Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Eight-year-old Ivory has spent much of her childhood at the Boys & Girls Club. At the Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch, she received reading support, spent time in the gym, made friends and began thinking about what she wants to be when she grows up. Today, she hopes to become a veterinarian.
This school year, Ivory is attending the recently opened Steve & Maria Sanghi Branch in South Scottsdale, where she will continue exploring new interests and building skills for the future.
Ivory is among approximately 400 South Scottsdale youths expected to benefit from a $500,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. The funding will support after-school programming at the Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch and the Steve & Maria Sanghi Branch and help keep programs affordable for families, according to a press release.
At both locations, students have access to homework assistance, STEM activities, arts programming, recreational opportunities and leadership development programs. The clubs also provide supervised after-school environments for children and teens.
The need is particularly significant in South Scottsdale. At the Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch, 81% of members receive financial assistance from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. The opening of the Steve & Maria Sanghi Branch allows the organization to serve additional youth while helping reduce the waiting list at the Barker Branch.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and dream big, regardless of their family’s circumstances,” said Jason Eisenberg, president of Thunderbirds Charities. “We’re proud to invest in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and help ensure more youth have access to a safe, supportive place where they can build confidence, explore their interests and reach their full potential.”
Thunderbirds Charities has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale for more than 30 years, helping fund programs and experiences for local youth. Most recently, the organization supported the new Steve & Maria Sanghi Branch, where the Thunderbirds Charities Homework Room bears its name. Thunderbirds Charities also will be recognized in the vestibule of the Bob & Renee Parsons Gymnasium, a standalone facility on the Sanghi Branch campus.
“Thunderbirds Charities has been an incredible partner in helping us provide world-class programming, from art and STEM to experiences and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for many of our kids,” said Ivan Gilreath, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. “Their support means more kids like Ivory have a place to go after school where they are known, encouraged and given the chance to discover what they’re capable of.”
