Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving wing of The Thunderbirds, hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, has donated $250,000 to help fund the construction of the new Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
The donation was made in support of the Hope Lives Here campaign to build a new facility to care for children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders. The contribution brings Thunderbirds Charities’ lifetime total contributions to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to $1.8 million.
“We are extremely appreciative of Thunderbirds Charities’ gift in support of the Hope Lives Here campaign,” said Steve Schnall, Senior Vice President at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “This donation will help us provide world-class care to even more kids and teens diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders, and Thunderbirds Charities’ ongoing support of Phoenix Children’s continues to make an incredible impact on the children and families within our community.”
Nationwide, the number of children diagnosed with cancer grows each year. Phoenix Children’s Hospital also treats more children and teens with hemophilia and sickle cell anemia than anywhere else in Arizona. Those facts coupled with the population growth of children in Phoenix mean demand for cancer treatment is expected to rise in the coming years. The Hope Lives Here campaign funds a center specific to the needs of children with cancer, with around-the-clock care and specialized physicians to fuel hope, healing and recovery.
“Our partnership with PCH fills us with pride,” said Dan Mahoney, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We’re honored to help one of the best children’s medicine institutions in the country grow and continue to serve the community.”
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders will be completed in November 2017 and will open its doors the same month. The Thunderbirds Charities donation will specifically help fund the prep and recovery room at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Located adjacent to The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders’ treatment rooms, the prep and recovery room will allow for procedures to be performed within the clinic space rather than transporting patients to the operating room.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only children’s hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals with rankings in all ten specialties. Phoenix Children’s provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s provides care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the hospital, visit phoenixchildrens.org.
About Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is a nonprofit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities. The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based in or with a significant presence in Arizona.