$56K Raised For Tucson Youth After 30 Murals Hit Auction Block

TUCSON, AZ — A downtown Tucson construction site once covered in graffiti has been transformed into a fundraiser that brought in nearly $56,000 for local children and families.

The Downtown Tucson Partnership announced that last week's Urban Collection Gala at The Grand Tucson raised $55,957.84 for four local nonprofits supporting children and families: City High School, Children's Museum Tucson, Tucson School for the Blind and Imago Dei Middle School.

About 100 to 125 people attended the event, based on ticket sales, complimentary tickets and volunteer counts.

The fundraiser capped a project that began in early 2025 after Gibson's Market closed and graffiti began appearing on the plywood surrounding the construction site. Property owner Steve Gibson reached out to the Downtown Tucson Partnership for help finding a solution.

Around the same time, Downtown Tucson Partnership CEO Crystal Moore met local artist Ignacio Garcia while he was painting the Rodeo mural at Alameda and Toole. She invited him to visit the property, where he saw an opportunity to turn the blank plywood walls into public art.

Garcia proposed creating an "urban collection" of murals that would discourage graffiti while the site was under construction and later be auctioned to benefit local nonprofits.

The idea quickly gained support from Gibson, Downtown Tucson Partnership, HighWire and Gibson Food Hall & Market.

Over the following months, Garcia painted 30 panels for the project, with funding support from the Rio Nuevo-backed Storefront Vinyl Program. The panels were removed earlier this month, prepared for an online auction and displayed publicly for the first time at Saturday's gala.

All 30 pieces sold. The highest bid went to "Puppy Love," which sold for $3,200.

"This project is a testament to what makes downtown Tucson special," Moore said. "A property owner, local businesses, an artist, community partners, nonprofits, and Downtown Tucson Partnership came together with a shared purpose: to transform graffiti into opportunity and invest in the next generation."

Proceeds from the auction will be divided among the four beneficiary organizations.

Downtown Tucson Partnership also thanked project sponsors, including Rio Nuevo, Gibson Food Hall & Market, The Grand Tucson and The Tucson Gallery, along with volunteers and bidders who helped make the fundraiser possible.