As part of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona’s (CFSA) historic 2022 CORE Grants round, several local nonprofit organizations serving children and youth received funding to maximize their impact and improve the quality of life in Southern Arizona. CFSA believes the future depends on the continued development and support of our children and youth. CFSA’s Children & Youth Impact Fund supports Southern Arizona’s youth from birth to adulthood, providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Learn more here.
2022 CORE Grantees: Children & Youth
Bisbee Science Exploration & Research Center’s mission is to foster the exploration, teaching, and practice of science for the development of scientific literacy by the public and the encouragement of the scientific inquiries needed for the betterment of our lives.
Melanie Greene, Planning & Resource Development, Secretary/Treasurer, Bisbee Science Exploration & Research Center, said, “These CORE Grant funds will provide the catalyst that stirs curiosity and builds enthusiasm among participants as they better understand the world around them as well as the micro and macro worlds beyond them; discovering the scientist, engineer, technologist, and mathematician within themselves.”
Border Youth Tennis Exchange is a cross-border youth development organization that offers tennis and academic classes on both sides of the US/Mexico border in Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico. One of 350 chapters that make up the United States Tennis Association’s National Junior Tennis & Learning network, BYTE is the only program to operate internationally and in the border region.
Charlie Cutler, Founder and Executive Director, Border Youth Tennis Exchange, shared, “Especially considering the disruption this past couple years due to Covid-19, we are incredibly proud of our work and excited to continue pushing forward. We thank CFSA for this investment in BYTE and our student-athletes on both sides of the US/Mexico border.”
Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee‘s mission is to inspire, teach, & enable the youth of Bisbee and nearby rural border areas, especially those who need it most, to have fun while realizing their full potential as productive, healthy, responsible & caring citizens.
Annette Flores, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee, said, “This award allows the Club to move forward in building an inclusive restroom which will be served for both the club members and personnel. Providing a safe space and options regardless of gender is essential in the youth development sector.”
Boys to Men Tucson strengthens our communities by nurturing intentional spaces for boys, men, and masculine-identified folks to practice honest and mindful relationships. They envision a world where every boy has access to safe and loving men.
Michael Braser, CEO, Boys to Men Tucson, stated, “With CORE funds, Boys to Men is going to increase our offering of summer programming, which can be lifesaving for the many teen boys who depend on our school-based weekly talking circles. These funds will also support our larger systems-change efforts through the Healthy Intergenerational Masculinity (HIM) Initiative, a transformative project for families in Southern Arizona. In short, the CFSA CORE Grant means that we can significantly increase our impact in 2022, supporting safety and justice for all of our communities by nurturing healthy masculinity in the next generation of loving men.”
Children’s Museum Tucson (CMT) seeks to provide fun, play-based, interactive, hands-on learning experiences for children and their families. Their vision is to inspire children and their families to reach their full potential through discovery, creativity and learning.
Hilary Van Alsburg, Executive Director, Children’s Museum Tucson, shared, “The CFSA Core Grant is an investment in the Children’s Museum’s bilingual programming, allowing the program to grow to better serve the community. This support allows for expansion of the Museum’s educational engagement, to include dedicated community outreach and bilingual programming.”
Higher Ground a Resource Center works to empower one life at a time to reach, transform, and elevate their community through love and building character. They want to create the momentum for lasting sustainable change in the way we develop our children and youth to redefine success as community contribution, where schools and youth organizations become places where an individual transformation leads to stronger collective impact in their own communities.
Taylor Grogg, COO, Higher Ground a Resource Center, said, “Receiving a CFSA Core Grant means we can finally build some of the necessary administrative infrastructures for our community school initiative, Restart SMART. These funds will allow us to work on technology and systems we are developing to help our direct service staff better coordinate their services between students, families, and the school itself.”
Integrative Touch for Kids is working to change the way people experience healthcare. A leader in the field of pediatric integrative medicine, the organization supports caregivers and families whose children have any type of special health or medical need. This includes kids with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues.
Tom Matteson, Philanthropy and Business Operations Manager, Integrative Touch, stated, “Integrative Touch provided over 4500 hours of TeleHealth services in 2021. Recipients of our 10 week TeleWellness program report 87% decrease in anxiety, a 73% decrease in pain, and a 94% increase in well-being. We aim to provide even more hours of support to those who need it most, in part because of CFSA’s tremendous support!”
Junior Achievement of Arizona prepares millions of Arizona students to succeed in work and life. They empower their futures by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future, and make smart academic, career and economic choices. Delivered by 8,000+ business and community volunteer mentors, these hands-on, age-appropriate programs focus on three key areas: financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.
Maggie Jones, Development Officer, Junior Achievement of Arizona, shared, “CFSA’s CORE grant means JA can invest in these young people to give them the hope and belief in their future success. This funding will provide them with the tools and support to navigate these uncertain times and the challenges they’ll face in the futures, too. It will prepare kids today to succeed in their work and life.”
Parent Aid Child Abuse Prevention Center works towards preventing child abuse by strengthening families and our community. Their vision is to see that all children are raised in homes, knowing they are loved, cherished and cared for, by caregivers who can rely on and contribute to a community that appreciates and supports them.
Allan Stockellburg, Executive Director, Parent Aid Child Abuse Prevention Center, shared, “CORE funding means less barriers to fulfilling our mission our vision for children and families in Pima County.”
Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center’s purpose is to give youth a variety of after-school/weekend opportunities that will enhance their family life, academic successes, and future leadership/community service. PYEC is a safe venue for youth to congregate to work and play together while helping each other navigate their world with respect, acceptance, and love.
Anna Coleman, Director, Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center, shared, “Receiving a CFSA Core Grant allows the Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center to support the youth in our community by allowing them to grow, expand their life skill knowledge, and become responsible young people. This empowers them to make the best version of themselves while being a part of an amazing youth center family. We appreciate CFSA!”
SARSEF creates Arizona’s future critical thinkers and problem solvers through science and engineering. Through this exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), students gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for whatever career they choose. SARSEF focuses on engaging student populations underrepresented in the fields of STEM.
Julie Euber, CEO, SARSEF, said, “We are incredibly grateful to receive the CFSA CORE Grant. The funding will enable SARSEF to continue to serve Arizona’s future critical thinkers and problem solvers through science and engineering, while prioritizing in creating opportunities in schools defined by Title 1 designations and areas with limited access to STEM Education.”
Scholarships A-Z was born as a response to the continuing failure of public educational systems in AZ to support Undocumented and immigrant youth.
Carolina Silva, Executive Director, ScholarshipsA-Z, stated, “Receiving a CFSA CORE grant means we will be able to invest in the leadership of young immigrant volunteers leading our work by compensating them for their labor and offering more professionalization opportunities. Ultimately, this grant will increase our organization’s capacity to facilitate partnerships, expand services and ultimately strengthen our sustainability as a growing non-profit.”
Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (SAZAEYC) believes all young children should thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential. SAZAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy and research. They advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
Kelly Ann Larkin, Executive Director, SAZAEYC, shared, “Receiving this CORE grant will allow us to breathe, and focus on the early childhood workforce, build relationships, and high-quality professional development. We look forward to focusing on the events that we do well and rebuilding relationships in the early childhood community, in person!”
The UA Community and School Garden Program connects students in public schools with Tucson’s 4,000-year agricultural legacy by planting, maintaining, and engaging in school gardens. Using gardens as dynamic educational tools, we help cultivate community, connect students with their local food system and use gardens as STEM learning labs.
Stacy Evans, TUSD Ecology & Food Literacy Program Coordinator, shared, “Receiving the CFSA CORE grant means that the UA Community and School Garden Program has the opportunity to continue providing education and experiential learning through their Food Literacy Program. Culinary meal-kits, field trips to the Food Literacy Lab, and taste tests utilizing local produce will continue to build the foundation for K-12 students in the Tucson Unified School District to participate in their health and the health of those around them.