May 9, 2013
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Awards $3.8 Million in Grants
VIRGINIA G. PIPER CHARITABLE TRUST Press Release
May 9, 2013
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Awards $3.8 Million in Grants
Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, and Phoenix Symphony Awarded for Innovative Collaboration
PHOENIX, Ariz.—Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust today announced grants totaling more than $3.8 million—funds that will help enrich Maricopa County communities in areas related to: arts and culture, disadvantaged children, early childhood education, healthcare and medical research, and older adults. The $3.8 million was awarded during the period of February 2013 through April 2013.
Piper Trust’s Board of Trustees awarded Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, and the Phoenix Symphony $25,000 each in recognition of the TRIO Gala (February 2013)—an inaugural event uniting three of Arizona’s world-class arts organizations on one stage for a unique and spectacular performance. Further, the TRIO partnership represents the organizations’ additional efforts to work collaboratively toward new efficiencies and ways to add value for patrons.
“Forging strong partnerships and the ability to be nimble about accepting new business paradigms in order to grow and thrive is imperative,” said Alison Johnston, executive director, Ballet Arizona. “If arts and cultural organizations want to continue to make an impact, leaders must think out of the box about how to interact with and attract new audiences. Collaboration is the first step to managing in this ‘new age of the arts’.”
About Care, a highly regarded organization that provides health and well-being support services to older disabled and homebound adults, is also thinking creatively about how to more effectively and efficiently serve its clients. About Care received a grant to develop an online social network system to better align client service requests with volunteers. The system will help foster mutually beneficial “matches” between the client and the volunteer. About Care’s services enable older adults to remain living independently and with dignity—see video here.
A $2 million grant was awarded to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in support of the Cancer Has Met Its Match campaign which provides funding for capital, programs, and services that will impact patients, their families, and the community. The state-of-the-art facility offers disease-specific expertise and an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
In preparation for the 2013-2014 school year, 305 Title I public elementary schools in Maricopa County received “back to school grants” to support their students with necessary school clothes/uniforms. Piper Trust believes that essential clothing provides a child with a confident beginning for a successful school year.
Grants awarded February 2013 through April 2013 include (listed by grantmaking area):
ARTS AND CULTURE—TOTAL AWARDED: $173,161
Arizona Opera / www.azopera.org
Ballet Arizona / www.balletaz.org
The Phoenix Symphony / www.phoenixsymphony.org
Recognize exemplary strategic collaboration among Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, and the Phoenix Symphony for the TRIO Gala.
$25,000 (each organization) / 12 months
Valley Youth Theatre / www.vyt.com
Replace the theatre’s sound system.
$98,161 / 12 months
CHILDREN—TOTAL AWARDED: $536,500
Back to School Grants
Provide 305 Title I public elementary schools within 41 districts in Maricopa County with school clothing grants.
$536,500 / 12 months
EDUCATION—TOTAL AWARDED: $25,000
Arizona Town Hall / www.aztownhall.org
Support the 103rd Arizona Town Hall on early childhood education.
$25,000 / 12 months
HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL RESEARCH—TOTAL AWARDED: $2,000,000
Banner Health Foundation* / www.bannerhealth.com
Build cancer treatment center to support increasing demand for services.
$2,000,000 / 60 months
OLDER ADULTS—TOTAL AWARDED: $45,000
About Care, Inc. / www.aboutcare.org
Develop an interactive mapping system that connects the needs of homebound older adults with assistive services.
$45,000 / 24 months
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS—TOTAL AWARDED: $256,000
The Roman Catholic Church of Phoenix / www.diocesephoenix.org
Support a sustainability assessment of all Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Phoenix (this grant is a continuation of Piper Trust’s investment in strengthening Catholic education).
$256,000 / 12 months
OTHER—TOTAL AWARDED: $250,000
Valley of the Sun United Way / www.vsuw.org
Support the Homelessness and Hunger Funders Collaborative project.
$250,000 / 12 months
About Piper Trust:
A private independent foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing, vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $300 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust had total grants paid of $21.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information, visit www.pipertrust.org. Follow us on Twitter @PiperTrust; and visit us on Facebook.
* A grant originally awarded to a foundation or 501c3 organization that funds an agreed upon program or product.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Leland, 480-556-7125 / kleland@pipertrust.org
Director, Communications and External Relations
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
1202 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85014