Advance Community Receives $35,000 Grant from Thunderbirds Charities for I Choose Wellness Program

(PHOENIX–Aug. 20, 2024) Advance Community (Advance) has been awarded a $35,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support its I Choose Wellness program. Thunderbirds Charities is the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the WM Phoenix Open.

The I Choose Wellness program, designed for under-resourced Latino youth in grades 4-8, offers culturally appropriate lessons on nutrition, physical activity, and oral hygiene. These lessons are designed to inspire youth to improve their health outcomes and address the high prevalence of obesity in their communities. By focusing on these critical areas, the program aims to instill lifelong healthy habits in young people, thereby fostering a healthier future for the entire community. The planned programming includes 10 series of eight sessions each, conducted at Title 1 schools and community centers in Latino communities throughout the Valley.

“We are incredibly grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for their support,” said Jeri Royce, CEO of Advance Community. “This grant will significantly enhance our ability to provide essential health education and resources to the youth in our community. It will allow us to expand our reach and make a meaningful impact on the lives of many families with the ultimate goal of empowering at-risk youth to change their behaviors to improve their short- and long-term health outcomes.”

Thunderbirds Charities is committed to improving the quality of life in local communities through funding initiatives that promote health, education, and human services. Its support of the I Choose Wellness program underscores the organization’s dedication to addressing the critical health challenges faced by underserved populations.

Advance’s I Choose Wellness program has already made substantial strides in promoting healthier lifestyles among youth. With this new funding, the program will be able to:

• Expand the reach of its culturally tailored health education sessions.
• Provide more resources and support to participating families.
• Increase the number of community events and workshops focused on healthy living.
• Enhance collaboration with local schools and community organizations to maximize impact.

For more information about Advance Community and the I Choose Wellness program, visit https://advancecommunity.org/.

About the Thunderbirds/Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open.  The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds.  The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities.  The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona.  The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports.  The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 285 “life” members.  For more information on the Thunderbirds or the WM Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.  For more information on the Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.

About Advance Community

Advance Community has been dedicated to transforming lives since its inception in 1970. Formerly known as Esperança, Advance works within under-resourced communities across the globe, providing health education, food security, disease prevention, access to clean water, ecological home-building, and life-altering surgeries in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mozambique, and Peru. Advance strengthens under-resourced Latino communities across Maricopa County through programs such as oral health, chronic disease prevention/management, nutrition education and healthy meal delivery. With the vision of health equity for everyone and the goal of improving the future of healthcare, the Phoenix-based nonprofit is dedicated to advancing communities to help under-resourced children, adults and seniors live sustainable and fulfilling lives. More information about Advance is available at https://advancecommunity.org/.