Arizona Financial Awards $210K in Local Causes Grants

PHOENIX, AZ - (December 10, 2024) – With a mission to support hyper-local nonprofits around the state, Arizona Financial recently awarded $210,000 in grants to 16 deserving nonprofits through its Local Causes Visa® debit card program. At a ceremony held at the Social Television Network (STN), grants ranging from $27,500 to $10,000 were distributed during a live-to-tape event.

Launched in 2020, the Local Causes program prioritizes grants toward hyperlocal nonprofits with operating budgets less than $2 million. To date, the grant program has distributed $510,000 in grants to a total of 96 organizations.

The grant ceremony featured a panel discussion from past grant recipients and ongoing Arizona Financial partners Million Dollar Teacher Project and Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels along with remarks from community partner Local First Arizona.

Below are the recipients for this round of Local Causes grants:

· Karuna Horse Rescue and Sanctuary

· Autism Society of Greater Phoenix

· Help A Dog Smile Rescue

· United Sound

· A Permanent Voice

· Arizona State Fire Training Committee

· BASE Arizona

· Confidence Kits Inc.

· Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank

· The Joy Bus

· Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank

· Young & Empowered Woman

· Larry Thomas Youth Development

· She Thrives Foundation

· Lights Camera Discover

· Little Humble Entrepreneurs Foundation

“From where this debit card program started to where we are today is really inspiring, all thanks to our member-owners who use our Local Causes debit card,” said Amy Hysell, president and CEO of Arizona Financial. “I know for some of these amazing nonprofits, these grants will be transformational, and we look forward to seeing the great things they do to further strengthen communities across our state.”

Like other debit card programs offered by Arizona Financial, each time a credit union member makes a purchase with their debit card, the credit union makes a donation to a community fund that supports the grant program. In total the credit union has awarded over $700,000 in grants and donations through its three debit card donation programs.

Following application submission, Local Causes grant recipients were selected by an internal committee of Arizona Financial employees before going to a public vote to determine the finalists and funding amount based on total votes.

During the ceremony, and inspired by the Local Causes program, Arizona Financial announced they will be creating a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation in 2025. For more details, visit ArizonaFinancial.org/Community.

About Arizona Financial Credit Union

Arizona Financial is a $3.3 billion not-for-profit financial cooperative providing consumer and small business banking services and expertise to more than 170,000 member/owners. Founded in 1936, the credit union has been ranked #1 in Arizona on Forbes list of Best-In-State Credit Unions for 2024. Arizona Financial empowers its members to take hold of their financial future through the delivery of leading-edge self-service tools and mobile apps, competitive rates on loans and deposits, robust home loan solutions, identity protection services, and SBA and commercial loans. Arizona Financial has a history of local community involvement and is the sponsor of the Live Nation Theatre venue and exclusive credit union partner of the Phoenix Rising FC. The credit union has 20 locations across metro Phoenix and western Arizona and is part of the CO-OP network that provides members nationwide account access at 5,000 credit union branches and 30,000 ATMs. Deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information: ArizonaFinancial.org.