|
Phoenix Suns Charities Awards $41,000 in College Scholarships
Sixteen high school seniors from throughout Arizona have been named winners in the Phoenix Suns Charities’ SunStudents Scholarship program. Fifteen of the students will receive a $2,000 scholarship to be used for educational expenses at the college or university of their choice. In addition, for the first time three students will be honored with the Kevin Johnson Scholar Award and will receive a total of $5,000 in scholarship funds. The announcement was made at halftime during the Suns-Trail Blazers game on Wednesday, April 16 at US Airways Center.
Suns & Stars Gala
Phoenix Suns Charities held their annual Suns & Stars Gala on March 14, 2008 at the the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix. The presenting sponsor of the event was Toyota and the proceeds from the gala benefit Phoenix Suns Charities. Guests enjoyed entertainment, dinner, a silent auction and much more. This year’s entertainment was headlined by Queen Latifah, winner of both a Grammy Award for her work in music, and a Golden Globe award for her talent in film.
2009 Scholarship Application Available Oct. 15
Sixteen college scholarships are available annually from Phoenix Suns Charities to seniors preparing to graduate from Arizona high schools. Fifteen students will receive a $2,000 scholarship and one deserving student will be selected as the 2008 Kevin Johnson Scholar and receive a $5,000 scholarship. Named in honor of the former Phoenix Suns’ guard, the Kevin Johnson Scholar award recognizes a student who represents the ideals of community service and opportunity for all... ideals that made Kevin Johnson an All-Star both on and off the court.
Spirit of Cotton Award
Karen Self of Seton Catholic High School receives 2008 honor
The annual Spirit of Cotton Award is presented by Phoenix Suns Charities to honor the memory of Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and award a coach who was deemed to have consistently demonstrated the best qualities of coach, leader, educator, mentor and community leader. After Dick McConnell of Sahuaro High School took home the honor in 2006, Gary Ernst of Mountain View High School won the 2007 award. Karen Self of Seton Catholic High School was honored the 2008 Spirit of Cotton Award.
Our Mission
Phoenix Suns Charities was incorporated in 1987 with the mission to benefit
organizations that assist the needs of children and families in Arizona.
Phoenix Suns Charities Grants
2009 grant applications will be available Nov. 1 and due April 1.
Phoenix Suns Charities was the vision of Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo. Upon his purchase of the team in 1987, he began to assemble a board of community leaders to oversee the formation and operation of a charitable organization that would reflect the Suns mission to be a constant leader in improving the quality of life in our community.
The foundation was incorporated in 1987 with the mission to use the unique resources of the Phoenix Suns to benefit organizations that assist the needs of children in Arizona. Due to the generosity of fans and sponsors, and underwriting by the team, Phoenix Suns Charities has experienced steady growth and now distributes more than $1 million annually to more than 100 local charities. Since its inception, Phoenix Suns Charities has donated more than $8 million to worthy Arizona organizations.
Funds are raised throughout the NBA season through special events such as the Suns and Stars Gala and the Suns Charities Golf Tournament; through scoreboard messages at Suns home games; through online and game night auctions and through other special projects. In addition, many generous fans and sponsors designate Phoenix Suns Charities the recipient of their giving.
Grants requests are accepted throughout the basketball season beginning November 1st and ending April 1st. A committee of Phoenix Suns Charities board members carefully reviews each request and makes the final decision on funding in June. The foundation’s largest grant, the $100,000 Playmaker Award, was presented to the Foundation for Blind Children in 2000, Phoenix Children’s Hospital in 2001, Chrysalis Shelter in 2002, and the Assistance League of Phoenix in 2003. The 2005 Playmaker Award went to Aid to Adoption of Special Children (AASK) and the 2006 award was presented to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. In 2007, the United Food Bank received the Playmaker Grant for their Kids' L.I.F.E. Program.
Last season, the Valley of the Suns YMCA, Christown branch was named the recipient of the Playmaker Grant.
The executive director of Phoenix Suns Charities is Tom Ambrose, who is also a Senior Vice President of the Suns organization. The chairman for the 2008-09 season is Jim Brewer.
For more information on Phoenix Suns Charities, write the foundation at:
P.O. Box 1369
Phoenix, Arizona 85001
Or call 602-379-7767 (phone), 602-379-7922 (fax)
Grant Recipients
Phoenix Suns Charities, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns, has announced its grant recipients for 2006-07, awarding $760,900 to 104 different charities throughout Arizona.
RECENT HEADLINES
 Donald Faison and Bow Wow were among the headliners at the Celebrity Shootout on Jan. 14. (Barry Gossage/NBAE Photos) |
June 11, 2007: Blacktie-Arizona.com, a clearinghouse of events, planning services and promotional tools for Arizona's nonprofit organizations, sat down with Tom Ambrose, Sr. Vice President, Executive Director, Phoenix Suns Charities, for in-depth look at one of the man behind the charitable efforts of the Phoenix Suns.
Jan. 30, 2007: Nearly 20 nationally recognized entertainment celebrities arrived in Phoenix to compete in the 7th Annual Jack in the Box Celebrity Shootout, presented by Robert and Carole Machiz on Jan. 14 at US Airways Center.