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Fiesta Bowl Charities serves community year-round
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Fiesta Bowl Charities has donated $25,000 to provide financial support to eight Free Arts programs: bravery bags, weekly mentoring program, professional artist series, free arts day, camp series, foster family program, alumni program and healing racial trauma through the arts.
Free Arts plans to reach nearly 5,000 children in Maricopa County with these funds, according to a press release.
“We’re very appreciative of the Fiesta Bowl’s gift,” said Alicia Sutton Campbell, executive director, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. “We know the children we serve need arts and mentoring to cope with the trauma they have experienced. By participating in Free Arts programs, children can build resilience and hope, develop self-efficacy, acquire skills, express themselves and feel safe.”
Every year, more than 78,600 children in Arizona experience abuse, neglect and homelessness. In 2021, Kids Count Data Book, Arizona ranked 40th in the U.S. in child well-being with 19% of children living in poverty.
According to the Arizona Department of Child Safety, 14,022 children live in foster care as of Dec. 31, 2021. Research shows a child’s resilience increases through arts education, active skill building and supportive relationships with adults.
“That’s why Free Arts programs address the child welfare crisis in Arizona by helping children foster trusting relationships with caring adults through the creative activities that develop their skills and sense of self,” Ms. Campbell pointed out.
