PHOENIX–(COMMERCIAL THREAD) – Trustees of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust today awarded a total of $ 123 million in surprise grants to 71 Arizona nonprofits, the largest one-day grant initiative of Arizona history.

The grants were given to the 71 winners throughout the day of September 13, 2021, as a total surprise. The Trustees personally met with the CEOs and Board Chairs of 71 organizations to thank them for their leadership and hard work and provide significant capital through grants that will give them the strength and lead to help ensure their success. to come up.

Despite a tumultuous year due to the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and economic uncertainty across all sectors, many individuals and institutions with large investments in the stock market have experienced extraordinary growth in the value of their holdings. . The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust endowment increased by $ 123 million in the 15 months following the start of the pandemic. With these two opposing forces at work and as stewards of the Trust’s founder, Virginia Galvin Piper, the trustees felt compelled to share all the benefits with the community in one swift action.

This $ 123 million Trustee initiative — the Now is the commemoration of Moment Grants—Provides grants to 71 non-profit organizations classified as follows:

HUMAN SERVICES — TOTAL TO 29 BENEFICIARIES: $ 54,950,000

André House of Arizona, Inc. • Arizona Justice Project • Benevilla • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona • Black Family and Child Services of Arizona • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, Inc. • Catholic Charitable Community Services • Central Arizona Shelter Services • Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. • Child Crisis Arizona • Duo: Partners in Health & Aging • First Place AZ • Foundation for Senior Living • Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus- Pine Council, Inc. • Human Services Campus, Inc. • ICAN • International Rescue Committee • Jewish Family and Children’s Service • Maggie’s Place • Native American Connections, Inc. • oneâ‹…nâ‹…ten • Phoenix Rescue Mission • Society of Saint Vincent by Paul • Saint-Joseph the worker • The Joy Bus • The Salvation Army • The UMOM day centers • The YMCA of the Vallée du Soleil

ARTS AND CULTURE — TOTAL OF 22 BENEFICIARIES: $ 32,750,000

Act One • Arizona Musicfest • Arizona Opera • Arizona State University Foundation * • Arizona Theater Company • Artlink, Inc. • Arizona Ballet • Black Theater Troupe, Inc. • CALA Alliance • Children’s Museum of Phoenix • Childsplay, Inc. • Cultural Coalition, Inc. • Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation • Free Arts for the Abused Children of Arizona • Heard Museum • Jazz in Arizona, Inc. • Phoenix Art Museum • Phoenix Theater • The Phoenix Symphony • Valley Youth Theater • Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West • Xico, Inc.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT — TOTAL OF 12 BENEFICIARIES: $ 21,500,000

Arizona State University Foundation * • Be A Leader Foundation • Bourgade Catholic High School • Brophy College Preparatory • Creighton University • Foundation for Blind Children • Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. • Notre Dame Preparatory High School • Seton Catholic High School • St. John Paul II Catholic High School • St. Mary’s High School • Preparatory to Xavier College

HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL RESEARCH — TOTAL FOR 5 BENEFICIARIES: $ 8,175,000

Mission of Mercy • Ryan House • Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) • The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) • Valleywise Health Foundation

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS — TOTAL WITH 4 BENEFICIARIES: $ 5,625,000

Franciscan Renewal Center • Mount Claret Retreat Center • St. Joseph Catholic Church • Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

“Maricopa County, along with the rest of the country, has suffered tremendously in so many different and unexpected ways,” said Administrator Sharon Harper. “Piper Trust cares deeply about our community and is proud of how community members have stepped up. However, we are still in dire straits… those who serve the under-served have really suffered. The arts and culture sector has also seen significant setbacks due to the pandemic. We must ensure its fortification for the long-term vitality of the community and the state, ”said Harper.

The commemoration of the $ 123 million grants aligns with the Trust’s increase in grants over the past two years in response to the pandemic, and its belief in the power to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits. In fiscal 2021 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2021), Piper Trust awarded more than $ 37 million to community organizations, a significant increase from its historical average of $ 22 million per year. Many of the 2021 grants were a direct response to the pandemic. Additionally, the COVID Response Grants were unrestricted rewards to provide recipients complete discretion and flexibility to use the funds as they see fit for their respective organizations. In 2019, to mark its 20^e Anniversary, the Trust has invested an additional $ 20 million over five years in building the organizational capacity of many grantees, in addition to its annual grants of $ 22 million.

The Now is the commemoration of Moment Grants is inspired by the visionary statement from Virginia Piper that continues to guide the actions of Piper Trust today: “Managing the stewardship of charitable giving is a responsibility worthy of a moment-to-moment truly high calling in human affairs and human relations. ”

“This grant commemoration is similar to a memorable action by Trustees over two decades ago when they made what Trustees called ‘the Cornerstone Grants’ and awarded $ 41 million to eight organizations that Ms. Piper has supported them over the years, ”said Mary Jane Rynd, President and CEO of Piper Trust.

Of the seven trustees, three are original trustees appointed by Ms. Piper, and four have served the trust in their roles for more than half of the life of the trust.

“I think Virginia would think this is a momentous moment for these organizations,” said administrator Laura Grafman, who was one of Virginia G. Piper’s best friends. “I feel it so much because she loved to share. I can’t help but think she would be thrilled and horny, and she would be the first at the Trust on Monday the 13th^e… Virginia would say, ‘Thank you for what you do, thank you for everything you bring to this community, and now we have a little surprise for you.’ I can just see Virginia in my mind walking around the Trust with great enthusiasm and hope for the potential of these grants.

The selection of beneficiaries was shaped by the respective mission and impact of each organization in the community. Grants vary in size and have been determined by a variety of factors such as an organization’s overall needs, budget size, and populations served. Some selections were based on Virginia Piper’s history of giving to organizations as well as her personal values.

The $ 123 million Now is the commemoration of Moment Grants is a one-day investment in the Maricopa County non-profit community. Piper Trust’s annual grants, averaging $ 22 million, will continue as usual.

The seven directors of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust are: Jim Bruner, José Cárdenas, Paul Critchfield, Laura Grafman, Sharon Harper, Judy Jolley Mohraz and Steve Zabilski.

“I think the Trustees understood that if Virginia Piper was alive, she would have seen the need; she would have seen the good fortune that the investments brought; and she would have said, ‘The time has come,’ ”said administrator Judy Jolley Mohraz. “Piper Trust is a local foundation and has always worked hard to be partners with our nonprofits, not just funders, and there is a distinction between the two. I think this giveaway is just telling the nonprofits and the community they serve, “We are going through this dark time, but we are going through it together – we hold hands as we take this uncertain path, and we are ‘here for you.’

About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust:

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich the health, wellness and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since starting granting in 2000, Piper Trust has invested over $ 644 million in local programs and nonprofits. The Piper Trust’s grant areas are healthcare and medical research, children, the elderly, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information visit pipertrust.org | @PiperTrust | Facebook | #PiperTrustMoments

For Piper Trust’s Annual Financial Report: Year Ended March 2020, visit FISCAL 2020.

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* The Arizona State University Foundation is one of 71 recipient organizations; however, the funds will be used within the University in two distinct areas pertaining to both arts and culture and education and academic improvement.