Piper Trust Invests Over $4.2 Million With
15 Local Nonprofits Including
$1 Million Grant to Children's Museum

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (February 21, 2007) – The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust announced today grants totaling more than $4.2 million to 15 Maricopa County nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving lives and strengthening the community. The grants, awarded across the Trust’s investment priorities, focus on Arts and Culture; Children; Healthcare and Medical Research; Older Adults and Religious Organizations. With these grants, the Trust’s year-to-date grants in the community total over $17,000,000.

The largest grant of $1,000,000 was awarded to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to support the renovation of the old Monroe School in downtown Phoenix to house the museum. “By supporting the development of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix we are helping to create a vibrant educational and experiential environment for young children in the Valley,” said Judy Jolley Mohraz, president and CEO of the Trust. “We believe engaging children in interactive learning in a creative environment prepares them to succeed academically and develops their imagination.”

Innovative programs the Trust invested in include The Amblyopia Foundation of America, Inc. which received $115,000 to conduct vision screenings of school-aged children utilizing revolutionary technology that detects a wide spectrum of vision disorders. St. Joseph’s Hospital was awarded $150,000 for the purchase of a new Maternity Outreach Mobile Clinic, allowing the medical group to continue to provide prenatal care to high-risk pregnant women. The Foundation for Senior Living was awarded $480,000 to support a new, integrated care model at the Monsignor Ryle Life Center including a physician-based health clinic and activities to nurture the mind, body and spirit of older adults and people with disabilities. A grant of $700,000 was awarded to the Interfaith Community Care to support a new multi-use campus with a café and nutrition program for Northwest Valley older adults and residents.

Within arts and culture, Piper Trust awarded $2,068,500 to seven programs focused on increasing audience attendance and revenue, supporting strategic planning, and creating technology efficiencies. The Arizona Museum for Youth Friends was awarded $85,000 to develop strategic and fundraising plans to increase the museum’s financial stability. The Chandler Cultural Foundation received $286,000 to upgrade the ticket delivery system in order to enhance patron interaction and management. The Heard Museum was awarded $250,000 to create a financial reserve or “safety net” for the museum during downturns in revenue. Fifty thousand dollars was awarded to the Phoenix Bach Choir for long-range planning. Phoenix Theatre received $237,500 to support a repositioning and marketing strategy designed to increase attendance. The Southwest Shakespeare Company received $160,000 to support continuing growth and marketing the Company’s programs.

Focusing on programs that encourage the healthy development of children, Piper Trust awarded $400,000 to two programs in Maricopa County. The Anasazi Foundation was awarded $50,000 to support a drug-abuse prevention program for Valley teens, and Audubon Arizona received $350,000 to support the creation of the Rio Salado Audubon Center which educates children about nature through hands-on experiences.

In healthcare and medical research, Piper Trust invested $289,000 in three local programs. In addition to grants to The Amblyopia Foundation of America, Inc. and St. Joseph’s Foundation, the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine was awarded $24,000 to support the medical clinic at Hamilton Elementary in the Murphy School District with updated medical equipment, reference library materials and Spanish-language medical practioners.

Three programs within faith-based organizations were awarded grants totaling $1,443,530. Among the grantees is Valley Christian Centers, Inc., awarded $263,530 to create a Senior Home Safety Project to ensure older adults are living in safe and adequate homes. The program will also create a cadre of “Senior Colleagues” to educate and assist other older adults in identifying and securing services and benefits.

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is committed to honoring Virginia Piper’s legacy of making grants to nonprofit organizations whose work enhances the lives of people living in Maricopa County. By strengthening nonprofits in the community and encouraging strategic planning for the future, the Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, healthier and more livable community.

The Piper Trust began awarding grants in 2000. To date, the Trust has invested more than $156 million in nonprofits and programs that serve the people of Maricopa County. The Trust focuses its grantmaking on healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations.