Surpassing $34MM in Giving The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Reflects on a Momentous Year.
On its 2nd Anniversary the Foundation Plans to Continue its Mission to Inspire Hope
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (Feb. 14, 2014) – Founded in February of 2012, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has made it its mission to drive positive change on both a local and international level. To date the Foundation has pledged more than $34 million in critical funds, primarily in the greater Phoenix area, to non-profit organizations which are successfully addressing issues associated with at-risk youth, homelessness, education, veterans’ needs, and medical care.
“Hope is not something that should be reserved for a particular need or group,” said Bob Parsons. “There are many causes out there which receive less public support because of the issues they address … these are the projects we seek out.”
Through their grant-making, Bob and Renee Parsons, in partnership with more than 40 charitable organizations, have helped inspire hope for tens of thousands. During 2013 alone the Foundation pledged nearly $21 million.
Major gifts of $1 million or more pledged during 2013 included:
| Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS | $4,265,000 |
| Semper Fi Fund | $4,100,000 |
| Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center | $2,035,000 |
| Hope for Haiti | $1,633,000 |
| Phoenix Children’s Hospital | $1,540,000 |
| Make-A-Wish Arizona | $1,511,000 |
| University of Baltimore | $1,000,000 |
“This year was a great year for Bob and me to revisit and strengthen our commitment to those organizations we support,” said Renee Parsons. “We were also able, through the appointment of an executive director for the Foundation, to research and build relationships with new organizations which are successfully ‘dealing in hope’ and making a difference.”
Grants to organizations for renewed commitments in 2013 totaled $16.3 million.
New beneficiaries with grant awards greater than $50,000 in 2013 included:
| Crisis Nursery | $850,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix | $750,000 |
| Maggie’s Place | $600,000 |
| JDRF | $500,000 |
| Mission of Mercy | $250,000 |
| The AZ We Want Institute | $225,000 |
| Child Crisis Center | $200,000 |
| W.M. Keck Observatory | $189,000 |
| CAF America (Andrea Bocelli Foundation) | $108,000 |
| The 100 Club of Arizona | $100,000 |
| Joe Foss Institute | $100,000 |
| Elevate Phoenix | $58,000 |
In December of 2013, less than two years after the Foundation was established, Bob and Renee Parsons reinforced their commitment to philanthropy by publicly accepting an invitation to join The Giving Pledge, an initiative started by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. The Pledge encourages billionaires to dedicate themselves to giving away at least half their wealth to philanthropic causes of their choosing.
“Timing and luck have been in our favor and we are profoundly grateful for our good fortune,” said Bob Parsons. “We intend to donate at least half of our wealth – and likely much more – to non-profits which are making a difference and inspiring hope for the American Dream.”