Thunderbirds Charities recently awarded the Assistance League® of Phoenix a $50,000 grant to support their Operation School Bell program, which provides over 8,500 children living in poverty with new school clothing and shoes each year. The program is delivered through its mobile dressing centers, the Delivering Dream buses.

“We’re so thankful to Thunderbirds Charities,” said Aimee Runyon, Chief Executive Officer, Assistance League® of Phoenix. “They have continued to support our work and it means everything to the children and families we serve. Thunderbirds Charities is making such a difference in our community and we are so grateful for their partnership and support.”

The Assistance League of Phoenix has three Delivering Dreams Buses sponsored by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Rotary 100/BHHS Legacy Foundation and Fiesta Bowl Charities/BHHS Legacy Foundation. The donation from Thunderbirds Charities will help purchase clothing and shoes to fill these buses.

Assistance League of Phoenix partners with more than 100 Title I schools throughout the year. Each school can select up to 100 children who qualify for the program (students on the free or reduced lunch program). Once on board the Delivering Dream Bus, students work with volunteers to select items and try clothing on in the dressing rooms. Each student receives a bundle of items valued at approximately $200-250 and includes two bottoms, three tops, six pairs of socks, six underwear, a sweatshirt, belt, a pair of shoes, a new book of their choice, and a personalized health kit full of hygiene items.

“We are proud to support the Assistance League of Phoenix once again,” said Scott Jenkins, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “They are truly setting these students up for success in school by providing these much-needed items. Operation School Bell is an exceptional program and we can’t wait to see the Delivering Dream buses out in our community.”

About The Thundberbirds/Thunderbirds Charities:
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. 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 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit http://www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on the Thunderbirds Charities, visit http://www.thunderbirdscharities.org.

About Assistance League of Phoenix:
Assistance League of Phoenix is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been serving the Phoenix area for 60 years. The organization has 125 members and 400 community/corporate volunteers and is affiliated with the National Assistance League with 120 chapters nationwide. Last year, Assistance League of Phoenix members volunteered over 26,000 hours and raised over $1.7 million to serve over 20,000 children in the greater Phoenix community. For more information on Assistance League of Phoenix visit http://www.alphx.org.