The Arizona Community Foundation, Athletes for Hope, and The Be Kind People Project have announced a new partnership, Athletes for Arizona (AFA). The partnership had its first event at Sun Canyon Elementary School in Phoenix where they helped kick off the new school year with an interactive assembly. AFA is designed to support youth in underserved communities statewide, with a focus on education, mental and physical health, and advocacy and equity.    More than 600 students gathered for a Be Fit. Be Healthy. Be Kind Assembly where they learned how to practice healthy habits and character skills. The Gorilla from the Phoenix Suns, Baxter from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Howler from the Arizona Coyotes, and Spirit from the Fiesta Bowl attended the event to help encourage the students to play sports and lead active and healthy lifestyles.

“The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time for us at The Be Kind People Project, and this year even more so with the start of Athletes for Arizona,” said Ashley Brannon, Senior National Director of Marketing at BKPP. “We expect that AFA will have a tremendous impact in our schools and bring us closer to a future where all children have the chance to lead healthy lifestyles and positively impact their communities.”

With a goal of increasing sports and physical activity, healthy habits, positive behavior, and academic achievement, AFA takes a collaborative approach to engage leading organizations and athletes with shared values. The initiative will expand sports philanthropy throughout the state by engaging sports professionals to support students and build a generation of active and healthy youth.

“Everyone at Arizona Community Foundation is ecstatic to see Athletes for Arizona come to fruition,” said Lora Golke, Senior Director, Development & Donor Engagement at Arizona Community Foundation. “This partnership will galvanize school sports across Arizona, which in turn provides students with new opportunities to excel.”  

About The Be Kind People Project:  The Be Kind People Project® (BKPP) is a public 501 (c) 3 non-profit that initiates a positive change in the overall learning environment and provides relevant learning and youth development opportunities that inspire humanity, academic achievement, and healthy living.

Athletes for Arizona: Athletes for Arizona, a partnership between the Arizona Community Foundation, Athletes for Hope, and The Be Kind People Project, envisions schools in which all students can participate in physical, social, and mental wellbeing through planned programming and sports participation to enhance the educational, social, emotional, and physical benefits that our youth deserve in life.

Athletes for Arizona – Philanthropy to Support Youth Sports (azfoundation.org)