ONE Community Foundation Receives $100,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

ONE Community Foundation, an Arizona-based non-profit committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity for all, is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

“We are incredibly grateful to have the support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation in our efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable Arizona and nation,” said Angela Hughey, President & Co-Founder of ONE Community Foundation. “The Parsons and their Foundation have long been supporters of LGBTQ+ rights and equality efforts, and we are excited to grow our partnership together,” concluded Ms. Hughey.

ONE Community Foundation works to empower, connect and educate Arizona’s LGBTQ+ and allied businesses, faith leaders, individuals and beyond on the benefits of respecting, protecting, and celebrating all who live in our great state. 

“Everyone deserves to follow their dreams, to have a job that gives them purpose and a safe place to call home,” said Bob Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “No one should have to worry about being fired, denied services or discriminated against because they are part of the LGBTQ+ community.” 

The grant will help support and expand several key ONE Community Foundation programs that work to educate the community on the benefits of inclusive policies, including:

• Expanding the ONE Community Institute, which helps train businesses and organizations around Arizona on the benefits of inclusion and helps transform how these businesses shape their internal and external policies surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. 

• Expanding the UNITY Pledge program. As the largest equality pledge in the nation, this investment will help reach additional municipalities in the West Valley as well as rural communities across the state. 
  
• The launch of the Better Together podcast, which shares stories about people from all walks of life who are working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  These stories teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. 
  
• Support for ONE Community Foundation’s partnership with the national Equality and Fairness Coalition, allowing Arizona cohort members to take part in a fellowship program that brings leaders together from all walks of life. Participants often come from communities that are perceived as oppositional with the goal of building bridges and bringing people together. Today, more than ever, we need to relearn how to value people from different walks of life, instead of seeing people who are different as a threat.

“Although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in building workplaces and businesses where LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe to be themselves,” said Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “We’re proud to support ONE Community Foundation’s commitment to creating an Arizona where all are treated equally, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity or sexual identity.” 

A simple way to get involved and make an impact is to join the 3,400 businesses, 20,000 individuals and 500 faith leaders committed to equality for all Americans by signing the ONE Community UNITY Pledge.