Staff reports | Business & Construction
Valley of the Sun United Way will relocate its headquarters to Park Central in Phoenix, establishing a new collaborative space designed to serve the broader community.
The nonprofit will occupy the Graham Building at Park Central, reducing its office footprint to improve efficiency and lower expenses. The move will allow the organization to utilize shared meeting spaces and common areas within the mixed-use development.
The new location places Valley of the Sun United Way at the center of one of Phoenix’s major redevelopment projects. The organization aims to foster cross-sector partnerships and innovation in addressing key issues facing Maricopa County.
“United Way has always been about connecting people and resources to drive impact,” said Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “As we celebrate our 100th year while focusing on meeting the moment of today, it’s important to us to be centrally located, and more connected and accessible to many of our partners. Our new home at Park Central is more than an office—it’s a vibrant campus where we can bring community leaders, donors, nonprofit partners, businesses and volunteers to create solutions that impact lives and strengthen our community.”
The Graham Building is named after the Graham family, whose ties to Park Central date back to its early days as a shopping mall. John Graham, a Valley developer and nonprofit board member, is among those continuing the family’s legacy of involvement.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valley of the Sun United Way to Park Central,” said Sharon Harper, chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, co-developer of the project. “United Way’s mission of bringing people together to solve community challenges aligns perfectly with Park Central’s vision as a place where innovation, collaboration and impact come to life.”
Originally opened in 1957 as Arizona’s first major shopping mall, Park Central has been redeveloped into a campus for business, healthcare, education and culture. It is now home to institutions such as Creighton University’s Health Sciences Campus, Dignity Health, Barrow Neurological Institute and Artlink.
“Valley of the Sun United Way is an ideal addition to Park Central,” said Steve Lindley, chief operating officer of Holualoa Companies, co-developer of the project. “Their new collaborative space will bring even more energy to Park Central, creating opportunities for partnerships and community engagement that benefit all of Phoenix.”
The move is supported by “low-bono” services from several partners, including Gensler for architectural services, JLL, The Coppola Cheney Group, Goodmans, Immedia and others.
Valley of the Sun United Way partners with more than 23,000 donors, 8,461 volunteers, 500 corporate partners and hundreds of grassroots, nonprofit and school organizations to address housing and homelessness, health, education and workforce development across the Valley.
