Golf Classic Charity Partner Spotlight: D-backs Give Back

Aug. 17, 2016

As a part of this year’s coverage for the upcoming annual Breakthru Beverage Charity Golf Classic­–teeing off September 29 and 30–Breakthru Arizona is proud to spotlight its charity partners, all of which have been instrumental in making this charity golf tournament a yearly success.

This week’s spotlight: The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation

Established in 1997, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has positively impacted the lives of some of the most influential people in society–including Veterans, police officers, teachers and firefighters. Supporting a variety of nonprofit across Arizona, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation–also referred to as D-backs Give Back–has distributed nearly $50 million in its history.

The latest efforts for D-backs Give Back have been focused on supporting Arizona teachers, who at the moment are facing very difficult odds. Currently, 51% of Arizona children come from low-income households and the state ranks last nationally in percentage of high school graduates who attend college.* Considering these troubling statistics, it’s critical that Arizona teachers be equipped with classroom materials that will help them (and students) succeed.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation believes all students deserve great teachers, and that’s why they’ve developed the “D-backs Most Valuable Teachers” program to celebrate and reward Arizona’s best educators. Winners are selected based on essays submitted by a teacher’s peers or students. In 2016, the foundation will award 50 teachers with a $1,000 grants to pay for classroom expenses, with one educator being selected to win a $5,000 grant.

This program is made possible in part by charity partnerships such as the one with Breakthru Arizona’s golf tournament, which has been a yearly union the D-backs find very worthwhile.

“The D-backs are, once again, honored to be involved in this year’s Breakthru Beverage Charity Golf Classic,” said Diamondbacks Vice President of Corporate and Community Impact Debbie Castaldo. “Important partnerships, including Breakthru Arizona, allow us to create a positive impact to our community’s areas of need.”

Last month, the D-backs and Breakthru Arizona joined together help local teachers by building and donating 500 supply kits for educators in the Phoenix area, targeting classrooms in high-poverty areas. The kits were equipped with paper, wipes, pencils, Kleenexes, stickers and other classroom items.

Thank you to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation for being a great leader in community giving.

More on the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation’s programs 

More on the Breakthru Beverage Charity Golf Classic

*https://phoenix.teachforamerica.org/