Cactus Wren Little League Awarded $15,000 Grant from Fiesta Sports Foundation for Growing the Game Initiative to Improve Field Safety and Access
(PHOENIX – Mar. 2, 2026) – Fiesta Sports Foundation has awarded Cactus Wren Little League (CWLL) a $15,000 grant as part of the 2025-26 Fiesta Sports Foundation Grant Cycle. These efforts are a core element of the Foundation’s statewide community engagement and will support CWLL’s Growing the Game program through the purchase and installation of new sod on three existing baseball fields, ensuring a safe playing surface for youth athletes.
Through partnerships like this, Fiesta Sports Foundation has provided more than $35 million in charitable giving over the past 15 years in alignment with its core pillars of youth, sports and education.
“As a result of this support from the Fiesta Sports Foundation, Cactus Wren Little League can provide more than 215 youth players with access to high quality, well-maintained fields that elevate their experience, support their development and allow our league to keep growing the game for future generations,” said Marianne Ketterhagen, information officer and fundraising manager for CWLL.
Founded in 1967, CWLL is a 100 percent volunteer-run nonprofit organization serving more than 215 youth athletes annually in Phoenix, providing boys and girls ages four to 16 the opportunity to learn and play baseball in a safe, inclusive and community-centered environment. The league primarily serves families from the Washington Elementary School District, a Title I district that reflects the area’s rich racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.
CWLL believes every child deserves the chance to play and offers scholarships, equipment assistance and family-focused programming to ensure access for all.
With a focus on “Growing the Game,” CWLL continues to invest in field safety, community engagement and long-term sustainability to enrich the lives of its players and their families season after season.
“In the face of evolving needs in youth, sports and education programming, we are proud to support Cactus Wren Little League in their efforts to make a meaningful impact in our community,” says Fiesta Sports Foundation Chief Impact Officer Kristina Chumpol. “Whether on the playground, on the field or in the classroom, the mission of the Fiesta Sports Foundation to strengthen communities and improve lives statewide is critically important.”
Fiesta Sports Foundation awarded grants to 16 nonprofit organizations statewide for the 2025-26 Grant Cycle.
“This support is especially important because field infrastructure is often overlooked but vital to the safety and success of community sports programs, especially in under-resourced areas where access to safe, playable athletic spaces is limited,” notes Ketterhagen.
The league is committed to providing equitable access to high-quality baseball programming that fosters confidence, teamwork and personal growth. With support from the Fiesta Sports Foundation, CWLL is enhancing safety and playability for generations of players to come.
ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.
