girls Club every day, where they are prepared to become 21st century leaders, globally competitive graduates, innovative dream makers and healthy game changers. To learn more visit: https://www.bgca.org/.
Innovation Will Speed The Move From Homelessness To Housing.
New Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Will Aid Powerful Re-housing Program
UMOM New Day Centers – Arizona’s innovative leader in shelter, affordable housing and support services for families, single women and youth experiencing homelessness has created an innovative new approach to facilitate rapid re-housing. Rapid re-housing is an intervention designed to help individuals and families to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing.
Funded by a $1.1 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the new program will provide greater support to families emerging from homelessness by placing them into housing at a much quicker pace than previous programs. Considered one of the most powerful interventions in the movement to end homelessness, the new approach is expected to create a 40 percent reduction in the time between homelessness and permanent housing, along with a reduction in program costs of approximately $1,000 per family.
“Tackling homelessness is about more than putting a roof over someone’s head. It’s about addressing the underlying cause and working towards a sustainable solution,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “UMOM’s rapid re-housing program will be able to cut through some of the red tape to get people back on their feet, productive and into a stable home as quickly as possible.”
Over the past several years, rapid re-housing has been recognized as one of the most effective interventions for families experiencing homelessness. Research suggests rapid re-housing shortens the time a family spends in homelessness and is cost-effective not only because it reduces time in an emergency shelter, but also frees up shelter beds to serve additional families. At the same time, families and individuals will receive support services such as child care, transportation and vocational training while avoiding restrictions in federal funding that can significantly slow the process.
“Right now, our success with rapid re-housing is at about 75 percent, meaning 75 percent of the families we help are able to secure an apartment and maintain their housing stability when they exit the program. This incredible grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will allow us to increase that number to 85 percent or higher,” said UMOM CEO Darlene Newsom. “We also believe we will be at the forefront of a national movement to increase the number of families who exit homelessness to permanent, stable housing.”
Once in housing, many families still need additional services including help training for and finding a job, childcare during work hours and transportation to and from work. Federal grants typically come with restrictions that will not allow funding to be used for those purposes. Privately funded rapid re-housing programs are not subject to those restrictions, making it easier to connect families with services.
“Having a place to call home is something many of us take for granted. A home means stability, protection and freedom. It means hope,” said businesswomen Renee Parsons. “By combining private donations with government support, UMOM is better able to create housing programs that give people the help they need to rebuild their lives and the hope for a better future.”
UMOM’s new, privately-funded rapid re-housing pilot program will be implemented over the next two years. The program will operate under UMOM’s mission to prevent and end homelessness with innovative strategies and housing solutions that meet the unique needs of each family and individual. To learn more, visit umom.org.
Governor Doug Ducey Announces a $3.6m Grant to The 100 Club Of Arizona.
At a press conference held May 8 at the Arizona State Capitol, Governor Doug Ducey announced that The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has issued a grant for up to $3.6M to The 100 Club of Arizona. The funds will help further the organization’s mission of supporting first responders and their families who have experienced trauma and loss in the line of duty.
“Our first responders put their physical and mental health at risk every day,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “This grant will not only help them heal from catastrophic injuries and illnesses, but will provide additional support for those coping with PTSD and other challenges.”
Specifically, the grant will provide additional funding over a three-year period to the following 100 Club of Arizona programs:
- The Safety Enhancement Stipend – This program allows public safety agencies statewide to apply for financial assistance to purchase equipment and supplies that further the safety of their members.
- Peer 100 – The Peer 100 Program connects first responders with mental health and wellness services, specifically for coping with PTSD and other hazards of the job.
- H.E.R.O.S. Program – When first responders encounter a life-altering situation, such as cancer, a terminal illness or death, The 100 Club of Arizona steps in to offer financial support.
- The grant will also help The 100 Club of Arizona establish The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Assistance Fund – The money from this program will provide additional and much needed assistance to officers and firefighters who experience a catastrophic injury in the line of duty.
“The men and women who serve our community each day deserve our respect and support,” said Renee Parsons. “Bob and I are proud to partner with the 100 Club to offer increased safety equipment, mental health services and financial aid to first responders and their families.”
Established in 1986, The 100 Club of Arizona provides much needed support to public safety agencies, their members and families statewide. Today, services have expanded beyond financial assistance to include funding for enhanced safety equipment, confidential mental health services and scholarships.
“This donation from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Angela Harrolle, CEO and President of The 100 Club. “Their support and generous financial contribution will make a significant difference in the lives of Arizona’s first responders and their families. We are filled with gratitude.”
To learn more about the 100 Club or how you can get involved, visit 100club.org.
Renee Parsons Honored With Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award At Celebrity Fight Night 2019.
Recently, stars and athletes from around the country gathered in Phoenix to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Celebrity Fight Night and those recognized by the annual Humanitarian Awards. This year’s honors were presented to Quincy Jones, Dr. Abraham Lieberman, Michael Crow and Renee Parsons.
During the event, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation pledged $250,000 to support caregiver programs at Barrow to assist families of patients facing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lewy Body dementia. In total, Celebrity Fight Night 25 raised more than $1 million for Barrow’s innovative caregiver programs.
Junior Achievement Receives Funding from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Prepare Low-Income Arizona Students to Succeed in Work and Life.
$300,000 grant enables local nonprofit to provide critical money management and work-readiness education to 2,500 low-income Arizona students
Local nonprofit Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) received a $300,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to expand in-class curriculum and BizTown programming in low-income public schools. Devoted to teaching students work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, JA serves an average of 83,000 Arizona youth each year, with nearly 60 percent coming from low-income households.
The funding will enable an additional 2,500 students the opportunity to participate in JA education through the organization’s signature programs. JA BizTown is an experiential, simulation-based curriculum that offers fourth through sixth-grade students the opportunity to work in a child-sized economy and gain a sense of adulthood. In JA’s in-classroom programs, volunteers deliver engaging, activity-based financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship education during the school day.
JA is filling a critical gap for today’s students that receive limited real-world education in school, particularly when it comes to money management and career-readiness. This need is even more pressing for low-income students, as many of their adult influences may not have the education or background to teach financial and career skills outside of the classroom. JA provides this important education to kindergarten through high-school-aged students using a volunteer-led delivery model executed through partnerships with 400 schools, nearly 3,000 educators and more than 8,000 programmatic volunteers.
“We are honored to have such an esteemed organization as The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation partner in our mission to prepare Arizona youth to succeed in work and life. This investment will give thousands more students the opportunity to gain the life skills and confidence that come with participation in JA programs,” said Katherine Cecala, president of Junior Achievement of Arizona. “We are equally proud to count Mrs. Parsons among our Junior Achievement alumni.”
A businesswoman and philanthropist, Renee Parsons participated in, and benefitted from, JA programs as a student in Michigan. She received similar financial literacy, work-readiness and entrepreneurship training as the youth benefitting from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation support today.
“As a former Junior Achievement participant, I know firsthand how valuable these programs are for students,” said Renee Parsons. “Junior Achievement was a fun and informative way to learn how businesses operate and an introduction to basic accounting practices. We learned how to look at a business from the beginning: creating a product, selling it and keeping the books.”
The nonprofit’s mission aligns well with that of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which has a large focus on youth initiatives and places a high value on reaching low-income students through enhanced education. JA relies almost entirely on the support of community partners, individuals and local businesses to funds its programs each year.
“Junior Achievement provides students with firsthand experience of what business entails on a level they can understand, actively participate and see the results of their efforts,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “What is learned in this process readies them to begin thinking about one day having businesses of their own – both large and small. It’s on these new businesses that the foundation of our great country is built, and which makes the USA the world’s economic powerhouse.”
JA’s programs have a significant positive impact on students. Youth who receive JA programming are more likely to graduate high school, are 33 percent more likely to graduate college and 67 percent more likely to receive an advanced degree. Additionally, research shows that JA alumni earn 20 percent more in their careers, are more likely to start a business and demonstrate higher critical thinking skills, when compared to the general population. To learn more about getting involved in JA, visit jaaz.org.
Local First Arizona Foundation Receives Funding from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Train Latino Small Business Owners.
Local First Arizona Foundation has received a $25,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The funding will underwrite the cost of 12 micro-entrepreneurs to enroll in one of Local First’s programs, the Fuerza Local Business Accelerator.
Fuerza Local was created as a direct response to the influx of predatory lenders who target low-income Latinos who often lack financial literacy and resources. The six-month business accelerator program is offered free-of-charge to underserved Latino business owners across Greater Phoenix. The curriculum teaches entrepreneurs the fundamentals to launch or develop their business while they build a solid credit score. This opens avenues for them to access the capital they need to grow their businesses. Lessons on topics such as accounting, cash flow projections, marketing and business planning are taught entirely in Spanish by bilingual industry professionals, giving participants the opportunity to learn from some of the best and most experienced business owners in the Valley.
“We are thrilled The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is investing in this talented group of entrepreneurs,” said Kimber Lanning, executive director of Local First Arizona Foundation. “The number one change reported by past graduates is their new ability to save for their childrens’ futures, meaning we are moving the needle on ending chronic urban poverty. We look forward to watching these graduates build successful Arizona businesses.”
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation places a high value on reaching underserved and marginalized populations through its six areas of focus, two of which are education and the American Dream. The Fuerza Local program is one of Local First’s many programs created to address these areas by supporting underserved populations and growing entrepreneurs, which ultimately builds stronger economies.
Local First connects underserved entrepreneurs to opportunities in an effort to improve their success rates. Investing in underserved communities through entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for building self-reliance and community wealth. These programs have created jobs, expanded businesses and reduced the reliance on social services. Since 2016, the 304 Fuerza Local graduates have generated more than $14 million in new gross sales, created 536 new jobs and contributed significant gains in tax revenue for Arizona’s economy. To learn more, visit localfirstazfoundation.org.
Semper Fi Fund And The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Raise $20 Million In Double Down For Veterans Matching Challenge.
Nation’s Top-Rated Veteran’s Charity Shatters Fundraising Goal in Effort
to Help Wounded, Critically Ill and Catastrophically Injured Service Members
The Semper Fi Fund is thrilled to announce that its year-end Double Down for Veterans fundraising campaign has raised more than $20 million – which includes a $10 million match from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Foundation has matched donations to the Semper Fi Fund and raises the Foundation’s cumulative total of donations to the Fund since 2012 to $51.2 million.
“Our partnership with the Semper Fi Fund is very important to me personally and I would like to congratulate everyone who made this campaign a success,” said businessman and Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran Bob Parsons. “The programs enabled by this funding will not only provide military families with the help they need during their loved ones’ healing process, they also help ensure injured veterans a successful transition back into civilian life.”
The Semper Fi Fund programs that will benefit from the success of the Double Down for Veterans campaign:
Service Member and Family Support Program: A comprehensive set of interrelated areas of assistance developed to improve the lives of wounded veterans and address the unique needs of their immediate families from injury through recovery.
Transition Program: Assistance with education, apprenticeship, career development, peer support and more that delivers critical tools and skills and makes it easier for wounded service members to achieve independence and start new and productive lives.
Integrative Wellness Program: Assistance that embodies a holistic approach to improve body, mind and spirit, focusing on the long-term health of the whole person by offering helpful programs and useful information to meet the specific needs of the individual.
“I am deeply grateful to Bob and Renee Parsons for their amazing partnership in our mission to serve those who have sacrificed so much on behalf of us all,” said Semper Fi Fund President, CEO and Founder Karen Guenther. “The positive impact that their generosity and support will have on our nation’s service members and their families, the lives that will be touched and improved, is immeasurable.”
In July 2018, the Fund announced a new pilot program bearing the GoDaddy founder’s name. The LCpl Parsons Welcome Home Fund for Vietnam Veterans will care for catastrophically injured veterans from all U.S. service branches who suffered their injuries as the result of combat operations in Vietnam. The program is designed to provide transportation, housing and medical care grants to veterans living with blindness, paralysis, amputation, burns over 50 percent of their body, severe traumatic brain injury and life-threatening illness due to Agent Orange exposure.
“The tremendous reaction we see from the public each year on this campaign is inspiring,” said businesswoman Renee Parsons. “While there are many worthwhile organizations that need support, we know that a contribution to the Semper Fi Fund is one of the best investments we can make toward helping our service members and their families.”
Additional information about the Semper Fi Fund can be found at the organization’s website: SemperFiFund.org.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Gives $200,000 to Child Crisis Arizona to Build Head Start Classrooms in Mesa.
Program Addresses Need for Continuous Education for Young Children in Low-Income Families
Child Crisis Arizona has expanded its Early Education Services, in partnership with Maricopa County Head Start, due in part to a $200,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The gift, along with a grant from Thunderbirds Charities, helped enabled Child Crisis Arizona to remodel a 4,300-square-foot space in its Mesa facility, creating two additional classrooms, child-size bathrooms and staff offices. Previously, the organization’s Early Head Start programming provided services only to children ages 1 to 3 years old and the expansion filled the gap between this class and kindergarten, working with children ages 4 to 5.
“When children are introduced to quality education services at a young age they are more likely to excel in school and life,” said businesswoman Renee Parsons. “Child Crisis Arizona is truly giving these children a head start on a bright future.”
Head Start and Early Head Start programs are designed to help increase school readiness in children from low-income families. Services are designed to support the mental, social, physical and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. Participants in Child Crisis Arizona’s Early Head Start program have demonstrated a measurable, positive difference in achievement. Allowing children to continue their education in a Head Start program will help better prepare them for success as they enter kindergarten.
“Education is key to a better life,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “Providing education to children early, especially those in underserved populations, has a huge impact on their chances for success and ultimately better job opportunities as adults.”
Since 2012, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has provided more than $2.13 million to Child Crisis Arizona, and this most recent show of support comes at a time when the need could not be more critical. A recent study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that Mesa has experienced a 200 percent growth in the number of children living in poverty and the additional funding will allow Child Crisis Arizona to serve even more vulnerable families in this community.
“Thanks to this grant we are able to expand our education programs and provide valuable services to families, many of whom lack access to quality early childhood education or other parenting resources,” said Child Crisis Arizona Chief Executive Officer Torrie Taj. “Having the support of philanthropic leaders like Bob and Renee Parsons means that we are able to work toward our vision of safe kids…strong families.”
The facility remodel included construction of a new playground that was completed thanks to support by Niagara Bottling Company (Niagara Cares) and the Giles W.& Elise G. Mead Foundation. In addition to the Head Start programs, Child Crisis Arizona hosts parent education classes, community workshops and various family activities. To learn more visit ChildCrisisAZ.org.
Project Sanctuary Receives $100,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Project Sanctuary received a $100,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to give hope to military and veteran families facing unique challenges. Offered in seven states and serving families across the U.S., Project Sanctuary provides free, week-long therapeutic retreats to families dealing with mental health issues, critical financial instability, marital discord or a volatile home life. In addition to the evidence-based programs offered in the retreat setting, Project Sanctuary continues to support families with ongoing counseling, job placement assistance and emergency financial support, as needed.
“Very few Americans have any idea how much military families sacrifice, often suffering in silence,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “Beyond the challenges of deployment and relocation, these neglected families endure hardships that other families simply don’t experience, including inadequate pay and housing, zero or inadequate childcare, unimaginable isolation, loneliness and hopelessness. They deserve better. Whether it’s help with financial concerns, spousal employment or even family counseling, Project Sanctuary is a first step in reestablishing hope for our military families by providing practical assistance and rebuilding critical bonds necessary for families to both reconnect and thrive.”
Project Sanctuary offers a three-step program that assesses a family’s needs, allows the family members to reconnect during week-long retreats and provides ongoing support. To date, the organization has assisted more than 1,200 military families nationwide and there are an additional 2,400 on its wait list. The grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will provide operational support, extending the organization’s reach to even more families.
“We pride ourselves on adapting to what military families need most to heal and thrive, but to do that, we need the help of forward-thinking organizations like The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation,” said Project Sanctuary CEO Heather Ehle. “Their generous support, coming at this critical time of growth, will enable us to expand the level of care we’re able to offer military families without losing the high quality of service our families have come to expect and deserve from us.”
In 2019, Project Sanctuary will pilot shorter, follow-up retreats for graduate families to more easily connect them to services for mental healthcare, financial assistance and more. Also new in 2019, referrals to these services and emergency financial relief will be made available to families on Project Sanctuary’s wait list.
“Project Sanctuary is one of the few organizations focused on strengthening the family unit and addressing the stresses of military life on teens and children,” said businesswoman Renee Parsons. “The mental anguish, financial challenges and other hardships impacting military families require our greater understanding and support.”
Project Sanctuary supports families during the stressful times of deployment, transition and reintegration through an evidence-based approach that combines coursework, counseling and recreational activities. In 2019, Project Sanctuary will host 30 therapeutic retreats in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina and Texas, and will provide additional pre-retreat support and crisis intervention to hundreds of families on the wait list. To learn more, visit projectsanctuary.us.
HonorHealth to Advance Heart and Vascular Services With Funding From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has issued a $500,000 matching grant to aid HonorHealth in its expansion of the heart and vascular services offered at the HonorHealth Shea Medical Center. The new Bob & Renee Parsons Coronary and Structural Heart Lab will provide patients with access to innovative procedures and the most advanced technology available. The updates will also support HonorHealth’s industry-leading research efforts and further demonstrate the organization’s leadership in providing breakthrough cardiovascular therapies. The dollar-for-dollar match will run through March 31, 2019.
“Nationally, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and nearly one third of our hospital patients are touched by cardiac issues,” said Jared Langkilde, HonorHealth Foundation President. “The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is providing critical support to help ensure patients in our community benefit from the latest in medical and technological advances.”
HonorHealth has been strategically enhancing and growing its heart and vascular services. The Bob & Renee Parsons Coronary and Structural Heart Lab will set the benchmark for medical imaging and increase precision for minimally invasive procedures.
“The physicians at HonorHealth, like my cardiologist Dr. David Rizik, work every day to change the lives of patients with life-threatening cardiac conditions, and they need to have the right tools for the job,” said businessman Bob Parsons. “Renee and I issued the matching grant to encourage others in the community to join us in supporting not just a cardiac lab, but the continuing health and well-being of our community.”
To be completed in early 2019, the lab will provide benefits to doctors, patients and the community at large by:
- Facilitating optimal patient care
- Expediting diagnosis and treatment
- Allowing a wider array of cardiac procedures to be performed
- Supporting research and education
- Attracting top cardiac specialists to Scottsdale
HonorHealth is an integrated, community based system of care that engages more than 3,400 expert physicians, 11,600 dedicated employees and more than 3,000 caring volunteers – all working in partnership to advance the HonorHealth mission to improve the health and well-being of those it serves. The HonorHealth cardiology team coordinates with the medical community locally, nationally and globally to participate in studies, test new devices and spread medical knowledge and expertise. To learn more, visit honorhealthfoundation.org.
