Piper Trust Focuses Grantmaking on New Models, Best Practices and Rich Valley Heritage:

$3.3 million in grants made to Maricopa County nonprofits

List of 21 Grants Awarded

PHOENIX (September 17, 2008)—Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded 21 grants totaling $3.3 million for innovations in pediatric hospice care, fighting childhood obesity, expanding a popular entrepreneurial training program for youth and creating a new Jewish history center on the site of the first synagogue in Phoenix.

 “Piper Trust is honored to support projects that introduce new models and best practices, and build on the rich heritage of the Valley,” said Judy Jolley Mohraz, Ph.D., president and CEO of Piper Trust. “These grants will make a difference in the lives of our youngest to our oldest residents throughout the Valley.”

Ryan House ($650,000) is completing a capital campaign to create a children’s hospice and family respite facility for Valley children with life-limiting conditions. The Ryan House project has become a unique collaboration with Hospice of the Valley to build the first U.S. multigenerational respite and hospice facility. “We are developing a national model,” said Nancy Martin, executive director, Ryan House. “The Hospice of the Valley partnership allows us to share administrative, chaplaincy and pet therapy services. Funders have encouraged constant re-evaluation, which brought amazing value to the final project.”
 
American Heart Association ($300,000) will use its Piper Trust grant to help establish the Healthy Schools Program in 75 Maricopa County schools to fight childhood obesity. The program helps schools meet standards for healthy foods and beverages, physical activity, health education, afterschool services and staff wellness.

Junior Achievement of Arizona ($250,000) is doubling the capacity of its entrepreneurial learning program for youth in the state. “The Piper Trust funds will assist in the build-out of our second JA BizTown and enable Junior Achievement to accommodate the overwhelming demand by the education community for this hands-on learning lab,” said Joyce Richards, JA president. “More than 14,000 fifth and sixth grade students will be able to participate in the program annually and gain the skills, knowledge and attitudes for success in tomorrow’s workplace.”

Arizona Jewish Historical Society ($225,000) is completing a capital campaign to restore the first Phoenix synagogue as a museum, educational resource and cultural center. The Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, located next to the downtown Phoenix Burton Barr Public Library, was the original home of Temple Beth Israel. Since 1949, the building has been home to a Baptist Church, the Valley’s first Chinese-speaking Christian church and a Spanish-speaking Baptist church. The restored building will serve as a history museum, learning center and modern archive.

Scottsdale Cultural Council ($350,000) will use the Piper Trust grant to update antiquated technology, including the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, which is undergoing a major renovation. “In recent years, it has become very clear that our outdated technology itself is impacting adversely on our performance and capacity to fulfill our mission,” said William H. Banchs, president and CEO, Scottsdale Cultural Council. “To sustain leading-edge programming, we must be able to operate at full capacity and all our presenting venues must be equipped with the latest available technology.”

Piper Trust awarded older-adult grants to Civitan Foundation ($60,000) to create an employment program for older adults residing in Maricopa County, to Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation ($103,000) for implementing a comprehensive fall prevention program for older adults at Pueblo Sereno Mobile Home Park, and to Hospice of the Valley ($184,000) to launch a training program to teach hospitalists about palliative care; this grant expands an end-of-life education program for medical residents, nurses, chaplains and social workers.

In addition, Piper Trust made grants to the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation ($400,000) and Chicanos Por La Causa ($200,000) to support scholarships for undocumented college students.

 
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 and vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $236 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust reported total grants paid of $25.7 million in fiscal year 2008 (ending March 31). Piper Trust focuses on healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations.

September 2008 Grant Announcement (pdf) 
September Grant Announcement (txt)

List of 21 Grants Awarded (pdf)
List of 21 Grants Awarded (txt)