Piper Trust Awards $4.7 Million Including  $3 Million to Maricopa Arts and Culture Partnership

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (December 20, 2004) – The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust announced a $3 million grant to the Maricopa Arts and Culture Partnership (MPAC) to fund the work of the new nonprofit over the next three years.  MPAC’s mission is to strengthen arts and cultural organizations regionally and ensure that Greater Phoenix is recognized for its vital creative culture.

The Piper Trust joins the Flinn Foundation in supporting MPAC and continues the philanthropic partnership that supported the work of the Maricopa Regional Arts and Culture Task Force.  The task force, chaired by Drew Brown, issued its report “Vibrant Culture/ Thriving Economy” in May. The recommendations included establishing a nonprofit to ensure that the Valley fosters a strong arts and culture sector that contributes to regional economic competitiveness.

The Trust also awarded $1 million to the Maricopa Community College District campaign to expand the Achieving a College Education (ACE) dropout prevention program. “The Trustees believe the ACE program addresses one of the most serious problems in Arizona,” said Judy Mohraz, President and CEO of the Piper Trust. “Assisting high risk students make a successful transition to college is an investment in regional economic development as well as an investment in individual lives,” she said.

The Trust awarded a total of 14 grants representing more than $4.7 million this quarter and more than $27 million in Maricopa County in 2004.