(Phoenix, Arizona) – Esperança is pleased to announce they have received a $10,000 grant contribution from the Thunderbirds Charities to support their Salud con Sabor Latino (Health with a Latin Flavor) program.  This transformative support will allow Esperança, in 2017, to provide nutrition and physical activity education to 60 uninsured/underinsured children and 60 parents living in poverty within the Phoenix metropolitan area and advanced education on physical activity with an introduction to urban patio gardening to 30 parents who have already participated in the nutrition and physical activity course.

“We are so appreciative of the grant from Thunderbirds Charities,” said James Hoyt, President and CEO of Esperança. “In Arizona, 33.9% of Latino adults and 30.6% of children 2-5 whose families participate in WIC are obese. The rate for families living at less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level is an astounding 53.3% and Esperança’s Salud con Sabor Latino program is directly benefitting these families and providing much needed support and education.”

Salud con Sabor Latino participants are primarily Latino, Spanish speaking and the long-term health consequences of individuals living with lack of health education and resources will impact a child’s ability to learn and attend school, a mother’s ability to work and provide income and a family’s ability to thrive.

About Thunderbirds Charities

Thunderbirds Charities was established in 1986 as the charitable arm of the Phoenix Thunderbirds.  Its purpose is to grant funds raised by the Waste Management Phoenix Open.  The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities.  To learn more, visit: https://thunderbirdscharities.org/.

About Esperança

Since 1970, Esperança has been providing programs to improve the health and well being of the world’s poor. Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., this international nonprofit provides volunteer surgical missions, health education, training of community health workers, home building, clean water projects, micro enterprise, agricultural development, dental treatment and prevention programs, and sends donated medical equipment and supplies to project sites around the world. Esperança’s goal is to build clean, sustainable and healthy communities worldwide.  To learn more, visit:www.wetransformlives.org.